How to Control Your Pain

Pain is something that is complex and inevitable. It causes people to suffer on a daily basis and search for different ways to alleviate their aches. There are several options available for suffers.

The most common technique people practice is over the counter medications. Medicines like Tylenol, Ibuprofen and Aleve, the struggle with OTC medication is to know which one is right for you. Tylenol is an acetaminophen which works to reduce fevers and pain while Ibuprofen is a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAIDs) which also works to relieve pain and reduce fevers but is also used to for swelling. Before you can decide which medications are right for you, you must decide the cause of what you are feeling.If you suffer from chronic pain your doctor may prescribe a stronger form of medication for you to take such as; muscle relaxants, Vicodin, Percocet or Codeine. Taking prescription medicine must be digested carefully and under the close supervision of your doctor as they can become very habit forming and addicting.

There are a great deal of topical relievers on the market in the forms of lotions, creams and ointments. These types of medications contain the same chemicals that are found in Tylenol and Advil but are applied to the skin to relieve sore muscles and joints. These are very popular for people that suffer from arthritis or achy joints.

There are many people who suffer from pain and prefer other methods for relief than medication. Some of them have turned to mental techniques. One of the mental techniques that are currently being used is visualization. The patient is instructed to sit quietly and still and visualize what they believe their pain to look like. They then focus on the image in their mind and change the image to become smaller and blurry, eventually they are told to make the image they see as pain morph into something more pleasant, such as a flower or animal that they love.

Another method used by psychologists and patients for relief is hypnotherapy and self-hypnosis. Sufferers are taught specific techniques to help them refocus their concentration on something other than the pain and to attempt to block it from the area causing distress. Along with hypnosis, people are using different types of relaxation methods, including; breathing techniques and meditation. It is believed that if you can refocus your energy to more calming things or feelings, your mind will no longer focus on the pain, and subsequently, each time it tries to refocus to the parts of your body that hurt, your mind will automatically redirect it to something more pleasant. Yoga is a popular method of meditation that not only allows your mind to refocus but stretches your muscles and joints. Some people’s pain is caused by stress and yoga can be a great way to alleviate stress and center your thoughts.

No matter how you decide to control your pain, choose a method that is right for you and always consult your medical physician.