Chronic pain can occur from past injuries, or it can occur for no reason at all. In fact, according to the Mayo Clinic, many times the cause behind the chronic pain is never found. However, just because there is no cause, does not mean the pain doesn't exist. When pain becomes overwhelming, a doctor will often recommend or prescribe medications to help treat the pain.
Over the Counter
Before moving to prescription medications, many doctors first recommend that those with chronic pain try over the counter remedies such as aspirin or Aleve. Many times, these medications provide enough relief, without the potential side effects and risks of addiction seen with prescription medications used over extended periods of times.
Opiates
One of the most prescribed medications for pain relief are opiates. Opiates such as morphine, codeine, oxycodone (OxyContin) and hydrocodone are all common medications used to treat chronic pain. Unfortunately, long-term use of these substances can create dependence and eventually physical addiction to their use. Opiates work by acting on the brains opiates receptors and mimicking the effects of natural pain relievers in the body.
Seizure Medications
According to the Mayo Clinic, certain anti-seizure medications may also have some affect on helping treat chronic pain. Two of the most common seizure medications used for this purpose are Tegretol and Neurontin. Anti-seizure medications treat pain because it decreases the nerve pulses that can cause seizures, which happen to be the same nerve pulses that are associated with pain. By decreasing the pulses, the pain is also decreased.
Pain Pump
For those with serious cases of chronic pain, a pain pump may be installed into the body which regularly supplies pain medications directly to the spine. The pump has a small port that can be accessed by sticking a needle through the skin and into the port, which can then fill the pump through injection.
Injections
When chronic pain is focused on one single area of the body, pain medications may be directly injected into the troubled area. These injections are usually filled with a mixture of corticosteroids, which can be use to decrease any inflammation around the affected area, as well as an anesthetic, which can dull the pain.
