Pain Medications May Help Manage Arthritis

Pain Medications May Help Manage Arthritis By Carol Eustice Pain medications are often part of a regimen used to treat and manage arthritis. You may be hesitant about taking pain medication because of fear tied to potential side effects or addiction. Many people find that pain medication helps to manage acute or chronic pain conditions, and when taken according to directions, they have no problems. Always discuss your concerns with your doctor. Together with your doctor, you can decide if pain medications are appropriate for you. Analgesic Medications - What You Should Know  An analgesic medication is used to relieve pain. The pain relief occurs either by blocking pain signals going to the brain or by interfering with the brain's interpretation of the signals, without producing anesthesia or loss of consciousness. There are non-narcotic and narcotic pain medications. READ NOW CDC’s Prescribing Guidelines for Opioids  In March 2016, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) published guidelines for prescribing opioids for chronic pain outside of active cancer treatment, palliative care, and end-of-life care. What do you need to know if you have arthritis? READ NOW Understanding Addiction, Physical Dependence, and Tolerance  Many people with chronic pain conditions, including certain types of arthritis, are prescribed pain medication. People worry about addiction. There is a difference between addiction, physical dependence, and tolerance to pain medication. It is imperative that each of us understands the difference. READ NOW Hydrocodone/Acetaminophen - What You Need to Know  Hydrocodone/acetaminophen is prescribed to relieve moderate to moderately-severe pain. The narcotic pain reliever received renewed attention after Darvon and Darvocet were removed from the market on November 19, 2010. READ NOW 10 Things You Should Know About Tramadol  Tramadol, the generic version of Ultram, is a synthetic analgesic medication. The exact mode of action of tramadol is unknown, but it is said to work like morphine. Tramadol binds to opioid receptors in the brain, receptors that transmit pain sensations throughout the body. READ NOW What's the Best Way to Take Pain Medication?  There are different formulations of pain medication and different schedules for administering the drugs.  What are the options and what might work best for you? READ NOW Advertisement READ THESE NEXT Understanding Lung Cancer What's Your EQ? Test Your Emotional Intelligence Quiz: What's Your Yoga Personality? Quiz: Are You At Risk For Burnout? Understanding Rheumatoid Arthritis Are You More of an Extrovert or an Introvert? Quiz: Are You an 'Adrenaline Junkie?' Self Test: How Resilient Are You? AN ABOUT.COM BRAND You are receiving this newsletter because you subscribed to the Arthritis & Joint Conditions newsletter. If you wish to unsubscribe, please click here 1500 Broadway, 6th Floor, New York, NY, 10036 © 2016 Verywell.com - All rights reserved. Privacy Policy.