| Pain
Relief Option |
How
They Work |
Pros |
Cons |
Non-steroidal
anti-inflammatory drugs
Ibuprofen, naproxyn, cyclooxygenase-s (COX-2) inhibitors
|
NSAIDs
have pain-killing, anti-inflammatory and fever-reducing
qualities. They work by inhibiting pain and inflammation
stimuli. Chemically speaking, they interfere with prostaglandin
production by inhibiting cyclooxygenase. |
Effective
for reducing mild to moderate pain, inflammation and fever.
When given in combination with narcotics, only a small
amount of narcotic drug needs to be given in order to
achieve good pain control. |
Can
cause stomach irritation, bleeding, fluid retention, decreased
kidney function, skin reactions; cardiovascular risk has
recently been identified, particularly with COX-2 inhibitors. |
Local
anesthetics
Novacaine, lidocaine, bupivacaine, ropivacaine, procaine
|
You
get an injection of medication that dulls feeling at your
incision site or that region of your body. Newer delivery
mechanisms known as pain pumps can deliver this pain numbing
medication automatically through a tiny, specially-designed
tube directly into the surgical incision site. The medication
begins soaking the site immediately after surgery and
is delivered continuously and slowly for up to five days
after surgery. |
Your pain is managed, and unlike when receiving narcotics, the rest of your body will have sensation; you will be more alert and not feel groggy. Other benefits include: constant pain relief without having to worry about the medication wearing off; quicker return to moving around, walking and normal activities; and earlier hospital release. Also local anesthetics have antimicrobial benefits and may reduce your rate of surgical site infection; and significantly reduce the need for narcotics. |
The
pain pump, while it does deliver an uninterrupted supply
of pain numbing medication, is not appropriate for use
in every surgery. Without a pain pump, a single injection
of local anesthesic may wear off in less than 12 hours.
If anesthesia is delivered by the injection only method,
you may experience breakthrough pain before you get your
next shot. |
Narcotics
morphine, methadone, fentanyl, opioids, demeral, codeine,
oxycodone
|
These
drugs relieve pain by decreasing the transmission of pain
messages to the brain. |
Effective
for moderate to severe pain |
These drugs affect your entire body and can cause slowed breathing, sleepiness and grogginess, constipation, and possibly nausea and vomiting, itching, urinary retention, and may slow your recovery. Morphine is ranked as the second most common drug involved in preventable medical errors in the hospital. |
Topical
anesthetics
EMLA (a mixture of local anesthetics including lidocaine
and prilocaine), LAC (tetracaine, adrenaline, and cocaine)
and LET (lidocaine, tetracaine, epinephrine)
|
They
are applied, usually in ointment, cream, salve or spray
form, directly onto the surface of the skin on and around
the painful area. They contain substances, such as capsaicin
or salicylates, that block pain messages from getting
to the brain, and counter-irritants such as menthol, oil
of wintergreen and camphor, that "fool" the
pain by creating a feeling of cold or heat at the painful
area. |
Easy
to apply; these products are applied locally so you are
not taking medication by mouth. |
The
ointments or salves might be messy or very fragrant; relief
may not be long-lasting. |
| Cold
therapy (ice) |
Putting
ice on the painful area lowers the tissue temperature;
this helps to relieve pain, lower your metabolism rate,
reduce muscle spasms and the inflammatory process. All
this helps to reduce pain. |
You
are not taking medication so there will be no negative
side-effects. |
Having
a cold pack on your skin for prolonged periods of time
can itself be painful. |
| Electrical
stimulation |
A
small transmitter is attached to the skin around the painful
area. It emits electrical impulses that stimulate the
release of endorphins (the body's natural pain relievers)
so that rather than feeling pain, you feel a tingling
sensation. |
You
are not taking medication so there will be no negative
side-effects. |
Some
people may find the tingling sensation annoying, as well
as having a transmitter attached to their skin. |
| Relaxation
techniques |
A
relaxed state of mind can affect the pain messaging system
in the brain, actually reducing the amount of pain you
feel. |
A
way to achieve pain relief without taking medication. |
Pain
may prevent you from being able to relax. |
| Massage |
Muscles
or other areas of the body are gently rubbed or kneaded.
This stimulates circulation while relieving pain. |
Effective
method of temporary pain relief; promotes sense of well-being. |
If
not done properly, may feel painful. Relief may be temporary. |
