Wednesday, May 15, 2013

Methods Of Pain Management Clarksville Tn Patients Need To Know

By Kathryn Neal


Pain is a common symptom for persons suffering from diseases and medical conditions. It is an uncomfortable feeling that needs relief in order to improve the quality of life of the affected individual. There are various techniques used in the alleviation of this symptom. The choice of which of them to use is determined by the severity. Another factor to consider is the difference in response among different people. Although the stimulus responsible may be more or less the same, the response displayed by different persons may be different. There are a number of techniques of pain management Clarksville tn patients need to know.

Pain is divided into two types; acute and chronic. The acute type usually starts suddenly and lasts for a short period of time. The chronic type starts gradually and increases in severity slowly over time. It often lasts for several months or years. In either case, there is an underlying pathology that should be treated if complete relief is to be achieved.

Pharmacotherapy is one of the strategies used. The use of analgesics such as Non-Steroidal Anti Inflammatory Drugs (NSAIDS) has been the centre of management for a long time now. However, due to the many adverse effects, NSAIDs have been replaced by newer, more effective drugs such as opioids. Morphine, one of the drugs classified as opioids, faces the challenge of tolerance and dependence. The fear of stigmatisation in the use of morphine is another limitation. Some of the opioid derivatives include codeine and dihydrocodeine.

Tramadol hydrochloride, a centrally acting analgesic works by inhibiting reuptake of serotonin and noradrenaline. It works by activating inhibitory pathways that originate from the higher CNS centres. Apart from managing neurogenic pain, tramadol hydrochloride has been used as treatment for post-operative, obstetric and cancer pain. It is preferred over other drugs since it has minimal side effects which can easily be managed by starting with a low dose then tapering the dose gradually.

Anticonvulsants such as carbamazepine, sodium valproate, gabapentin and lamotrigine, achieve a suitable degree of analgesia. They are clinically applied in the treatment of disease conditions associated with highly severe conditions such as trigeminal neuralgia and diabetic neuropathy. Despite the side effects, carbamazepine is considered to be the most effective among this group. Apart from anticonvulsants, tricyclic antidepressants such as amitriptyline are commonly used.

Physiotherapy is associated with both short term and long term benefits. It is indicated in persons that have suffered trauma or have been immobilized for some time after surgery or any other form of treatment. Affected limbs or body parts are exercised regularly so as to reduce discomfort and to restore function. This modality of treatment may be used on its own or in combination with other treatments.

Another treatment that is reported to have some effect is acupuncture. This is a form of alternative medicine in which the practitioner uses sharp long needles to create some form of energy that eventually alleviates pain. It is said to be effective for both acute and chronic cases.

Another technique in pain management Clarksville tn residents would love to know is use of psychology. This kind of technique needs to accommodate individual patients. Relaxation and hypnosis are some of the approaches used that have proved to be effective. With a multidisciplinary approach a good prognosis is expected for majority of patients.




About the Author:



No comments: