Pain is universal. Whether a sudden injury, recovery from surgery or an ongoing illness, pain can disrupt the quality of our lives greatly. But when is it a good idea to take prescription painkillers? Well, that’s not a straightforward question. You don’t want to rush into medications prematurely, but sometimes that’s what’s required for you to start getting on your feet.
So in this post, we’re going to go over what you should consider taking prescription painkillers for and when you should, as well as what you should never do while using them, especially if you have chronic or long term pain. And we’ll talk about acute versus chronic pain, risk and effectiveness of over-the-counter pain medications, and whether or not they are right for you.
Knowing the Difference Between Acute and Chronic Pain
The Acute Pain: Fast and Sharp
Acute pain is the sensation you get when you nick your hand, sprain your ankle, or have a procedure. It’s intense but typically short-lived, lasting from a few days to several weeks. The idea of acute pain is to ease it and let your body recover. It may require the aid of prescription painkillers in cases where surgeries or accidents mean no over-the-counter remedy.
Chronic Pain: The Lifelong Struggle
Chronic pain is a different matter. And it’s pain that lasts for months or years. Things such as arthritis, fibromyalgia or back pain can leave you feeling in pain all the time. Chronic pain is harder to deal with, because you’re committed to a long term condition. Prescription painkillers may be on your medication, but you shouldn’t use them exclusively.
If You Have Acute Pain and Need a Prescription Painkiller, Is It The Right Choice For You?
And what about the days when the pain is too much to bear, and over-the-counter painkillers like ibuprofen or acetaminophen are useless. Your doctor may prescribe prescription pain medications (i.e., hydrocodone, oxycodone) or non-opioid drugs in the following scenarios:
Recovery After Surgery
Post-surgery recovery can be too intense for prescription pain relief. You can use prescription painkillers in the initial days or weeks when you feel the worst.
Grave Injury
Breaking bones, tears in ligaments, or other injury might cause severe pain requiring a stronger remedy. In such instances, a prescription medication offers the comforts of rest and recovery.
Short-Term Medical Treatments
When you have a medical procedure that is going to be extremely painful, such as a root canal or anchoring a broken bone, you can control your pain with prescription painkillers for that temporary period of time.
Prescription painkillers should be prescribed only for a short period of time in these instances, just enough to get you through the acute period while your body recovers.
Choosing Painkillers for Chronic Pain
Chronic pain, though, is where it gets a bit more tricky. And, unlike acute pain, chronic pain doesn’t just subside. There could be a long-term management plan for it, and prescription pain medication might or might not be on that list. Here’s when you should use them:
When Pain Hurts Your Quality of Life
If you’re in a severe chronic pain condition and it’s causing you to not be able to get out of bed, go to work, or do anything you love, then perhaps you’ll need more powerful medications to get you back to your old self. You can use painkillers to help manage “breakthrough pain,” which is any pain that suddenly flares up no matter what else is done.
When Other Therapies Aren’t Enough
For most chronic pain conditions, practitioners first prescribe non-invasive treatments – physical therapy, anti-inflammatory drugs or lifestyle modification. If these don’t work, stronger prescription drugs can be added to the mix. Yet these should never be considered the first or only option, and rather part of an overall pain-management strategy.
Long-Term Use Dangers
Despite the ease of prescription pain medication, they carry dangers — especially opioids. Ingestion of opioids over the long term results in tolerance (you need more to achieve the same effect), dependence or addiction. Hence they should be taken properly and carefully, with close medical supervision.
When Non-Opioid Methods Exist
If you suffer from chronic pain, you have other non-opioid prescription drugs, including antidepressants or anticonvulsants, which are often prescribed for things like nerve pain or fibromyalgia. These are also more effective and don’t pose as much of a danger of addiction.
Benefits and Consequences: The Tradeoffs
Why Prescription Painkillers Are Worth It?
Pain medication, and opioids in particular, are remarkably effective in treating moderate-to-severe pain. They do this by reversing pain signals in the brain and bringing quick, intense relief. For some, especially in the acute aftermath of an injury or procedure, opioid painkillers can offer a comfort that allows for rest, recovery and physical therapy.
The Dangers of Prescription Painkillers
Prescription painkillers, especially opioids, can be dangerous to take wrongly or for too long. These risks include:
Dependence and Addiction
The longer you take the opioids, the more dependent your body will be. Your brain will start to grow addicted and the longer you take, the greater the dose needed to get the same relief from pain.
Side Effects
Opioids are associated with the side effects such as drowsiness, constipation, nausea, and confusion. These effects can interfere with daily activities and, at times, render driving or driving machinery unsafe.
Hazards of Overdose
Overdose could be fatal by using too much painkillers or combining with alcohol. This is particularly true for opioids.
How To Use Painkillers Safely
1. Communicate Directly with Your Doctor
When it comes to taking prescription painkillers, always consult your doctor. They can advise you on the appropriate medication and dosage based on your condition, and a plan for discontinuing it when the pain abates.
2. Use the Lowest Recommended Dose
It’s a good idea to begin at the lowest relief dose possible and then progress from there. When you use as little as possible, you have a smaller chance of getting hooked.
3. Shorten the Period of Use
But even if your pain is lingering, don’t keep taking your medication without consulting your doctor. Prescription pain relievers are usually prescribed only for the first couple of days.
4. Consider Alternative Therapies
You should always first check out non-pharmaceutical pain remedies. Acupuncture, acupuncture or non-opioid medications can offer relief without the dangers of prescription painkillers.
5. Watch for Patterns of Dependence
When you find that you have to take more of your drug than was originally prescribed or are feeling cravings, these are the symptoms of dependence. Talk to your physician if that happens.
No Prescription Painkillers Alternatives
Over-the-Counter Pain Relievers
Drugs such as ibuprofen, acetaminophen and aspirin can be extremely effective for most kinds of pain. They work best for mild to moderate pain, and are usually bundled with other non-pharmacological treatments to help relieve it.
Physical Therapy and Exercise
Physical therapy, in the event of chronic pain, can be helpful for easing the suffering. Without drugs, a therapist can train you to stretch muscles around the painful area, make you move better, and reduce your pain.
Mindfulness and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy
Not only is pain physical, but it’s also psychological. Mindfulness meditation or cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) can make it easier to handle pain and minimize the level of perceived pain.
When to Stay Away From Prescription Painkillers
There are a few situations in which prescription pain relievers should be discarded entirely:
You Have a Family History of Substance Abuse
If you or your family has a history of substance abuse, opioids may not be safe for you.
If You’re Taking Other Drugs
Over-the-counter pain relievers can interact with other medications, like antidepressants or tranquilizers. Do not go ahead without informing your doctor of your complete medication regimen so that you don’t run the risk of dangerous side effects.
Are Prescription Pain Medications Right for You?
Whether or not to take prescription painkillers is a personal choice you will have to make with the help of your doctor. They can be an effective pain relief system, but you’ll want to use them responsibly so that you don’t become dependent and addicted.
Short-term use of the drug in severe pain after injury or surgery is often effective in many instances. Yet when it comes to chronic pain, it is typically best to find alternative cures, and use painkillers as a last-ditch measure, and only for a limited amount of time.
Ultimately, you want to control your pain while staying in charge of your own health and well-being. If you are taking prescription painkillers, take them as directed by your physician, assess your symptoms, and never disregard the potential side effects.
Where to buy painkillers
Here are the most reliable and trusted sites where you can purchase painkillers:
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Have you tried taking prescription painkillers? How did you get out of pain? Leave us a comment below to share your thoughts and advice!
