Pain Medication Prescriptions

Chronic pain can reduce your quality of life and interfere with your ability to function at home, work, and maintain social relationships. At Total Diagnostic and Interventional Pain in LaGrange, Georgia, experienced pain management physicians provide safe medication management, as an adjunct to help improve your physical and mental well-being. Call the office today or request an appointment online to learn more about medications for pain.

What are pain medications?

Pain medications minimize discomfort from acute injuries, chronic conditions, and illnesses. Without treatment, pain can interfere with your physical and mental health. Some people struggle to perform their work duties with pain, while others feel uncomfortable even when resting. 

By reducing inflammation, disrupting signals from damaged nerves, or blocking pain receptors in the brain, pain medications can help you reclaim your quality of life. 

Many pain medications can be addictive and carry inherent risk. The physicians at Total Diagnostic and Interventional Pain use evidence-based research to ensure medication regimens are safe while minimizing dependence and side effects. These regimens are designed to decrease pain but will not eliminate it.

What are the different types of pain medications?

Total Diagnostic and Interventional Pain offers many types of pain relievers. After performing a comprehensive physical exam, reviewing your medical history, and evaluating your current medications, your provider may recommend:

Opioids
Opioids are narcotic medications that react with the opioid receptors in your brain. By producing euphoric, morphine-like effects, opioids can significantly reduce moderate to severe pain. They are also addictive and often have side effects like constipation and nausea. Ongoing monitoring is essential to safely treat pain with opioids. Opioids are not a cure for any condition and are not considered a treatment plan. There is no guarantee that you will be prescribed opioids.

NSAIDs
Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAID) reduce inflammation to relieve pain. NSAIDs are ideal for pain that stems from inflamed tissues, like arthritis or a minor sprain. You can purchase most NSAIDs at your local drugstore, but stronger prescriptions are also available. NSAIDs can come in pill, gel or cream forms. 

Neuromodulator medications

Neuromodulator medications make nerves that carry pain signals more relaxed. This results in the pain signal being quieter and therefore decreases pain. These medications are most beneficial in neuropathic pain such as diabetic peripheral neuropathy.

Corticosteroids
Corticosteroids are the gold standard for anti-inflammatory medications. Like NSAIDs, they primarily treat inflammatory conditions but are more powerful. Physicians typically recommend corticosteroids for long-term inflammation from chronic conditions like arthritis.

Muscle relaxants

Muscle relaxants are designed to reduce the number of signals that are sent between your nerves in the muscle and brain. These are used to help pain caused by muscle spasms. Muscle relaxants can sometimes help prevent involuntary contractions of muscles.  

Lidocaine
Lidocaine is a topical anesthetic that can temporarily relieve pain and reduce sensitivity. These creams and gels are ideal for sore muscles and inflamed tissues.

Why might I need pain medications?

Pain medications can partially treat a wide range of acute and chronic pain conditions, including:

• Sports injuries
• Herniated disc
• Back pain
• Neck pain
• Fibromyalgia
• Post-surgery pain
• Cancer pain
• Migraines

The providers at TDI Pain can evaluate your pain to create an individualized plan that fits into your treatment goals.

Call Total Diagnostic and Interventional Pain today or request an appointment online to learn more about medications for pain.