Daily Aches and Pains? No Way!

Remember when mom kissing your knee made the boo-boo all better? Not anymore, for many of us, aches and pains are now a daily reminder of the punishment our bodies have taken over the years.

We have many different kinds of pain; big pain, little pain, headache pain, back pain, muscle pain. We all suffer from some type of pain at some time. You don’t need to suffer broken bones or undergo a major operation to experience pain. For most of us, the everyday kinds of aches and pains are already too much for us to handle.

Causes

Those daily aches and pains can be caused by a number of things. From accidents to musculoskeletal disorders and improper lifting, anything and everything can lead to aches and pains. Aches and pains can also appear out of nowhere, with no obvious cause. Something as severe as a viral illness to emotional trauma can all lead to aches and pains. When it comes to pain, it’s a vicious cycle. Spasm and inflammation lead to more spasm and inflammation. This cycle can develop because of an injury, but the ultimate cause is usually found in the brain. Chronic and acute back and neck pain are common physical expressions of stress.

Acute pain can be caused by disease, inflammation, or injury to the tissues. This type of pain usually develops after trauma or surgery and can be accompanied by anxiety or emotional distress. The cause of acute pain can usually be diagnosed and treated. Acute pain is also limited to a certain period of time and severity, but in some rare instances, it may become chronic.

Chronic pain can be worsened by environmental and psychological factors. Chronic pain lasts longer than acute pain and resists most medical treatments.

Treatment

Residents in the United States rank among the highest in the use of over-the-counter pain relievers to help get rid of those daily aches and pains. Most people get rid of the usual aches and pains with common drugs like aspirin, acetaminophen and ibuprofen. Over-the-counter pain medications have their own benefits and risks:

• Acetaminophen (e.g. Tylenol) is used to relieve normal aches and pains like headaches, muscle aches and reducing fever. Acetaminophen does not reduce inflammation, but it is less irritating to the stomach and is safer for children. To avoid possible liver damage, do not take alcohol while using acetaminophen.

• Aspirin relieves pain, reduces fevers, and reduces inflammation due to injury or arthritis. However, prolonged aspirin use could result in a peptic ulcer and/or kidney disease. Aspirin is a blood thinner and should not be used by pregnant women, except under the supervision of your physician.

• Ibuprofen (e.g. Advil, Motrin and Aleve) are anti-inflammatory drugs that provide pain relief, especially menstrual pain and are fever reducers. It can also be used to treat arthritis. Ibuprofen should be taken with meals and milk and should not be used with aspirin, alcohol or steroids.

Regular exercise can help with daily aches and pains. Exercise improves blood circulation and uses joints and muscles to keep your muscles and bones strong.

Doctors caution that the overuse of pain medication can cause a new set of problems. They say most of our daily aches and pains resolve themselves.