In our everyday life, most of us suffer at least one kind of pain, and to help you identify if it is anything critical or not, this think-piece has enlisted 5 common types of pain with a few measures on how to get rid of it.
- Headache
Headache is the most common pain that occurs to everyone once in a while, and according to its severity, treatments are provided.
There are various types of headaches, but all are divided into two categories. One is a Primary headache, and another one is a secondary headache. The first one includes cluster headaches, migraines, and persistent and stress headaches.
The secondary headache mainly occurs from medical conditions like hypertension, infection, tumor, trauma, disease of blood vessels, sinus, etc. Therefore, before treating any pain, you have to find out the source.
If it is due to tension, you should start managing your stress level. Try doing meditation. If the pain is not bearable, ask your doctor to prescribe medications. You can also try gently massaging your head or sleeping in a dark room – it is proven to provide some relief.
One of my friends has been suffering from frequent headaches and didn’t want to take more medicines, so she visited https://www.elevatephysiobalwyn.com.au/ and tried their massage therapy. It was an instant relief.
- Neck pain
People who work at desk jobs are very well familiar with this pain. Just like headaches, even neck pain is of two types: axial neck pain or radicular neck pain.
The common causes of neck pain are aging, injury, stress, physical strain, or poor posture, and often doctors treat these pains using medicines. Physical therapy like stretching is also helpful in reducing the intensity of the pain.
A medical expert might give steroid injections or suggest surgery if it’s due to injury. You can use heat or an ice pack in that area and rest for a while to get rid of that pain.
If you are a chain smoker, quit smoking as soon as possible because it damages the bone structure and slows the healing process.
- Abdominal pain
Abdominal pain happens near the belly region, mainly between your ribs and pelvis. Commonly people call this stomach pain or stomach ache.
In the case of abdominal pain, location is a very important factor. If you feel pain in the upper right quadrant, this could be due to liver, gallbladder, or kidney issues. If you are feeling pain in the upper left quadrant, this is because of stomach, pancreas, and spleen problems.
If you are eating too many fried foods or fast foods, stop consuming them. Instead, eat foods that are easy to digest and keep yourself hydrated.
You can also use a warm water bottle in the area to help soothe the pain. Contact your healthcare provider if you have fever, nausea, or see blood in your stools with the pain.
- Pain in the pelvic region
Unlike popular belief, pelvic pain is common in both men and women. It is mostly caused due to infection or problems in the bladder.
Women typically face this pain during the menstrual cycle or because of UTI. In addition, endometriosis, fibroids, or weak muscles are a few causes of pain in that area.
The treatment depends on the intensity and cause of the pain. Your doctor might prescribe medication or even recommend surgery in extreme situations.
- Osteoarthritis
It happens in the joint area, like the knee. When cartilage in your joint that keeps the steady bone breaks down, it’s called Osteoarthritis.
There are three ways to treat this pain. One is medication. You can take acetaminophen or Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs.
Some health experts might recommend duloxetine. Physical therapy is also a great remedy for these problems. Exercises shown by your therapist will strengthen the muscles and make that area more flexible.
The last one is surgery. If the situation becomes worse, your doctor might recommend joint replacement. The after-effects of surgery are infections, blood clots, etc.
Over to you…
Now that you know about the pains and remedies, you won’t panic easily when faced with one of the above. However, if the pain worsens, contact your doctor immediately to seek relief.