Angina Pain

Angina or Angina Pectoris is a pain or feeling of pressure in the chest, often described by patients as a crushing pain. Angina occurs when the heart does not get enough oxygen and is caused by a condition called Ischaemic Heart Disease (IHD). Ischaemic means lack of blood and this lack of blood is caused by narrowing of the heart arteries. Treatment for Angina includes lifestyle changes and prescription medications.

Arthritis

Arthritis is very common and is a major cause of lost work productivity and can cause serious disability. The most common type of arthritis is Osteoarthritis which is caused due to wear and tear in the joints and is more common in people over 50 years. It is very painful in the weight-bearing joints such as the knees and hips. Cartilage wears away on the bone ends causing pain and swelling. Osteoarthritis may also develop after an injury such as bone fracture or a joint dislocation. The other common type of Arthritis is Rheumatoid arthritis which is due to inflammation or swelling of the joint lining which damages the joint and can occur at any age and in more than one joint. This is caused by underlying rheumatic disease and is common in the hands and feet. Diagnosis of Arthritis is by physical examination and X-rays. Treatment may include rest and drugs to reduce inflammation, such as ibuprofen. Rheumatoid arthritis may be treated with steroid injections or other specific drugs to reduce inflammation and relieve pain.

Back Pain

Back Pain is very common and most people will at some point in their lives suffer from back pain. Back pain can be difficult to cope with in everyday life. Simple things like reaching for something, repetitive or strenuous lifting, and even driving can put further strain on the supporting muscles, ligaments, and tendons of the upper, middle and low back. The vertebra of the lower back are connected by ligaments which attach bone to bone, and tendons that connect muscle to bone. The main lower back muscles maintain the arch in the spine known as the lordotic curve, while the upper back maintain a reverse curve known as kyphosis. These curves can be changed by injuries and weakening of these muscles. When the lower back and upper back lose it's normal curves, injury and back pain become an increasing risk. Ligaments and muscles of the back may be injured through a traumatic tearing of the fibers known as a sprain and strain. When dealing with back pain and injuries, relief and support products can become extremely important to the healing process.

Acute back pain usually lasts a few weeks and is often eased by pain killers such as ibuprofen or paracetamol. People recover more quickly if they keep active and avoid bed rest. Only one in 100 people with low back pain have a serious disease. Delaying back pain treatment can lead to further injiury and eventually become what is known as Chronic back pain. Chronic back pain is much more difficult to treat, as it has occurred for over six months and has likely lead to inactivity and dysfunction of the spine.

Diabetic Pain

Diabetes Pain is a common condition among Diabetics. Quite a large category of of people with diabetes suffer from pain associated with this condition. Diabetic Pain of type diabetic neuropathy mainly affects the nerves in the feet (PDN). Symptoms of diabetic neuropathy, such as tingling or pins and needles in the hands, feet, arms or legs, may become painful. The pain may be a stabbing pain or painful pins and needles. Prescription Drugs can be used to treat this pain.

Complex Regional Pain

Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS) is a chronic pain condition, which develops after an injury, and continues after the injury has healed. The underlying cause of CRPS is unknown. Symptoms of CRPS include pain, stiffness, skin sensitivity, sudden changes in colour, warmth, and sweating, changes in skin and hair growth, swelling and tremors. Treatment of CRPS is aimed at relieving pain and increasing mobility in the limb. Physical therapy and occupational therapy aimed at increasing mobility in the limb is very helpful. Early mobilization of an injured limb helps to prevent CRPS.

Fibromyalgia

Fibromyalgia is a chronic condition associated with muscle pain/ache all over the body, stiffness and tiredness. Pain occurs often in the neck, shoulders, upper back and hips. Often Fibromyalgia patients have interrupted sleep due to muscular irritation. The name Fibromyalgia eludes to painful fibrotic changes in the muscle tissue. While no pathological changes in the muscle tissue have been demonstrated on any type of imaging procedure, Fibromyalgia patients have very tender muscular points which cause a great deal of pain. When a person has Fibromyalgia, they are more susceptible to a variety of other types of muscle problems such as tendonitis, bursitis, muscle strain, muscle cramping and spasm, thoracic outlet syndrome and many other nerve compression syndromes. Much is still unknown about Fibromyalgia, which can be associated with psychological stress, and may be accompanied by depression. The condition can be managed but there is no cure; it is more prevalent in women then men. Treatment regimes include exercise, physiotherapy and treatment for psychological symptoms.

Headache

A Headache can be a symptom of an illness, such as sinus disease, eye disorders, or infections or in rare cases due to a brain tumour. Headache can also be a in itself such as in Migraine and Tension Headaches

MIGRAINE: A large section of people suffer from migraine; itis a condition of the nervous system, characterised by recurring headaches, which affect one side of the head only. There may be other symptoms, such as sickness, vomiting, light sensitivity or visual disturbances. Common painkillers, such as ibuprofen, paracetamol and aspirin can help. Triptans, e.g. Imitrex can be effective for more severe migraines. There are also drugs available which can reduce the frequency of attacks.

TENSION HEADACHE: Majority of all headaches are mild, infrequent tension-type headache. The pain is a dull ache on both sides of the head. These headaches can be associated with tenderness or tension in the muscles of the head, neck, jaw and shoulders. If the headaches are frequent and severe, the condition can be very distressing. In chronic tension-type headache, sufferers have a constant almost daily headache. Common painkillers, such as ibuprofen, paracetamol and aspirin are very effective. Physiotherapy, hot or cold packs, relaxation and exercise may all be helpful. Overuse of painkillers in tension type headache can cause regular headaches.

CLUSTER HEADACHE: This condition is a pain syndrome of the nervous system; itis rare and characterised by clusters of headaches, which occur frequently for 2-3 months, followed by a headache free period lasting months or years. The pain is very intense on one side of the head only.

Neck Pain

Neck Pain is a common condition and can develop after sitting for extended periods or following a minor twisting injury. This pain is usually muscular and goes in a few days. Chronic neck pain is also common and is associated with stiffness in the neck, which may spread to the shoulders. Chronic Neck Pain may also spread down the arm with numbness and tingling in the arm. Chronic Neck Pain may also spread to the head. Normal painkillers, massage and exercises usually help. Whiplash Neck Pain often follows a collision in a moving vehicle which can result in delayed pain and stiffness but there is usually no major damage to the neck.

Phantom Limb Pain

Phantom Limb Pain refers to pain felt in an absent limb. The absent limb may have been lost because of an accident, or removed surgically because of disease or injury. The exact cause of phantom pain is not known, but injury to the nerves during amputation causes changes and disturbances in the working of the central nervous system (CNS), thereby resulting in pain.

Post-Stroke Pain

A stroke is the result of loss of the blood supply to a part of the brain and can result in weakness and slurred speech. Approximately 5 out of 100 people who have a stroke will develop nerve pain from the stroke referred to as Chronic Pain after Stroke (CPSP) or Post-Stroke Pain. The onset of pain may occur at the time of the stroke but often occurs several months later. The pain is often described as burning, throbbing, shooting and stabbing. The pain is felt in a part of the body affected by the stroke . and in this area there is often a loss of feeling. The precise cause of this pain is unknown but is a result of Brain damage. Common painkillers have no effect on this pain. Some medications developed for epilepsy and depression also have the effect of reducing pain after strokes. This is quite separate from their use for depression or epilepsy! In most patients the pain gets better over a period of years while in a large section of patients there is a lessening of pain over the first year.

Shingles and Postherpetic Neuralgia

Shingles is a a painful disease which starts with a painful and very tender rash with blisters. It is more common in the elderly and in people whose resistance is low because of illness or stress. Shingles is caused by the chickenpox virus, which remains dormant in the body after a chickenpox infection. Chickenpox outbreak however usually occurs in childhood. Children can catch Chickenpox from an adult with Shingles. Shingles is treated with antiviral medicaion given within 3 days of the rash appearing. Shingles, lasts a few weeks. However, there is a chance among the elderly, of developing a chronic nerve pain known as postherpetic neuralgia. This is a painful and prolonged disease but is treatable with prescription drugs.

Shoulder Pain

There are many causes for Shoulder Pain. Most commonly it caused due to problems with muscles, ligaments and tendons, arthritis, tendonitis or Bursitis or injury. Your job, exercise routine, and even how you sleep can cause or irritate Bursitis. Several joints in your body have a Bursa, which is a fluid filled sack that helps to cushion the tendon. When the tendon and rubs abnormally over the bursa, the resulting inflammation is known as Bursitis. Exercise and computer use can cause Bursitis, but so can repetitive motion and even sleep. While sleeping, you can compress the area for prolonged periods of time, which can cause Bursitis.Treatment for Shoulder Pain includes rest, physiotherapy, medicines such as paracetamol and ibuprofen, and topical medicine.

Trigeminal Neuralgia

Trigeminal Neuralgia (TGN) is a shooting agonising pain, which starts on one side of the face for no reason. It is more common in the elderly but it can start at any age. Attacks last from a few seconds to a few minutes, and can occur at any time. There can be long periods between TGN attacks. TGN is treated successfully with drugs in many cases. There are also surgical treatments available. Many cases of TGN are caused by a blood vessel pressing on the trigeminal nerve inside the skull. In these cases relieving this pressure on the nerve by surgery can often relieve the pain for long periods of time.

Cancer Pain

Pain is commonest and most feared symptoms associated with cancer. Majority of cancer patients will have pain, but cancer pain can usually be well controlled these days with drugs. Painkillers such as, ibuprofen or diclofenac may be enough, but often codeine or morphine-like drugs will be needed to control pain. Morphine is the oldest and best painkiller known to man. People who take morphine for cancer pain almost never become addicted; it is safe to take large doses of these drugs for as long as they are needed. If pain still persists, even with large doses of morphine-like drugs, a dedicated pain team may be asked to assist the doctors in controlling pain. Sometimes, painkilling drugs are given as an infusion next to the spinal cord (epidural infusion). In other cases, Nerve destruction procedures may be deemed necessary to alleviate pain.