Pain relief without painkillers

First there was Vioxx recall. And then a Bextra recall. A black box warning is being added to Celebrex. And if you thought that your regular over-the-counter painkillers (NSAID) were safe, the FDA is asking the drugmakers to revise the labels to reflect the risks of these drugs as well.

So what can you do if you are seeking pain relief? Particularly from arthritis. First of all it is important to understand that every drug has side effects. So every time you choose to seek relief from pain using a drug, you are exposing yourself to some side effects.

The second point to understand is that painkillers do not cure the underlying disease. They merely make the pain go away. While in most cases you are probably already seeking a cure for the underlying disease, it is important that you just do not pop a painkiller every time you have pain. If you are experiencing regular pain, you need to get all the tests done to determine the source of the pain. (Related article: Pain relief options)

Chemicals alone do not provide relief from pain. Many people find pain relief from simple tricks like putting a cold mask on their eyes or taking a long hot bath. Or just by closing your eyes and relaxing for a few minutes while listening to soft music. A lot of instances of pain are related to lack of sleep or stress. Acupuncture is also being used to provide pain relief.

Finally, we Americans are obsessed with instant gratification. Indeed, pain can be quite painful but let us remember that we need to learn to bear some pain to protect our bodies.