Alternative pain relief
Tackling pain
Pain is a warning. It is your body's way of telling you that it is being damaged and that you should do something about it. How much you feel pain is affected by the nature of the pain, your mood, your overall physical well-being and your lifestyle. Previous experience of pain, and the expectations you have about what it might lead to, also influence how much it affects you. As a general rule, if you are feeling pain then some sort of response is needed.
What can you do about it?
The best way to treat pain is with the simplest and safest method that works best for you. For severe pain it is worth consulting your doctor regarding the best way for you to treat your condition.
Remove the cause
If there is an obvious cause to your pain, then this should be removed or treated as soon as possible. Pain is a symptom of something else that is wrong in the body. For example, toothache can be relieved with medicines but can only be stopped by dental treatment.
Consider specific treatments
Some types of pain need very specific medicines to treat the cause, for example, the pain of heartburn (which can be treated with products such as antacids).
Try simple analgesic drugs
Simple painkillers can be used to treat many common types of pain such as back pain, headaches, sore throats, muscle and soft tissue injuries, aching joints and period pains.
Other ways to tackle pain
You may like to try one of a variety of other therapies to deal with your pain. Talk to your doctor first.