Pain medications aren’t without risk. Long term effects are controversial, because more often than not pain killer users are not well informed. As with any medicine, each person’s reaction to a pain killer will be different from each other. When evaluating the risks behind their usage, it’s best to talk to your doctor about specifics!
Risks of Pain Medications
Prescription pain medications are highly addictive, even if taken safely with the guidance of a medical professional. What about OTCs such as ibuprofen or aspirin?
Acute pain can wreck your day to day activities. As a modern society, we are accustomed to fast results, and dealing with pain is no exception. We search for quick easy solutions instead of taking time to uncover the root causes of our pain. As a short term solution, OTCs are great and generally thought of as safe. However, long term use of aspirin and ibuprofen has been linked with liver failure, kidney failure, stomach bleeding, and increased risk of heart attack.
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Pain medications do very little against long term pain because they do not treat the cause. The labels for aspirin and Ibuprofen even state that their use is for “temporary relief of minor aches” and to not exceed recommended dose unless “directed by a doctor.”
If you are taking medications more than 2-3 times per month, it is probably a good idea to see your doctor and evaluate your pain medication usage. Knowing the root cause of your pain will help determine the best course of action.
Physical Therapy – The Better Solution
If your pain is muscular, start with a physical therapist. Many times, the area where pain is felt is not the location of the cause. If the cause is treated, the pain will also go away with time.
A physical therapist is educated in rehabilitation and is constantly learning about different conditions. They will be able to asses each case differently and determine the best course of action for quickest and most effective long term relief. Physical therapy will focus on pain relief through strength, flexibility, posture, and reestablishing proper range of motion.
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