Pain Relief

If you’ve got toothache, it’s important that you make a dentist appointment to find out what the problem is.

In the meantime, however, you might need something to relieve the pain.

Regular painkillers like paracetamol and ibuprofen should help to relieve your pain, or you could try an alternative remedy like a saltwater rinse or clove oil.

Sciatica is when the sciatica nerve becomes compressed, and you might feel a shooting, burning pain running from your lower back to your feet.

The first treatment options your GP may suggest are exercises and stretches or offering you painkillers that can relieve your pain.

If this doesn’t work, they may refer you to have painkiller injections, a procedure to seal off some of the nerves to stop them from sending pain signals, or decompressive surgery.

If you dread the sharp, poking, cramp-like pain in your stomach each time your period comes knocking, you might be wondering the best ways to help ease it.

By taking over-the-counter pain medicine, like ibuprofen, can help to reduce bleeding and the severity of pain during your period.

Applying heat with something like a hot water bottle or a heating pad on your belly or lower back may relieve pain, in addition to reserving time to rest.

If you’re suffering from lower back pain, you might be wondering what painkillers are out there to relieve your discomfort.

You may be offered NSAIDs like ibuprofen, naproxen, and diclofenac, or your healthcare provider might offer you codeine, which can be used to treat pain when other painkillers haven’t worked.

Codeine works by stopping the pain signals in their tracks before they reach the brain, but be careful - codeine can be addictive, so always take it as your doctor advises.

Muscle relaxants like diazepam help the muscles relax, which in turn can relieve your pain.

There are numerous over-the-counter pain relievers out there to help you manage your nerve pain, ranging from topical painkillers, which include anaesthetic properties to numb the area of pain.

This is a good option as it effectively targets the direct spot that requires treatment.

You may wish to use over-the-counter painkillers like aspirin or ibuprofen, but they probably won’t be effective for severe nerve pain - if you think you need stronger painkillers, speak to your doctor.

There are lots of treatments out there to help you manage your osteoarthritis, and most are combined with other methods such as exercise and losing weight if your doctor advises it.

The type of painkiller you will be offered depends on your circumstance and the severity of your pain.

This ranges from paracetamol, topical and tablet forms of NSAIDs like ibuprofen; opioids like codeine, however, this may be given to you for a short time period or considered as a last option due to its addictive nature.