What’s Causing the Pain?

The Big Three: Headaches, Back Pain, and Arthritis.

Those Hellish Headaches

Tension headaches are caused by the tightening of facial, neck, and scalp muscles. Usually brought on by stress, a cold, or the flu, tension headaches come on quickly and can usually be controlled with aspirin, acetominophen, or ibuprofen. Some people also get relief from the pain by lying down and listening to soothing music. Tension headaches usually subside a few hours after treatment. If they don’t, it could indicate another problem, such as sinusitis or more serious conditions. See your doctor if you keep getting them.

Migraines are headaches so severe that they are in a class of their own. Striking women usually in their teens and twenties, migraines are caused when blood vessels in the head narrow and then suddenly open. This blood flow interference causes pain and other symptoms. Similar to tension headaches, migraines come on suddenly. But unlike tension headaches, migraines can incapacitate a person first with extreme fatigue followed by nausea (with or without vomiting or diarrhea), sensitivity to light, and possibly a misting over one or both eyes. More than 26 million Americans get migraines.

When a migraine finally arrives, anywhere from minutes to hours after the initial warning signs, the pain is intense. This throbbing pain begins on one side of the head and can then spread to the other side. Some people also experience numbness in one arm or on one side of the body, dizziness, reddened eyes, and temporary mental confusion. Migraines can last for a few hours to a few days. Some people suffer from them weekly; others, only every few years.

Experts do not know why some people get them and others don’t, but they do know how to prevent them. Because migraines are usually triggered by certain medications, foods, or activities, try tracking your headaches. Write down everything, including everything that you ate, every activity you performed, every medication you are taking, and so on, that could have brought on the attack. Common triggers are stress, birth control pills, chocolate, cheese, coffee, smoke, intense light, and red wine. After you determine what could be triggering the attacks, take steps to eliminate them from your life.

Back Pain

Most back pain results from “movement disorders,” which are chronic repetitive movements that put undue stress and strain on the spine and surrounding tissue. Other back pain is caused by straining or spraining the ligaments or muscles through overuse or by improperly moving boxes or other heavy objects. These types of injuries account for 80 percent of back pain. The good news is that the pain often goes away within four weeks without any treatment.

Sciatica is characterized by shooting pain, tingling, or numbness felt in the low back or buttock or down one leg. Sciatica usually occurs when a person damages the discs that separate the vertebrae and absorb shock as you move. The pain from sciatica may be made worse by sitting, prolonged standing, and certain exercises (such as sit-ups) that cause the spine to flex.

Most people with minor back injuries relieve their pain with self-medication and exercise. Bed rest can help relieve back pain but may not speed healing.

If your back pain doesn’t improve after 2 weeks of home treatment, make an appointment to visit your physician. In addition to diagnosing your back problem, she may prescribe muscle relaxants, anti-inflammatory drugs, and pain relievers plus help you develop a preventive exercise plan to keep future back injuries at bay. Your doctor also may suggest physical therapy or chiropractic, acupuncture, massage therapy, or other alternative therapies to provide short-term relief.

Pain In the Joints

Of the more than 100 types of arthritis, the most prevalent are osteoarthritis (affecting nearly 16 million people) and rheumatoid arthritis (affecting almost 3 million people). Also known as “degenerative arthritis” or “wear-and-tear” arthritis, osteoarthritis causes the progressive breakdown of cartilage until bones rub against each other. This causes damage to the bones and underlying tissue resulting in tenderness and pain. Besides the hand and finger joints, osteoarthritis can also affect the hip, knee, and spine joints. This type of arthritis causes less inflammation than other forms of arthritis and can be managed with effective treatment.

The type of arthritis that causes swelling is called rheumatoid arthritis, a chronic, autoimmune disease in which the tissues lining the joints become inflamed. This causes swelling and pain in the hands, wrists, elbows, feet, ankles, knees, and neck. Because the cause of the disease is unknown, there’s no way to prevent it. The good news is that symptoms can be relieved and disease progression can be slowed with effective treatment.

If you don’t have a severe case of rheumatoid arthritis, you can start to make some lifestyle and medication changes to better live with the disease. Consult with your doctor before making any modifications to your normal routine. These suggestions also can help help ease the pain of osteoarthritis:

• Try nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs).
• Rethink your priorities. Learn to prioritize tasks and to plan your day to allow for plenty of rest.
• Protect your joints. If they hurt, rest. Use stronger and larger joints whenever possible; for example, use your hip or shoulder instead of your hands to open a door. Use adaptive tools, such as lightweight pots and pans, to make tasks easier.
• Exercise. Maintaining muscle strength and range of motion is key to managing the disease’s symptoms. In general, swimming and walking are good choices. Talk with your doctor about developing a sound exercise program. See Moving Around Spells Relief: How Exercise Helps Pain.
• Use heat therapy. Soaking stiff hand joints in paraffin baths and taking warm showers or baths after long periods of sitting or sleeping can help relieve joint stiffness.

PAIN MEDICATIONS

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