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 Pain is the body's warning system, alerting you that something is wrong. The International Association for the Study of Pain defines it as an unpleasant experience associated with actual or potential tissue damage to a person's body. Specialized nervous system cells (neurons) that transmit pain signals are found throughout the skin and other body tissues. These cells respond to things such as injury or tissue damage. For example, when a harmful agent such as a sharp knife comes in contact with your skin, chemical signals travel from neurons in the skin through nerves in the spinal cord to your brain, where they are interpreted as pain.
Most forms of arthritis are associated with pain that can be divided into two general categories: acute and chronic. Acute pain is temporary. It can last a few seconds or longer but wanes as healing occurs. Some examples of things that cause acute pain include burns, cuts, and fractures. Chronic pain, such as that seen in people with osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis, ranges from mild to severe and can last weeks, months, and years to a lifetime.
There are a number of steps in getting the pain relief that's right for you. The choice of treatment depends on the type of pain, how severe it is, and how you respond to your pain therapy.
Medication is often the first therapy doctor’s use in managing chronic pain. The first step in seeking pain relief is usually to try common oral pain relievers (pills) such as aspirin and acetaminophen, and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). Some of these medications are available without a prescription, while others require a prescription from your doctor.
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