No one totally understands how pain works. Although pain makes a certain part of the body hurt, it is actually felt in the brain. When someone hurts a specific part of their body, the nerve endings in it create sensations. There are different receptors in the brain for different types of sensations. The damaged tissue in the damaged part of the body also releases chemicals that make the pain more acute. Some of these chemicals are called prostaglandins and when these chemicals work in cells in the damaged tissues, they release chemicals using and enzyme called cyclooxygenase 2 (COX-2). The prostaglandings case the nerve endings to send a sensation through the nerves and into the brian, where the pain sensation is created. The prostaglandins create only some of the pain, but it is a significant amount. Prostaglandins also cause swelling.

Pain can be important because it reminds a person that they are hurt and that they need to be careful until their injury is healed. However, sometimes this pain interferes with other obligations. And sometimes pain is present without a direct injury. For example, arthritis sufferers experience acute pain without any direct injury. Headaches afflict people all the time. Women experience pain during their periods.

Luckily, a variety of medications have been developed to deal with pain. Prescription and over-the-counter medications are available in varying strengths. Medicines such as ibuprofen and aspirin are fairly mild and cause few regular side effects. However, medicines such as narcotics are much stronger and should be taken with extreme caution.

Before taking any medication it is important to talk with a doctor. Each medicine has its own unique set of side effects and each medication conflicts badly with certain pre-existing conditions. In addition, because pain isn’t totally understood certain medications work better for certain people. Certain medications produce more side effects in some people than in others.

Many types of pain can be treated with both prescription and nonprescription medicines. Patients who find themselves depending heavily on over-the-counter medications should talk with their physician and consider switching to a prescription. In some cases, taking over-the-counter medicine too regularly can actually create new symptoms.