Pain Management Best Practices Inter-Agency Task Force Report
The exact way in which these medicines control pain is unclear, but it is thought that they minimize the effects of nerves that sense pain. Some examples include carbamazepine , gabapentin , pregabalin , and topiramate . Topical pain relievers are also available without a doctor's prescription. These products include creams, lotions, or sprays that are applied to the skin in order to relieve pain from sore muscles and arthritis. Some examples of topical pain relievers include Aspercreme, BenGay, capsaicin cream, diclofenac gel, and Icy Hot. Effective management of chronic (long-term) pain, however, frequently requires the coordinated efforts of the pain management team. Effective pain management does not always mean total eradication of all pain. Rather, it often means achieving adequate quality of life in the presence of pain, through any combination of lessening the pain and/or better understanding it and being able to live happily despite it. Consensus in evidence-based medic...