The Down-low on Pain Relief Medication

Does your back ache? Do you have a headache, toothache or sprained ankle? What medication should you choose for pain relief?

In most cases these types of pain are common and can be treated with over the counter pain medications which make up a $2 billion a year industry. The few basic medications available to treat your pain must be chosen wisely and you must be aware of the possible side effects of these drugs so that they don’t cause more harm than good.

The potential for harm rises with increasing doses of the medication and in taking it for long periods of time. The elderly and those with chronic medical conditions face a greater chance of experiencing troublesome side effects.

In spite of the pharmacy shelves being filled with a mind boggling combination of available pain relieving drugs, they are really all made up of any one of the following types of drug:

Acetaminophen (Tylenol)

This is probably the safest of the drugs when taken at the recommended doses. It is classified as an analgesic (pain reliever) as well as a fever reducer. It can be used by all ages, except infants under 3 months old. It can have a toxic effect on the liver and should be used very cautiously, if at all, by those with liver disease or those who drink more than three alcoholic beverages a day. A big advantage of acetaminophen over the others is its tendency not to irritate or harm the stomach. It can be taken if one is also taking a blood thinning medication. Follow the dosing directions carefully.

Ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin IB)

This is called an anti-inflammatory analgesic because it acts not only on most any type of pain but also on inflammation. Many people use this medication for relief of soft tissue aches and pains associated with vigorous exercise or hard physical labor. Like acetaminophen, it is very effective as a fever reducer for young and old. Do not use in infants under six months of age without consulting your doctor.

Unlike acetaminophen, it does not harm the liver in recommended doses, but, it can be very irritating to the stomach possibly leading to bleeding and/or stomach ulcers. Long term high dose usage has been linked to increase risk of heart and kidney disease. It should not be taken while taking a blood thinning drug.

Naproxen Sodium (Aleve)

This is also an anti-inflammatory drug taken for the same indications as ibuprofen. It can be taken less frequently than ibuprofen and still achieve the same benefit. It causes similar side effects to ibuprofen with perhaps less likelihood of stomach and kidney problems.

ASPIRIN (Bayer, Excedrin)

This time-honored drug is also an anti-inflammatory, analgesic, and fever reducer. Under the care of a physician, it is now being used in a low dose to help prevent heart disease. It’s cheap and plentiful, but has more potential side effects compared to the others. It is more frequently associated with stomach irritation and bleeding. It is not recommended in children less than 16 years old. Because of the potential side effects, I personally would not take aspirin to treat routine pain unless there was no other choice.

The bottom line is that if you have mild pain for whatever reason, any of the above drugs could be helpful, but results vary for each individual. Pay close attention to the various side effects which I have listed and which can be found on the medication label. Be sure to see your doctor if you get no pain relief from these commonly used mentioned medications or if your pain lasts more than a few days.

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Learning About My Cancer

I would like to begin this week’s article with a deeply sincere appreciation for the outpouring of emails, cards, well wishes and words of encouragement from my readers, patients, friends, family and even strangers. This support will go a long way in getting me through my recent diagnosis of multiple myeloma. I’ve survived my first two weeks of chemotherapy and feel fine, except for the persistent back pain.

Although described as being somewhat uncommon, I’m aware of a number of people who have had multiple myeloma and many more who are acquainted with or related to someone with the disease. The good news is that most of them are doing well. I like to hear that.

So what is multiple myeloma?  It is a cancer that causes an over production of plasma cells — a type of white blood cell found in the bone marrow. Plasma cells function to produce antibodies which are necessary for our immune system to fight infections. In multiple myeloma, the growth of the cancerous cells causes them to produce an over-accumulation of a certain protein called immunoglobulin that travels throughout the body and can cause damage to various organs.

The other problem, as in my case, is that the plasma cells can enter normal healthy bone causing osteoporosis as well as causing local areas of bone weakness leading to bone fractures, such as I have in my spine. I also have the typical anemia because the plasma cells crowd out the red blood cells in the marrow.

The cause of multiple myeloma remains a mystery, however there are some associated risk factors such as:

– Being over age 65.

– Being a male.

– Being African-American.

– Having a family member with multiple myeloma.

Early stages of multiple myeloma may cause no symptoms. However, as the disease progresses, plasma cells accumulate in the bones and other tissues causing these symptoms:

– Unexplainable persistent pain in any location of the body especially the back.

– Extreme weakness and fatigue.

– Unintended weight loss.

– Recurring infections.

After seeing your doctor for any of these symptoms, you will have some blood tests done and if there is some indication that you may have multiple myeloma you will be referred to a doctor specializing in blood and cancer diseases. Further testing can prove or disprove whether or not one has multiple myeloma.

Therapeutic options include the one I just began, which is undergoing up to four months of chemotherapy followed by a stem cell transplant which I will explain in more detail as I get further along with my treatment.

What I have learned from my experience is that it is important to recognize early symptoms and see your doctor about your concerns. As with any cancer, the sooner it is detected and treated the better the chance of survival. If you or a loved one have any of the above-mentioned risk factors and unexplainable symptoms, see your doctor.

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