There are various options for pharmaceutical treatment. For example, there are topical medications. You will apply topical medications to your skin. And some medications are systemic. You will take these medications in pill form. Footwear can help greatly with foot pain, the Orthotic Shop have a great deal of experience in helping people with foot pain.
The Orthotic Shop share a summary of the main categories of medications for pain relief:
1. Oral Analgesics
These medications include pain relievers, like acetaminophen (Tylenol). Acetaminophen relieves pain, but it does not relieve inflammation. Too much acetaminophen can cause liver failure, so follow directions to avoid taking too much acetaminophen.
2. Topical Analgesics
You can find topical pain medications in gel, cream, or lotion form. Once you spread the medication on your skin, it penetrates your skin to relieve mild foot pain. The Orthotic Shop recommend comfortable footwear that support your feet.
Turpentine oil, eucalyptus oil, or menthol in some topical preparations reduces pain. How? It uses a different type of sensation to distract the nerves.
Salicylates are delivered through the skin by another group. A chemical called substance P is countered by another group. The purpose of substance P is to transmit pain signals to the brain.
There is a derivative of a natural ingredient in these creams. You can find the natural ingredient in cayenne pepper. That is why they can string or burn when you first use them.
3. Nonsteroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs (NSAIDs)
You may or may not need to have a prescription to get NSAIDs. Naproxen (Aleve), ibuprofen (Motrin, Advil, others), and aspirin (Bufferin, Bayer, others) are some of the most popular over-the-counter NSAIDs.
Do you want to take an NSAD to relieve pain? Then, you might want to take a low dosage until your pain is gone. You will take an NSAID for a short period of time. During this period comfortable footwear from the Orthotic Shop is essential.
However, your doctor may encourage you to take an NSAID at higher doses and for a longer period of time if your condition involves pain and inflammation, such as a sprain or Achille’s tendinitis. So, you may take an NSAID for several weeks.
What is the difference? The pain-relieving effects of NSAIDs are felt almost immediately. However, experiencing the full anti-inflammatory effects takes time, so you can only experience them once there is enough build up of the medication in your blood stream.
However, NSAID medications can have various side effects, so talk to your doctor before you use them regularly.
NSAIDs medications may fail to solve the pain problems on your foot. If this is your case, your doctor may describe one of the following prescription medication and treatment options.
4. COX-2 Inhibitor
COX-2 inhibitor is a type of prescription NSAID, like celecoxib (Celebrex). It is used to relieve pain and inflammation. It can also reduce the risk of bleeding and ulcers. It is difficult to tolerate older NSAIDs due to ulcers and bleeding. There are side effects of COX-2 inhibitors. Therefore, talk to your doctor before using these medications for a long period of time.
5. Nerve Pain Medications
Nerve damage (neuropathy) causes pain that cannot respond well to NSAIDs or acetaminophen. Pregabalin (Lyrica), gabapentin (Neurontin), and amitriptyline (Elavil) are the most commonly prescribed medications for neuropathy.
6. Nerve Blocks
Doctors use a nerve block to prevent pain signals from reaching the brain. How? They inject the nerve block to numb a particular nerve. A nerve block works the way lidocaine works in the office of a dentist. It is mostly used during surgical procedures and for severe pains.
7. Corticosteroids Corticosteroids are the synthetic forms of the hormones that occur naturally. Adrenal glands produce these hormones. Healthcare professionals give corticosteroids in the form of injections or pills to decrease inflammation and relieve pain. You will apply topical corticosteroids directly to your skin. Topical corticosteroids treat rashes, but they do not relieve pain because of musculoskeletal injuries.
