Codeine is a medicine known as an opioid. It is a painkiller (also known as an analgesic) and is used for the short-term treatment of pain in a range of conditions, including headache, migraine, toothache, period pain, and muscle pain. It can be used by adults and children ages 12 years and over as prescribed by your doctor. Codeine also comes in combination with other painkillers, namely ibuprofen, aspirin, and acetaminophen. These codeine combination products are very effective painkillers. Codeine can also be used to treat a dry, tickly cough and as is sometimes combined with other medications, such as decongestants or antihistamines.

Co-codamol contains acetaminophen and codeine, which are two different types of painkillers. Tylenol with codeine contains the same active ingredients approved for use in the US but requires a prescription. It can be used for the short-term treatment of pain in a range of conditions, including headache, migraine, toothache, period pain, and muscle aches. It can be prescribed by your doctor if other painkillers like ibuprofen, aspirin, and acetaminophen have been ineffective.

Chronic pain is one of the toughest conditions to live with – either it’s unrelenting and making it impossible to get normal activities done, or it can come and go unpredictably, forcing you to cancel work or social plans. There are no clear figures as to how common chronic pain is but it may affect as many as one in three people. It's defined as persistent or episodic pain lasting more than three months and is a complex problem that isn’t just a simple physical one because it affects our mental health as well. As our nervous system adjusts to chronic pain, sensations become heightened and more widespread, and this complexity comes from our brain processing function, where pain can start to prevent everyday activities and dominate normal life. Our world becomes smaller and with less to distract us - and living in fear of pain - our pain sensation becomes even more heightened and worse. Chronic pain is more likely to come about from the slow pain fibers, which are loudly telling you that there’s injury: you should rest and recover by not moving much. This is opposed to the fast pain fibers that let you know your toe has been stubbed and makes you move away from the external threat (with much hopping and howling). But resting for months on end is not likely to serve any useful purpose, and often sets up new problems, both mentally and physically. We also now know there are two forms of chronic pain called primary chronic pain and secondary chronic pain. Chronic primary pain may affect around 1-6% of the population, and refers to the pain felt in conditions such as fibromyalgia, complex regional pain and chronic primary headache. Chronic secondary pain is more common and refers to pain from conditions such as low back pain, joint pain and shingles pain.

Difflam is a branded version of the anti-inflammatory and pain relief medication benzydamine. It primarily comes in three formulations: mouth spray, mouth rinse and lozenges. It is important that it is taken with food as it can cause stomach irritation. This medication is not available in the US.

Excedrin Extra Strength contains aspirin, acetaminophen, and caffeine. This triple-action tablet can be used for the treatment of mild to moderate pain, including headache, migraine, back pain, rheumatic pains, muscle aches and pains, period pains, toothaches, sore throat, fever, and cold symptoms.

CBD oil, also known as cannabis oil or cannabidiol oil, is formed by extracting cannabidiol from the cannabis or hemp plant and putting this chemical into the oil. It has recently become well known, with many health companies advertising it and selling it legally as a health supplement; however, the legality of cannabis-based vs. hemp-based CBD oil varies at both the federal and state level, making it very confusing for purchasers. Non-prescription CBD oil available to buy is not FDA-approved, and so these products undergo lower levels of scrutiny than medications. Because of this, there remain questions over the quality of these "health supplements" with potential variations in quality. There is not a huge amount of research on CBD but it has been shown that in some people it can help in the treatment of severe epilepsy that doesn’t respond to standard treatments. It is also thought to have some anti-inflammatory properties and may help reduce anxiety and chronic pain. CBD oil has also been studied for severe sickness due to chemotherapy and severe muscle problems in a condition called multiple sclerosis. Some of these studies included a combination of both CBD and THC. Potential side effects of taking CBD oil are sleepiness, dizziness, and bowel symptoms. It can also affect your liver and may interact with medications, including painkillers and anti-epileptic medication.

FlexiSEQ gel is drug-free and available to purchase without a prescription. It is designed to target joint pain and stiffness with the aim of improving joint mobility. It can be used to help with osteoarthritis which is a common form of arthritis. As FlexiSEQ gels are drug-free, they do not have the same side effects as nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) pain relief gels which also makes them safer to use. FlexiSEQ gels are also unlikely to interact with other medications, and can be a good alternative for people who are unable to use NSAID gels due to their medical conditions or other medications. Two FlexiSEQ gels are available, FlexiSEQ (for Joint Wear & Tear) and FlexiSEQ Max Strength (for Osteoarthritis); the latter is a stronger version explicitly designed for osteoarthritis treatment.

Rub-on pain relief gels are the go-to remedy for people who are targeting pain relief in localized areas, such as sore muscles or aching joints in the back and knees. They can be especially helpful in patients with arthritis. They are also very useful for people who are unable to take oral medications such as painkiller tablets or solutions for whatever reason – you can't tolerate certain side effects, or it may interfere with your other health conditions or medications. This is because little of the gel's active ingredient is absorbed into the body. You can use them alongside tablets or instead of tablets on days when the pain is mild. You can use pain relief gels as and when you need, and most are available to buy over-the-counter, so they are certainly worth trying instead of booking a doctor's appointment.

Sciatica is the sensation of pain, tingling, or burning running along the course of the sciatic nerve. This is a large nerve that emerges from the spine, in the lower part of the back, and extends across each buttock to the back of the thigh, the outside edge of the lower leg, and to the foot. You have two sciatic nerves, one coming out from each side of the spine. Sciatic pain occurs due to compression or inflammation of the sciatic nerve. This may be in response to a sporting or lifting injury to the lower back, prolonged sitting, or sometimes it's caused by a slipped disc. The specific location of the pain or altered sensation depends on where the nerve is irritated or compressed. Sciatica often resolves on its own, and pain can vary, but it's usually worse in the first few days, and this can be managed with non-drug treatments and painkillers. The best painkillers for your sciatica will often depend on the severity and intensity of the pain, as well as any other health conditions you have and preferences for types of treatment.

Back pain is a common ailment that can sometimes require medication for effective relief. In this detailed article, we will explore different types of back pain and discuss the most suitable medicines for each case. It is crucial to understand that the strongest treatment is not always the best option, and milder approaches can be equally effective, such as stretching exercises.

If you're suffering with some form of arthritis, you are not alone. Millions of people are affected by this condition, and one of the most commonly affected areas is the knees. Knee pain can make walking from your couch to your kitchen feel like a tortuous journey. Osteoarthritis is the most common form of arthritis that people experience. This is where the protective cartilage on the ends of your bones breaks down causing joint pain, swelling, and stiffness. Fortunately, there are some great creams and gels available to help with pain relief. In this article, we'll suggest the best creams to help treat arthritic knees.

Back pain will affect most of us at some time, but it usually improves on its own within a few days or weeks. Musculoskeletal back pain is the most common type, and it typically occurs in the lower back. This is the most vulnerable area to injury, and it can arise when you have lifted something heavy with incorrect positioning, or over time from overuse or incorrect posture. Doctors call this injury mechanical back pain. It mostly affects those aged between 40 and 60 years, and it can affect work and usual activities while you recover. Most cases are managed without seeing your doctor. It’s best to avoid strenuous activity and treat yourself with gentle stretches or hot and cold compresses, plus painkillers if needed. Here at Healthwords, we will always tell you that prevention is better than cure. But once you have a musculoskeletal back injury, you will want to do all you can to quickly get back on your feet and be free from pain. We’ve got some suggestions for you.