Look under name of condition causing pain.Encyclopedia Entry for Pain :Pain and your emotions. The mind and body work together, they cannot be separated. The way your mind controls thoughts and attitudes affects the way your body controls pain. Pain itself, and the fear of pain, can cause you to avoid both physical and social activities. Over times this leads to less physical strength and weaker social relationships. It can also cause further lack of functioning and pain.Stress has both physical and emotional effects on our bodies. It can raise our blood pressure, increase our breathing rate and heart rate, and cause muscle tension. These things are hard on the body. They can lead to fatigue, sleeping problems, and changes in appetite. If you feel tired but have a hard time falling asleep, you may have stress-related fatigue. Or you may notice that you can fall asleep, but you have a hard time staying asleep. These are all reasons to talk with your doctor about the physical effects stress is having on your body. Stress can also lead to anxiety, depression, a dependence on others, or an unhealthy dependence on medicines.Depression is very common among people who have chronic pain. Pain can cause depression or make existing depression worse. Depression can also make existing pains worse. If you or your family members have or have had depression, there is a greater risk that you could develop depression from your chronic pain. Seek help at the first sign of depression. Even mild depression can affect how well you can manage your pain and stay active. Signs of depression include: Frequent feelings of sadness, anger, worthlessness, or hopelessness Less energy Less interest in activities, or less pleasure from your activities Difficulty falling asleep or staying asleep Decreased or increased appetite that causes major weight loss or weight gain Difficulty concentrating Thoughts about death, suicide, or hurting yourself.A common type of therapy for people with chronic pain is cognitive behavioral therapy. Seeking help from a therapist can help you: Learn how to have positive thoughts instead of negative ones Reduce your fear of pain Make important relationships stronger Develop a sense of freedom from your pain If your pain is the result of an accident or emotional trauma, your health care provider can assess you for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Many people with PTSD are not able to deal with their back pain until they deal with the emotional stress that their accidents or traumas caused. If you think you may be depressed, or if you are having a hard time controlling your emotions, talk with your provider. Get help sooner rather than later. Your provider may also suggest medicines to help with your feelings of stress or sadness.Henschke N, Ostelo RW, van Tulder MW, et al. Behavioural treatment for chronic low-back pain. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2010;(7):CD002014. PMID: 20614428 www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20614428. Schubiner H. Emotional awareness for pain.Encyclopedia Entry for Pain :Pain medications - narcotics. Narcotics work by binding to receptors in the brain, which blocks the feeling of pain. You should not use a narcotic drug for more than 3 to 4 months, unless your provider instructs you otherwise. NAMES OF COMMON NARCOTICS Codeine Fentanyl -- available as a patch Hydrocodone Hydromorphone Meperidine Morphine Oxycodone Tramadol TAKING NARCOTICS These drugs can be abused and habit-forming. They have been associated with accidental overdose deaths. Always take narcotics as prescribed. Your provider may suggest that you take your medicine only when you feel pain. Or, your provider may suggest taking a narcotic on a regular schedule. Allowing the medicine to wear off before taking more of it can make the pain difficult to control. Taking narcotics to control the pain of cancer or other medical problems does not itself lead to dependence. Store narcotics safely and securely in your home. You may need a pain specialist to help you manage long-term pain. SIDE EFFECTS OF NARCOTICS Drowsiness and impaired judgment often occur with these medicines. When taking a narcotic, do not drink alcohol, drive, or operate heavy machinery. You can relieve itching by reducing the dose or talking to your provider about switching medicines. To help with constipation, drink more fluids, get more exercise, eat foods with extra fiber, and use stool softeners. If nausea or vomiting occur, try taking the narcotic with food. Withdrawal symptoms are common when you stop taking a narcotic. Symptoms include strong desire for the medicine (craving), yawning, insomnia, restlessness, mood swings, or diarrhea. To prevent withdrawal symptoms, your provider may recommend you gradually lower the dosage over time.Painkillers; Drugs for pain; Analgesics; Opioids.Issa M, Celestin J, Wasan AD. Issues associated with opioid use.Encyclopedia Entry for Pain :Painful menstrual periods. Many women have painful periods. Sometimes, the pain makes it hard to do normal household, job, or school-related activities for a few days during each menstrual cycle. Painful menstruation is the leading cause of lost time from school and work among women in their teens and 20s.Painful menstrual periods fall into two groups, depending on the cause: Primary dysmenorrhea Secondary dysmenorrhea Primary dysmenorrhea is menstrual pain that occurs around the time that menstrual periods first begin in otherwise healthy young women. In most cases, this pain is not related to a specific problem with the uterus or other pelvic organs. Increased activity of the hormone prostaglandin, which is produced in the uterus, is thought to play a role in this condition. Secondary dysmenorrhea is menstrual pain that develops later in women who have had normal periods. It is often related to problems in the uterus or other pelvic organs, such as: Endometriosis Fibroids Intrauterine device (IUD) made of copper Pelvic inflammatory disease Premenstrual syndrome (PMS) Sexually transmitted infection Stress and anxiety.The following steps may help you to avoid prescription medicines: Apply a heating pad to your lower belly area, below your belly button. Never fall asleep with the heating pad on. Do light circular massage with your fingertips around your lower belly area. Drink warm beverages. Eat light but frequent meals. Keep your legs raised while lying down, or lie on your side with your knees bent. Practice relaxation techniques such as meditation or yoga. Try over-the-counter anti-inflammatory medicine, such as ibuprofen. Start taking it the day before your period is expected to start, and continue taking it regularly for the first few days of your period. Try vitamin B6, calcium, and magnesium supplements, especially if your pain is from PMS. Take warm showers or baths. Walk or exercise regularly, including pelvic rocking exercises. Lose weight if you are overweight. Get regular, aerobic exercise. If these self-care measures do not work, your health care provider may offer you treatment such as: Birth control pills Mirena IUD Prescription anti-inflammatory medicines Prescription pain relievers (including narcotics, for brief periods) Antidepressants Antibiotics.Call your provider right away if you have: Increased or foul-smelling vaginal discharge Fever and pelvic pain Sudden or severe pain, especially if your period is more than 1 week late and you have been sexually active. Also call if: Treatments do not relieve your pain after 3 months. You have pain and had an IUD placed more than 3 months ago. You pass blood clots or have other symptoms with the pain. Your pain occurs at times other than menstruation, begins more than 5 days before your period, or continues after your period is over.Your provider will examine you and ask questions about your medical history and symptoms. Tests and procedures that may be done include: Complete blood count (CBC) Cultures to rule out sexually transmitted infections Laparoscopy Ultrasound Treatment depends on what is causing your pain.Menstruation - painful; Dysmenorrhea; Periods - painful; Cramps - menstrual; Menstrual cramps.Female reproductive anatomy Female reproductive anatomy Painful periods (dysmenorrhea) Painful periods (dysmenorrhea) Relieving PMS Relieving PMS Uterus Uterus.Alvero R. Dysmenorrhea.Encyclopedia Entry for Pain :Painful swallowing. Swallowing involves many nerves and muscles in the mouth, throat area, and food pipe (esophagus). Part of swallowing is voluntary. This means you are aware of controlling the action. However, much of swallowing is involuntary. Swallowing Watch this video about: Swallowing Problems at any point in the swallowing process (including chewing, moving food to the back of the mouth, or moving it to the stomach) can result in painful swallowing. Swallowing problems can cause symptoms such as: Chest pain Feeling of food stuck in the throat Heaviness or pressure in the neck or upper chest while eating.Swallowing problems may be due to infections, such as: Cytomegalovirus Gum disease ( gingivitis ) Herpes simplex virus Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) Pharyngitis (sore throat) Thrush Swallowing problems may be due to a problem with the esophagus, such as: Achalasia Esophageal spasms Gastroesophageal reflux disease Inflammation of the esophagus Nutcracker esophagus Ulcer in the esophagus, especially due to the antibiotic doxycycline, aspirin and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) such as ibuprofen, naproxyn Other causes of swallowing problems include: Mouth or throat ulcers Something stuck in the throat (for example, fish or chicken bones) Tooth infection or abscess.Some tips that may help you to ease swallowing pain at home include: Eat slowly and chew your food well. Eat pureed foods or liquids if solid foods are hard to swallow. Avoid very cold or very hot foods if they make your symptoms worse. If someone is choking, immediately perform the Heimlich maneuver.Call your health care provider if you have painful swallowing and: Blood in your stools or your stools appear black or tarry Shortness of breath or lightheadedness Weight loss Tell your provider about any other symptoms that occur with the painful swallowing, including: Abdominal pain Chills Cough Fever Heartburn Nausea or vomiting Sour taste in the mouth Wheezing.Your provider will examine you and ask about your medical history and symptoms, including: Do you have pain when swallowing solids, liquids, or both? Is the pain constant or does it come and go? Is the pain getting worse? Do you have difficulty swallowing? Do you have a sore throat? Does it feel like there is a lump in your throat? Have you inhaled or swallowed any irritating substances? What other symptoms do you have? What other health problems do you have? What medicines do you take? The following tests may be done: Endoscopy with biopsy Barium swallow and upper GI series Chest x-ray Esophageal pH monitoring (measures acid in the esophagus) Esophageal manometry (measures pressure in the esophagus) Esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD) HIV testing Neck x-ray Throat culture.Swallowing - pain or burning; Odynophagia; Burning feeling when swallowing.Throat anatomy Throat anatomy.Devault KR. Symptoms of esophageal disease.Encyclopedia Entry for Pain :Paint, lacquer, and varnish remover poisoning. Paint, lacquer, and varnish removers may contain the following poisonous ingredients: Benzyl alcohol Ethanol Formic acid Methyl alcohol Methylene hydrochloride Naphtha Xylene.Paint, lacquer, and varnish removers are sold under various brand names.Paint lacquer and varnish remover poisoning can cause symptoms in various parts of the body. AIRWAYS AND LUNGS Breathing difficulty (from inhalation) Throat swelling (may also cause breathing difficulty) Rapid, shallow breathing Fluid in the lungs Blood in the lungs Stopped breathing EYES, EARS, NOSE, AND THROAT Severe pain in the throat Severe pain or burning in the nose, eyes, ears, lips, or tongue Vision loss STOMACH AND INTESTINES Abdominal pain -- severe Bloody stools Burns of the esophagus (food pipe) Vomiting, possibly with blood KIDNEY Kidney failure HEART AND BLOOD Collapse Low blood pressure -- develops rapidly Severe change in the level of acid in the blood (pH balance) -- leads to the failure of many organs SKIN Burns Irritation Necrosis (holes) in the skin or underlying tissues NERVOUS SYSTEM Coma (decreased level of consciousness and lack of responsiveness) Confusion Dizziness (from sniffing) Feeling of being drunk (euphoria) Incoordination Unsteadiness Convulsions.Seek immediate medical help. DO NOT make a person throw up unless told to do so by poison control or a health care provider. If the chemical was swallowed, immediately give the person water or milk, unless instructed otherwise by a provider. If the person breathed in the poison, immediately move them to fresh air.Get the following information: Person's age, weight, and condition Name of product (ingredients and strength, if known) Time it was swallowed Amount swallowed.Your local poison center can be reached directly by calling the national toll-free Poison Help hotline (1-800-222-1222) from anywhere in the United States. This hotline number will let you talk to experts in poisoning. They will give you further instructions. This is a free and confidential service. All local poison control centers in the United States use this national number. You should call if you have any questions about poisoning or poison prevention. It does NOT need to be an emergency. You can call for any reason, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.Take the container with you to the hospital, if possible. The provider will measure and monitor the person's vital signs, including temperature, pulse, breathing rate, and blood pressure. Symptoms will be treated as appropriate. The person may receive: Breathing support -- including a tube through the mouth into the lungs, and a breathing machine (ventilator) Bronchoscopy -- camera placed down the throat to see burns in the airways and lungs Chest x-ray ECG (heart tracing) Endoscopy -- camera placed down the throat to see burns in the esophagus and the stomach Fluids through a vein (IV) Tube through the mouth into the stomach to wash out the stomach ( gastric lavage ) Washing of the skin (irrigation) -- perhaps every few hours for several days.How well a person does depends on the amount of poison swallowed and how quickly treatment was received. The faster a person gets medical help, the better the chance for recovery. Swallowing such poisons can have severe effects on many parts of the body. The ultimate outcome depends on the extent of this damage.Paint remover poisoning.Hoyte C. Caustics.Encyclopedia Entry for Pain :Pain Back. Can be caused by a spinal disc infection with anaerobic bacteria, especially the bacterium Propionibacterium acnes.Information from Marcello Allegretti.