Although there are many pain control therapy out there, I will only talk about three of them. Following the disscussion on pain therapy, I wil talk about some of the different painkillers that are commonly used to treat pain.
The first method of treatment that will be discussed here is electrical stimulation. An electrical stimulator for pain relief is a small box-shaped device, also known as the transcutaneous (across the skin) electrical nerve stimulators (TENS) (Catalano 1987; Cook 1998)). The small box is a transmitter that can be carried around with the individual. It transmits electrical impulses through wires to surface electrodes taped to the skin surrounding the painful area. When the device is activated, most people feel an electrical buzzing or tingling sensation, the intensity of which the individual can control by a dial on the transmitting box. This method of treatment is designed to work on the principle of the gate control theory. Therefore, when activated the electrical signal is picked up and transmitted over the large nerve fiber tracts (A-beta fibers), which in turn inhibit the small nerve fiber tracts (A-delta and C fibers) from transmitting the pain signals to the pain.
TENS is also suggested to work in two other ways. First, in addition to inhibiting pain sensation, the tingling sensation also helps to distract you from the pain (Catalano 1987). Second, some researcher believe that the electrical impulse produced by TENS also stimulates the release of endorphins in the brain and the spinal cord (Catalano, 1987).
Another method for treating pain is Acupuncture. Acupuncture is an ancient Chinese technique of inserting fine needles under the skin at selected points in the body (see diagram 5) The needles are agitated by the practitioner to produce pain relief, which people have report lasts for hours, or even days (Cook 1998).
Acupuncture operates on the principle of "meridians" or imaginary lines drawn on the body that represented internal organs and the trunk (Catalano 1987). Points on these lines are thought to connect different parts of the body. Thus, acupuncture is believe to have an effect on pain relief by stimulating the release of endorphins. Studies have demonstrated that there are higher levels of endorphins in cerebrospinal fluid following acupuncture (Cook, 1998). In addition, studies had also show that injections of naloxone blocks the analgesic effects produced by acupuncture (Cook 1998). However, these results have not been successfully replicated by other researchers.
The last and third method that I will talk about is heat and cold therapy. Studies shows that heat given either as moist heat or dry heat produces relief of pain, muscle relaxation, sedation, and increased local circulation (Hart, 1974). Both heat and cold therapy reduce muscle tension, spasming, swelling or inflammation (Catalano 1987). Heat and cold also decrease the number of nerve impulses from the painful area to the brain, thus, decrease pain sensation. The choice between either heat or cold therapy is usually dependent on the patient. Both are shown to be equally effective in pain control (Catalano 1987).