Five myths about pain

Good Housekeeping online 08.08.2008

There are a lot of myths around pain, who has it and why, and how we cope with it

woman reflected in broken mirror We shatter some common misconceptions...

MYTH 1
You'll become addicted to painkillers
Use even small amounts of the opiate-based types (the group that includes codeine, co-proxamol (which has recently lost its licence), tramadol and morphine) when you're not in pain and, it's true, you may become addicted. But use them when you are and addiction is virtually unheard of, no matter how big the dose. This is because being in pain changes the way your body responds to these kinds of drugs.

MYTH 2
Some people are complete wimps
We're all different in our perception and expression of pain, and in our reactions to pain relief. Use of Patient Controlled Analgesia (PCA) machines in hospitals has revealed that people discover a level that's ‘right' for them and that there's a fourfold difference in ‘right' levels between individuals. This isn't related to body weight, age, nationality, sex or to the cause of the pain.

MYTH 3
You have pain for a reason
Not always. If you put your hand over a flame, then of course pain insists you withdraw it. If you sprain an ankle, the lower limb (not just the foot) becomes tender, forcing you to stop using it. But in chronic conditions, pain is a bit like a fire alarm going off when there's no fire. It no longer has a purpose.

MYTH 4
It's better to do without painkillers if you can
Acute pain, such as toothache, can make you frightened and miserable, prevent sleep and delay recovery. So don't deny yourself painkillers. But you need to balance short-term pain relief with side effects (constipation with codeine, stomach upset with anti-inflammatories). For longer-term pain, analgesics are important but they should only be part of how you get your pain under control.

MYTH 5
If you take painkillers too often, they won't work when you really need them
If you regularly take morphine-based drugs, your body does develop a tolerance. But other painkillers don't induce tolerance in the same way.

Click here to read more about pain and how to cope with it

Never treat pain yourself for more than a few weeks without seeking medical attention.

The answers to specific problems may not apply to everyone and are not substitutes for professional medical advice. If you're worried, see your GP. For more information, visit www.netdoctor.co.uk