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Put an end to pain.
Sudden pain can stop you in your tracks. Acute pain, in particular can appear suddenly, like in the case of an injury; breaking a bone or cutting a finger. People also can experience acute pain after an operation, dental treatment or during childbirth.
What distinguishes acute pain from chronic pain is that there's usually a specific incident that triggers acute pain. And, it diminishes over time, as the injury or operation incision heals. Chronic pain, as experienced by people with rheumatoid arthritis, doesn't reduce over time and lasts longer than six months.
Medical science is efficient at treating most cases of acute and chronic pain. Painkillers are a recent invention, and have only really been in common use for the last four generations or so. There are different ways of treating acute and chronic pain. These include medical treatments, like medicines and surgery to relieve pain, and non-medical treatments, which could include lifestyle changes and alternative treatments.
Remember though that painkillers don't make the pain go away, it simply interferes with the pain messages your body is sending
to your brain, reducing the extent to which you feel the pain. The medical treatments include basic drug forms: non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), paracetamol and opioids (both strong and weak).
These can be taken orally as liquids, capsules or tablets; injected, or inserted into the rectum as suppositories. Some painkillers are available as ointments or creams.
NSAIDs
These include well-known brand names like Voltaren and Brufen. Aspirin is also an NSAID, but is often used for its blood-thinning effects. NSAIDs are effective against mild to moderate pain and also against inflammation and fever. These drugs are not steroids (cortisone). This type of painkiller is often used for menstrual pain, headaches, post-operative pain, trauma, bone pain and arthritis. Any medicines containing aspirin can lead to an increased risk of stomach ulcers, so doctors monitor patients who use this for chronic pain.
Paracetamol
These include brand names like Panado and Painamol. Paracetamol is a popular painkiller and can be bought over the counter. It has few side-effects, but if taken in excess, can lead to liver failure. Long-term use of paracetamol for chronic pain needs to be monitored carefully for this reason. Paracetamol is used to relieve mild to moderate pain and to reduce fever. Many cold and flu remedies contain paracetamol.
Opioids
There are weak and strong opioids. Strong opioids are most often taken in a hospital setting, and controlled very carefully,
as they can be very addictive, and lead to drowsiness and sedation. But they're extremely effective against severe pain. Codeine and morphine and pethidine are all opioids. Weaker opioids are often taken by people who experience chronic pain. Opioids should never be taken together with other nervous system depressants like sleeping tablets or alcohol. Many painkillers on the market are actually a combination of the above painkilling drugs.
There are many non-medical treatment options to treat pain. These can include lifestyle changes, like exercise, a change in diet, weight loss, or rest. Alternative treatments can include hypnosis, acupuncture, massage and biofeedback.
Remember: everyone experiences pain differently, and will respond in a different way to medical and non-medical treatments. 
