Medications can relieve pain, prevent swelling and treat related problems. They will most likely be a part of your treatment plan. Medications for pain include those that can be purchased 'over the counter' such as paracetamol and some non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), but most analgesic medications ('pain-killers') should only be taken after consultation with your doctor, so that they are used appropriately.

Pain medications can be used in many ways. Depending on your condition, you may take medications:

• For immediate relief of acute pain
• For daily relief of chronic pain
• When your pain is more intense than usual
• Before activities that tend to trigger pain

Medications used for pain management are:

• Simple analgesics
• Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs)
• COX-2 inhibitors
• Anti-neuropathic agents
• Opioids
• Steroids
• Local anaesthetics

These medications are available in different forms:

• Oral (tablet, caplet, capsule, syrup)
• Injection
• Topical (cream, lotion, gel, spray, skin patch)
• Rectal suppositories

Taking medication safely
Make sure that you:

• Inform your doctor or pharmacist about all other medications that you're taking, including herbs and vitamins
• Take your medication as directed, on time and in the stated dose
• Tell your doctor or pharmacist if your medication doesn't relieve your pain or work for a long enough time, or if you have side effects
• Don't take other people's pain medications; they may not be safe for you 
• Keep your medication in their original containers, don't remove the labels
• Avoid alcohol, tobacco and illicit drugs; these may interact with your medications or make your pain worse
• Discard all medication with past expiry dates