Pain management means: A process that provides medical care to relieve or decrease pain. Analgesic medication, such as aspirin, can be used to treat mild-to-moderate pain. Opiates and other narcotics can be combined with analgesics, with nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, steroids, or pain medication when there is inflammation. Or, with antidepressants. These medications may potentiate pain medications, but not increase the dose. They also affect how the brain perceives pain. There are risks of addiction and side effects from using narcotics. The risk of becoming addicted is rarely a problem for terminally ill patients. Devices for self-administration are often used by hospitalized patients suffering from severe pain. In pain management programs, there are other options. Patients who are bedridden can simply change their position or use pillows to help them get into a better posture. Some patients have reported increased pain relief with massage, acupuncture and biofeedback.
(in Medical Dictionary)