Everything you need to know about pain relief
A clinically reviewed, plain-English guide to how pain works and the full range of ways to relieve it.
Medically reviewed by D.C Matt · Lead Director
Last reviewed 1 July 2026
- Acute pain is short-term; chronic pain lasts beyond about three months.
- Leading guidelines recommend non-drug approaches (like exercise) as first-line for many kinds of pain.
- Painkillers relieve symptoms but don't always fix the cause.
How does pain actually work?
Pain is your nervous system's alarm signal — a protective response, not a direct readout of tissue damage.
Specialised nerves detect potential harm and send signals to the brain, which decides how much pain to produce based on many factors — the injury itself, but also stress, sleep, mood and past experience. This is why two people with the same injury can feel very different pain, and why pain sometimes persists after tissues have healed.
What's the difference between acute and chronic pain?
Acute pain is short-term and usually has a clear cause; chronic pain lasts beyond about three months and can persist even after the original injury heals.
- Acute pain — comes on suddenly from injury, inflammation or illness, and typically eases as you heal.
- Chronic pain — lasts longer than roughly three months and may involve a more sensitised nervous system, needing a broader approach.
Knowing which you're dealing with shapes the treatment — acute pain is often about supporting healing, while chronic pain is about calming a persistently sensitive system.
What are the main options for relieving pain?
They fall into a few groups: self-care, physical therapies, psychological approaches and medication — usually most effective in combination.
- Self-care — movement, heat or cold, pacing and good sleep.
- Physical therapies — exercise, physiotherapy and manual therapy.
- Psychological approaches — cognitive behavioural therapy, mindfulness and relaxation, which genuinely reduce pain's impact.
- Medication — from over-the-counter options to prescription medicines where appropriate.
The Postura approach
At Postura Wellness, care for your pain is built around OrthoRestore™ — our signature method that combines chiropractic and physiotherapy into one coordinated plan. Depending on your assessment, it can bring together chiropractic adjustments, dry needling, muscle manipulation, Active Release Technique, and targeted exercises, supported where helpful by technology such as shockwave therapy and bioelectric therapy. The aim is to relieve symptoms while addressing the underlying causes, with a plan tailored to you.
Do painkillers fix the problem?
Usually not on their own — medication manages the symptom, but lasting relief comes from addressing what's driving the pain.
Over-the-counter options such as paracetamol (acetaminophen) and anti-inflammatories can help in the short term. Stronger prescription medicines, including opioids, carry real risks of side effects and dependence and are used cautiously and briefly. A pharmacist or doctor can advise what's suitable for you — this guide doesn't replace that individual advice, and the specific medicine and dose should always come from a professional.
What can you do to relieve pain without medication?
A lot — movement, heat and cold, manual therapy, better sleep and stress management are all evidence-supported, and often recommended first.
- Keep moving — gentle activity and exercise are among the most effective tools, especially for back and joint pain.
- Heat and cold — simple, low-risk ways to ease many aches.
- Manual and physical therapy — hands-on treatment plus a tailored exercise plan.
- Mind-body approaches — CBT, mindfulness and relaxation reduce how much pain affects you.
- Sleep and stress — both strongly influence pain, so improving them helps.
Major guidelines now recommend these non-drug approaches as first-line for many types of pain, because they help without the risks of stronger medication.
When should you see a professional about pain?
See someone if pain is severe, persistent, unexplained, or interfering with daily life — and urgently for certain warning signs.
A clinician can diagnose the cause, rule out anything serious and build a plan. Don't wait it out if pain lasts beyond a few weeks, keeps returning, or comes with other symptoms.
Seek urgent care for these
Get emergency help for pain after a serious injury, chest pain or pain with breathlessness, a sudden severe headache, fever with severe pain, or back pain with loss of bladder or bowel control, groin numbness or leg weakness. These can signal serious conditions.
Sciatica FAQs
Is it better to rest or move when I'm in pain?
For most everyday musculoskeletal pain, gentle movement usually beats prolonged rest, which can stiffen joints and weaken muscles. Serious injuries are an exception — when in doubt, get it assessed.
Are painkillers safe to take regularly?
All pain medicines have risks, and regular or long-term use should be guided by a pharmacist or doctor. Non-drug approaches can reduce how much medication you need. Never exceed recommended use, and get personalised advice.
Why do I still have pain when the scan looks normal?
Pain doesn't always match what shows on a scan. The nervous system can stay sensitised after tissues heal, producing real pain without ongoing damage. This is common and treatable, often with movement and a graded plan.
Can chronic pain be cured?
Some chronic pain resolves; much of it is managed rather than cured — but management can be very effective, often restoring a full, active life. A combined approach tends to work better than any single treatment.
This guide is informed by patient information from accredited medical institutions:
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