Guide
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.
Quick answer
Pain relief works best when you match the approach to the type of pain. Acute pain (short-term, from injury or inflammation) often settles with simple measures and time. Chronic pain (lasting beyond about three months) usually responds best to a combination of non-drug approaches — movement, physical therapy and psychological strategies — alongside medication where needed. Painkillers manage symptoms; addressing the underlying cause matters just as much.
Key facts
- 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.
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.
- 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.
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.
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.
- 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.
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.
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.
- 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.
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.
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.
Get a clear plan tailored to you
Book an assessment at either branch and get a tailored plan.
This page is for general information and is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Always consult a qualified clinician about your individual condition.
Sources
- Bones, Joints and Muscles — MedlinePlus, US National Library of Medicine
- Muscle and Bone Diseases — NIH National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases
- Joint Disorders — MedlinePlus, US National Library of Medicine
- Orthopedic services — MedlinePlus Medical Encyclopedia
- Aging changes in the bones, muscles and joints — MedlinePlus Medical Encyclopedia