Pain Management

Sections

Care & Treatment

People with pain — and their caregivers — should be part of learning about pain and treatment options.

Results vary depending on the type and cause of pain. People also respond to pain relief differently. With a healthcare provider’s help, a person may need to try more than one method before finding what works. Not all pain can be cured. The goal of pain management is to lower pain to a level where you can go about your daily life.

Non-Medication Methods

These methods can help relieve pain and may reduce the need for medicine. These methods include:

  • Regular physical activity, such as tai chi and gentle exercise
  • Applying heat or cold to the skin
  • Rehabilitative services, like physical therapy, to improve your abilities
  • Cognitive-behavioral therapy, such as self-hypnosis and coping strategies
  • Diversions such as music, storytelling, television, and pet therapy
  • Relaxation methods such as meditation, deep breathing, yoga, and massage
  • PRF (Pulsed Radiofrequency) treatment, which sends short radio waves through the skin to target nerve pain
  • Interventional pain management (for example, injecting a short-term local anesthetic or steroids at the site of pain)

Older adults often have health conditions that affect how they respond to medicine. Your provider will usually start with a low dose and slowly increase it until your pain improves.

Medications your provider may recommend

Acetaminophen (Tylenol)

This is usually the first medicine tried for mild to moderate pain, especially from joints, muscles, or bones. Some cautions are:

  • Acetaminophen is found in many cold and flu medicines, so it is important to avoid taking too much
  • Use this medicine carefully if you have:
  • Liver disease
  • Severe kidney disease
  • A history of heavy alcohol use

Nonsteroidal Anti-inflammatory Drugs (NSAIDs)

NSAIDs include drugs like aspirin, ibuprofen, or naproxen. These are sold without a prescription, but they carry higher risks for adults over 65. They can cause stomach or intestinal bleeding and can harm your kidneys or heart. Do not combine NSAIDs with aspirin or blood thinners. Tell your healthcare provider if you are taking any NSAIDs.

Opioids

Opioids require a prescription and can help with moderate to severe pain, including cancer pain. Side effects include:

  • Nausea
  • Constipation (laxatives can help)
  • Sedation, fatigue, or sleepiness
  • Memory problems or confusion
  • Itching
  • Higher risk of falls
  • Possible dependence if used for a long time

Some side effects may go away after a few days.

Stopping opioids suddenly after long-term use can cause withdrawal symptoms. The dose should be slowly reduced.

For older adults, the healthcare provider needs to watch for:

  • How opioids interact with other medicines
  • Effects on thinking and memory
  • Any misuse of the medicine

Adjuvant Medications

Other types of medicines can also help relieve pain for many people. These medicines are often used for other conditions, such as depression or seizures. They include:

  • Lidocaine: applied directly to the skin as a cream or patch
  • Capsaicin: made from hot peppers, available as a cream or patch
  • Antidepressants: usually at lower doses than used for depression
  • Anticonvulsants: for nerve pain
  • Corticosteroids: injected into joints, tendons, or muscles, or taken by mouth to reduce inflammation

Cannabis (marijuana)

Cannabis may help reduce pain, but more research is needed. Older adults are at higher risk of side effects from cannabis than younger adults. This is because of body changes that come with aging and the risk of drug interactions. If you use cannabis, talk to your healthcare provider.

Caregiver Involvement

If a person has a caregiver, the caregiver should be included in the pain management plan. Care team members can use safe, simple methods to help with comfort and reduce distress. For example, touch and massage can help.

Older adults with serious illness who are confined to bed need regular position changes, gentle movement exercises, and massage.

Regular Treatment

Regular follow-up visits with your healthcare provider are needed to check how well pain treatment is working.

Your provider will also watch for side effects and adjust medicine doses as needed. Lab tests may be needed from time to time.

Contact your healthcare provider if your pain is still there or if you have side effects. 

 

Last Updated May 2026

Back To Top