Email a Friend
Print ArticlePain Management Health Center
Overview & Facts
Acute pain can last a moment;rarely does it become chronic pain. Chronic pain persists for long periods. It is resistant to most medical treatments and cause severe problems.
What is Pain Management
Pain attacks the human body at every vulnerable target -- muscles, bones, and joints. Click here for an overview -- causes and treatments of acute and chronic pain.
Learn about how chronic pain occurs, and why chronic pain sometimes lingers.
Causes
Anything from a bad mattress to stomach ulcers can cause chronic pain. While it may begin with an injury or illness, pain can develop a psychological dimension once the physical problem heals.
When nerve fibers get damaged, the result can be chronic pain. Read about the very common causes of neuropathic pain, like diabetes.
Burns differ in type and severity -- as does the pain. Click here for more about the symptoms and treatments of burn-related pain.
Pinched nerves can sometimes lead to other conditions such as peripheral neuropathy, carpal tunnel syndrome, and tennis elbow. Early diagnosis can prevent damage read more. This link takes you to another site.
Are You at Risk?
What increases your risk of chronic pain? Your age and gender (being female) play big roles. Read more about it at the NIH web site. This link will take you to another site.
Boomers are falling prey to aches and pains of aging. The trend is pushing new pain treatments into development. Read about this niche of boomer power.
Creaking knees and hips aren’t an inevitable part of aging -- and they are a big deal, because they affect every aspect of your life. Click here to learn more.
TOPAMAX is approved for migraine prevention in adults only.
TOPAMAX is not used to stop a migraine after it starts.
IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION
Serious risks associated with TOPAMAX include lowered bicarbonate levels in the blood resulting in an increase in the acidity of the blood (metabolic acidosis). Symptoms could include hyperventilation (rapid, deep breathing), tiredness, loss of appetite, irregular heartbeat or changes in the level of alertness. Call your doctor immediately if you get these symptoms. Your doctor may want to do simple blood tests. Chronic, untreated metabolic acidosis may increase the risk for kidney stones or bone disease.
Other serious risks include decreased sweating, increased body temperature, kidney stones, sleepiness, dizziness, confusion, difficulty concentrating, and increased eye pressure (glaucoma). Call your doctor immediately if you have any decrease in vision or eye pain. These problems can lead to blindness if not treated right away.
More common side effects are tingling in arms and legs, loss of appetite, tiredness, nausea, diarrhea, taste change and weight loss.
Tell your doctor about other medications you take. Please see full U.S. Prescribing Information.
© 2004-2008 Ortho-McNeil Neurologics, Inc. All rights reserved.
WebMD does not endorse any specific product, service, or treatment.
Find a hospital by procedure or condition
Most Popular Stories
WebMD does not provide medical advice, diagnosis or treatment.