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Alexander technique

The Alexander technique teaches improved posture and movement, which is believed to help correct and prevent problems caused by unhelpful habits. During a number of lessons, you're taught to be more aware of the position of your body to correct poor ...

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Anaesthesia

Anaesthesia means "loss of sensation". Medications that cause anaesthesia are called anaesthetics. Anaesthetics are used during tests and surgical operations to induce sleep, which prevents pain and discomfort and enables a wide range of medic...

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Anal pain (proctalgia)

Anal pain (pain in the bottom) can be distressing but is often just the result of a minor treatable condition. See your GP for a diagnosis of the problem and for treatment advice. Many people with anal pain will develop constipation, which can make ...

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Angina

Angina is chest pain that occurs when the blood supply to the muscles of the heart is restricted. It usually happens because the arteries supplying the heart become hardened and narrowed. The pain and discomfort of angina feels like a dull, he...

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Ankle Sprain exercises

Simple exercises that may help with a simple ankle strain

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Ankle Sprain exercises

https://www.arthritisresearchuk.org/arthritis-information/exercises-to-manage-pain/tennis-elbow-exercises.aspx#

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Ankylosing spondylitis

Ankylosing spondylitis (AS) is a type of chronic (long-term) arthritis that affects parts of the spine, including bones, muscles and ligaments. Arthritis is a common condition that causes pain and inflammation of the joints and tissues around them.

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Anti-Inflammatory Painkillers

Anti-inflammatory painkillers are used to treat arthritis, sprains, painful periods and other painful conditions. Most people have no trouble taking these tablets. However, some people develop side-effects which can sometimes be serious. In particula...

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Antispasmodic Medicines

Antispasmodic medicines are used to treat symptoms such as pain and spasm in irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). The side-effects that occur most commonly are usually minor.

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Back Pain

Back pain is a common problem that affects most people at some point in their life. It usually feels like an ache, tension or stiffness in your back. The pain can be triggered by bad posture while sitting or standing, bending awkwardly, or lifting i...

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Back Pain (non-specific)

About 3 in 4 people have one or more bouts of low back pain. Most bouts soon ease and are not due to serious back problems. In most cases the usual advice is to keep active, and do normal activities as much as possible. Painkillers are helpful until ...

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Breast pain, cyclical

There are many reasons breasts can be painful. Breast pain by itself is unlikely to be a symptom of cancer. Breast pain is usually linked to periods Symptoms of breast pain caused by periods: dull, heavy or aching pain – from mild to very bad ...

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Broken ankle

A broken (fractured) ankle needs to be treated as soon as possible. It typically takes between six and 12 weeks to heal. How to tell if your ankle is broken Symptoms of a broken ankle include: severe pain and tenderness bruising and swelling ...

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Brucellosis

Brucellosis is an infection you can catch from unpasteurised milk and cheese. It's extremely rare in the UK. How you catch brucellosis It's mainly caught by: drinking milk that has not been pasteurised (heat-treated to kill bacteria) eating d...

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Carpal tunnel syndrome

Carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) is a relatively common condition that causes pain, numbness and a burning or tingling sensation in the hand and fingers. Symptoms of CTS can range from mild to severe.

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Cluster headaches

Cluster headaches are excruciating attacks of pain in one side of the head, often felt around the eye. Cluster headaches are rare. Anyone can get them, but they're more common in men and tend to start when a person is in their 30s or 40s.

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Coccydynia (tailbone pain)

Coccydynia is a type of lower back pain felt around the last bone at the base of the spine (known as the coccyx or tailbone). The pain of coccydynia can range from mild to severe and is usually worse when sitting down. Some people can only tolerate s...

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Complex regional pain syndrome

Complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS) is a poorly understood condition in which a person develops a persistent (chronic) burning pain in one of their limbs. The pain usually develops after an injury – which in most cases is a minor injury – but the p...

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Cramps in the leg

Leg cramps are common. The cause is not known in most cases. However, some drugs and diseases sometimes cause leg cramps. Regular calf stretching exercises may prevent leg cramps. Quinine tablets may be advised as a last resort if you have cramps reg...

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Drive away bad backs - Advice for mobile machine operators and drivers

Mobile machine operators and drivers often report back pain. This can have many causes, not all related to work. But back pain may be made worse by driving for a long time in a poorly adjusted seat, jolting and jarring from rough roads (whole-body vi...

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Elbow and arm pain

Elbow and arm pain isn't usually a sign of anything serious. If it doesn't go away after a few weeks, see a GP. How you can ease elbow and arm pain yourself Try these things for a couple of days: put a pack of frozen peas wrapped in a tea towe...

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Emergency Multilingual Phrasebook

The Emergency multilingual phrasebook contains the most common medical questions and statements in 36 languages to enable basic communication between medically qualified staff and patients who do not speak English in medical emergency situations to m...

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Endorphins

Endorphins are natural pain killing substances found in the human brain. The name comes from endogenous (meaning within) and morphine (morphine being a pain killer). Endorphins are one of the neurotransmitters in the brain. Levels of endorphins in th...

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Epidural anaesthesia

Epidural anaesthesia, often referred to as "an epidural", is an injection in the lower back that numbs the nerves and stops you feeling pain. Areas that can be numbed by an epidural include the chest, abdomen, pelvic area and legs.

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Foot pain exercises

This leaflet provides general information about foot pain and simple exercises that may help.

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Frozen shoulder

Frozen shoulder is a condition where a shoulder becomes very painful and stiff. Movements of the shoulder become reduced, sometimes completley 'frozen'. It is thought to be due to scar-like tissue forming in the shoulder capsule. Without treatment, s...

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Gamma hydroxybutyrate

GHB (Gamma hydroxybutyrate) is an anaesthetic with primarily sedating rather than painkilling properties. It is often sold as ‘liquid ecstasy’ because of its relaxant and euphoric effects, although it has no relationship to ecstasy.

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General anaesthesia

General anaesthetics are medications used to cause a loss of consciousness so you're unaware of surgery. Despite there being a number of theories about how general anaesthetics work, the precise mechanisms remain unknown. However, it is known...

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Growing pains (recurrent limb pain in children)

Growing pains are aches or pains in the legs that occur in the evening or at night and affect children aged between 4 and 12. Although they can be distressing, growing pains are harmless and only a phase. Despite the name, growing pains are nothing t...

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Headaches

More than 10 million people in the UK get headaches, making them one of the most common health complaints, but most are easily treated. Most headaches aren’t serious and can be treated with pharmacy remedies and lifestyle changes, such as getting mor...

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Heel pain

Heel pain is one of the most common conditions to affect the foot. It is usually felt as an intense pain when the affected heel is used. The pain is usually worse when you get out of bed in the morning or after a long period of activity. In most case...

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Knee pain

Sudden pain in one of the knees is usually the result of overusing the knee or suddenly injuring it. In many cases, you don't need to see your GP. The knee joint is particularly vulnerable to damage and pain because it takes the full weight of your b...

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Knee pain exercises

This leaflet provides general information about knee pain and simple exercises that may help.

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Limp in a child

If a child is limping, the limp is usually due to a minor injury such as a sprain or splinter. But if there's no obvious cause, see your GP as it may indicate a serious underlying medical condition.

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Living with Osteoporosis: managing persistent pain after fractures

This fact sheet provides tried and tested ways of managing persistent (chronic) pain caused by fractures (broken bones) in addition to, and sometimes instead of, taking pain relieving medications.

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Local anaesthesia

Local anaesthetic is a type of medication used to numb areas of the body during some types of surgery. The word 'anaesthetic' comes from the Greek word meaning the absence or loss of sensation. Local anaesthetics can be used with a general an...

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Managing back pain

This website contains articles related to the back pain and ways to soothe the pain.

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Managing cancer pain

This audiobook explains the pain caused by cancer or its treatment, including the causes of pain and how to describe it. It also gives information about different levels of pain control, including the medication you may be prescribed and other ways o...

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Managing cancer pain

Controlling cancer pain explains the causes of pain and gives advice on describing the type of pain, levels of pain control and methods of pain control.

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Medicines to prevent migraine attacks

Some medicines are used to prevent migraine attacks. They may not completely stop every migraine attack, but the number and severity of attacks are often reduced. You need to take the medicine every day.

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Migraine

A migraine is a severe headache usually felt as a throbbing pain at the front or on one side of the head. Some people also have other symptoms, such as nausea and sensitivity to light.

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Morton's neuroma

Morton's neuroma is a common, painful condition affecting the base of the toes, usually the third and fourth toes. The pain, which is sharp and severe (often described as like a red-hot needle), suddenly occurs while walking.

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Neck pain

This leaflet provides general information about neck pain and simple exercises that may help.

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Neck pain and stiff neck

Neck pain or a stiff neck is a common problem and generally nothing to worry about. The pain and stiffness usually gets better after a few days, and is not a sign of a more serious neck problem or underlying condition. You can get a pai...

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Osteoarthritis exercises

Exercise is safe and has multiple benefits for people with osteoarthritis. This sheet provides simple exercises that may help.

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Painkillers, paracetamol

Paracetamol is a medicine that is used to: - ease mild to moderate pain – for example, headaches, sprains, toothache or the symptoms of a cold - control a fever (high temperature, also known as pyrexia) – for example, when someone has t...

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Pelvic pain

Pelvic pain is felt below your bellybutton. It may come on suddenly and severely, or could be mild and last for months. In either case, see your GP as soon as possible to find out the cause and, if necessary, to be referred to a gynaecologist. ...

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Postherpetic neuralgia

Neuralgia is a term that describes nerve pain. Postherpetic neuralgia is a nerve pain that occurs at the site of a previous attack of a condition called shingles.

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Postherpetic Neuralgia

Postherpetic neuralgia is a pain that persists in some people who have had shingles. It often eases and goes in time. Medication can often ease the pain.

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Pudendal neuralgia

Pudendal neuralgia is a type of long-term (chronic) pelvic pain that originates from damage or irritation of the pudendal nerve. The pudendal nerve is one of the main nerves in the pelvis, supplying areas such as the: lower buttocks area betwe...

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Sciatica

Sciatica is the name given to any sort of pain that is caused by irritation or compression of the sciatic nerve. The sciatic nerve is the longest nerve in your body. It runs from the back of your pelvis, through your buttocks, and all the way down b...

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Septic Arthritis (Bacterial Arthritis)

Septic arthritis is inflammation of a joint caused by a bacterial infection. It is also known as infectious or bacterial arthritis. Septic arthritis is most commonly caused by staphylococcal or streptococcal bacteria. These bacteria may have e...

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Shin splints

Shin splints is the name for pain in the shins, or the front of the lower legs, usually caused by exercise. They're common in people who do a lot of running or other activities that involve repeatedly putting weight on the legs, such as tennis or ...

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Shoulder pain

Shoulder pain is a common problem with a number of different causes. It's often a symptom of another problem. There are a number of reasons why you might be experiencing shoulder pain, which include: poor posture frozen shoulder...

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Shoulder pain exercises

This leaflet provides general information about shoulder pain and simple exercises that may help.

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Slipped disc

A slipped disc, also known as a prolapsed or herniated disc, is where one of the discs in the spine ruptures and the gel inside leaks out. This can cause back pain as well as pain in other areas of the body. The sciatic nerve is often a...

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Sore or painful tongue

A sore or painful tongue is usually caused by something obvious and visible, although there are a few less obvious causes you should be aware of that may need treating. If the pain is persistent and you haven't accidentally bitten or burnt you...

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Stomach ache and abdominal pain

A stomach ache usually refers to cramps or a dull ache in the belly (abdomen). It is normally short lived and caused by a minor upset or bug. This topic covers the most common reasons for: * sudden stomach cramps * sudden, severe...

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Tennis elbow exercises

This leaflet provides general information about tennis elbow and simple exercises that may help.

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TENS (transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation)

Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) is a method of pain relief involving the use of a mild electrical current. A TENS machine is a small, battery-operated device that has leads connected to sticky pads called electrodes.

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Toothache

Toothache is pain in the area of your jaw and face. It usually happens when the inside of a tooth becomes irritated and inflamed. See a dentist if you have toothache that lasts more than 2 days. There are things you can do to ease it while you wai...

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Trigeminal neuralgia

Trigeminal neuralgia is sudden, severe facial pain. It's often described as a sharp shooting pain or like having an electric shock in the jaw, teeth or gums. It usually occurs in short, unpredictable attacks that can last from a few seconds to abo...

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Vulvodynia (persistent pain of the vulva)

Vulvodynia is persistent, unexplained pain of the vulva, the skin surrounding the vagina. There is usually no obvious cause, but much can be done to help relieve the pain so that it no longer causes problems. The pain of vulvodynia is often described...

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What is Carpal Tunnel Syndrome?

This leaflet provides general information about carpal tunnel syndrome and what treatments may help.

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