Burn pain can be treated in a variety of ways, depending on the severity. Minor burn pain may only need cool water to relieve the pain. If the burn pain is a little more extensive, an over-the-counter pain medication may do the trick. More serious burn pain usually requires prescription painkillers, often administered intravenously into the body.
Burn Pain Treatment
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Reston Hospital Center answeredSee All 2 AnswersBurn pain is characterized by a feeling of hurt. This can range from a dull, throbbing ache to a stinging to an intense pain. The symptoms depend on type, severity, and location of the burn. The skin may also swell or form blisters as a result, which can be tender and cause additional burn pain.
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Dr. Stuart A. Linder, MD , Plastic Surgery, answeredBurn pain may be serious. Full thickness burns may present with pain. Full thickness eschar may present with dull pain. Infected wounds may also present with pain with purulence or cellulitis. Signs of infections include pain, swelling, fever, and redness. Deep third degree burns may require pain medications either oral or intravenous such as morphine. -
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Dr. Alexander M. Majidian, MD , Plastic Surgery, answered
Different types of burns have different types of pain, says Alexander Majidian, MD, FACS of the Grossman Burn Center at West Hills Hospital. In this video, he explains the symptoms of each degree of burn and the pain that is associated with them. -
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Challenge America answeredChronic pain or long-term pain is a serious concern for many burn survivors. More than just the pain they feel, chronic pain is emotional pain, resulting in feelings of anxiety, fear, depression, isolation, and paranoia. Pain may occur in the healing scar tissue or in the atrophied muscles or stiff joints that are affected because of disuse. Additional pain can occur during physical therapy or occupational therapy.
Long acting opiates (narcotics) are often used for chronic pain and short-acting opioids are used during painful procedures such as debridement or wound care. In addition to opioids, other treatments may be given, including nitrous oxide and lorazapam (Ativan) to treat acute anxiety associated with pain. Sometimes anti-seizure medications such as gabapentin (Neurontin) are given for chronic burn pain. Because chronic pain is emotional -- some alternative therapies that control stress and anxiety may also help the person cope with the pain. -
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Reston Hospital Center answeredSee All 2 AnswersBurn pain is the hurt you feel after you have a burn--a tissue injury caused by heat, chemicals, electricity, or radiation. Burns are usually classified by their severity as either first-, second-, or third-degree burns. Third degree burns are the most severe, but they do not always cause the most burn pain. Third-degree burns may not be painful because the burn has killed the nerves that signal pain. In serious burn cases, the pain can be severe and last for months as a result of the various effects the burn has had on the body.
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Reston Hospital Center answered
The extreme damage caused by burns is not only painful due to the tissue damage, but it can also cause a burned person to feel even more emotional pain. The burn's effects on the nerves actually cause a person's pain threshold to be lowered, so that other things that may not normally be painful suddenly are. This increased pain can last for hours after the burn.
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Reston Hospital Center answered
Burn pain is usually diagnosed by your doctor through history, symptoms, and a review of your skin. In general, it will be fairly obvious if a person is experiencing burn pain. Your doctor may ask you to assess your pain level.
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Reston Hospital Center answered
Minor burn pain may not need a doctor's care, but more serious burn pain does. Minor burn pain from a simple first-degree burn can usually be treated at home. If the burn is serious or the burn pain cannot be comfortably treated with cool water and an over-the-counter pain reliever, you should see a doctor.
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Reston Hospital Center answeredSee All 2 Answers
All burn pain cannot be prevented - it happens as a result of burns, which are common accidents - but it's possible to lower your likelihood of getting burns (and thus burn pain) by taking some precautions. Always watch what you're cooking and use oven mitts. Keep pot handles away from the front of the stove, and lock up all chemicals that can cause burns. Avoid open flames and fire, including candles and cigarettes. You should also be sure that your water heater is set to below 130 degrees Fahrenheit (54 degrees Celcius) in order to avoid scalds and burns in the shower.