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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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.