Pain and Pain Management for Adults in Grand Rapids, Michigan

Pain is a common experience for adults in Grand Rapids and across West Michigan, especially as people get older. Women are generally more likely to report pain than men, and long, cold winters, icy sidewalks, and physically demanding jobs common in West Michigan can all contribute to pain from injuries and chronic conditions.

Understanding the types of pain, what causes it, and how to manage it using local Grand Rapids resources can significantly improve your quality of life.

Types of Pain: Acute vs. Chronic

Acute Pain

Acute pain is a normal response to an injury or a medical condition. It:

  • Starts suddenly
  • Is usually short-lived
  • Often improves as the body heals

Examples in Grand Rapids adults might include:

  • Pain after a fall on ice in winter
  • Pain after surgery at Spectrum Health or Trinity Health Grand Rapids
  • Pain from a sprain, strain, or sports injury

Chronic Pain

Chronic pain continues beyond the expected time of healing, usually lasting longer than 3 months. It may:

  • Be constant or come and go
  • Range from a dull ache to sharp, stabbing pain
  • Affect one area (like your back or knee) or be widespread

Common chronic pain issues in West Michigan adults include:

  • Arthritis and joint pain (worsened by cold, damp weather)
  • Chronic back or neck pain
  • Nerve pain (neuropathy), sometimes related to diabetes
  • Pain from long-standing conditions such as fibromyalgia or after previous injuries

How Pain Works in the Body

Pain is a complex protective mechanism that helps protect you from harm.

Your body has pain receptors attached to two main types of nerves:

  • Fast-acting nerves – send sharp, sudden pain signals
  • Slow-acting nerves – send dull, throbbing, or aching pain signals

Some parts of your body have more pain receptors:

  • Skin – many receptors; you can usually pinpoint pain precisely
  • Internal organs (like the gut) – fewer receptors; pain can feel vague or hard to locate

When you touch something hot or sharp, pain receptors send a message to your spinal cord and then to a part of the brain called the thalamus. Sometimes, the spinal cord sends a signal straight back to the muscles to pull away before you even feel the pain. This reflex helps prevent further injury.

Once the thalamus receives the “alert” message, it:

  • Sorts the information
  • Takes into account your past experiences, beliefs, expectations, culture, and mood
  • Sends signals to other parts of the brain involved in movement, thinking, and emotions

This is why two people in Grand Rapids with similar injuries can experience and react to pain very differently. Your emotional wellbeing, stress level, and support system all influence how you feel pain.

Common Causes of Pain in Adults

Common causes of pain for adults in Grand Rapids include:

  • Injury – slips and falls on ice, workplace injuries, sports injuries, car accidents
  • Medical conditions – arthritis, cancer, back and neck problems, migraines, nerve pain
  • Surgery – pain after operations performed at local hospitals such as Spectrum Health, Metro Health, or Mercy Health

Pain Management in Grand Rapids: Overview

Effective pain management often combines several approaches:

  • Pain medicines
  • Physical therapies
  • Psychological therapies
  • Mind–body techniques
  • Lifestyle changes and community support

Working with your primary care provider or a pain specialist in Grand Rapids can help you develop a personalized pain management plan.

Local providers include:

  • Spectrum Health pain management clinics
  • Trinity Health Grand Rapids and Metro Health pain services
  • Community resources through the Kent County Health Department and Grand Rapids Public Health

Managing Pain Without Medicines

Many non-medicine treatments can help reduce pain and improve function. A combination of therapies is often more effective than any single approach.

Heat and Cold Therapy

  • Cold (ice packs)

    • Best used immediately after an injury
    • Helps reduce swelling and numbs the area

  • Heat (warm packs, warm showers, heating pads)

    • Often more helpful for chronic muscle or joint pain
    • Helps relax muscles and improve blood flow

Always protect your skin with a cloth or towel, and follow your provider’s instructions.

Physical Therapies and Exercise

Staying active is important, even in winter months in West Michigan when it’s tempting to stay indoors. Supervised physical activity can:

  • Reduce pain
  • Improve strength, flexibility, and balance
  • Support a healthier mood and better sleep

Common options:

  • Walking – indoor tracks, malls, or treadmills can help in icy weather
  • Stretching and strengthening exercises
  • Aerobic exercise – swimming, cycling, low-impact classes

Your doctor may refer you to a physiotherapist (physical therapist) at a local clinic or hospital in Grand Rapids for a tailored exercise program.

Massage

Massage may:

  • Help with short-term muscle pain and tension
  • Improve relaxation and sleep

However, it is usually not recommended as a sole long-term treatment for chronic pain. Speak with your healthcare provider before starting massage therapy, especially if you have other medical conditions.

Relaxation and Stress Management

Stress and anxiety can worsen pain. Techniques that may help include:

  • Deep breathing exercises
  • Progressive muscle relaxation
  • Meditation and mindfulness
  • Yoga or gentle stretching

Many counseling centers and wellness programs in Grand Rapids offer classes or individual sessions in these techniques.

Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (CBT)

CBT is a form of psychological therapy that helps you:

  • Change unhelpful thoughts about pain
  • Develop more effective coping strategies
  • Reduce distress and improve day-to-day function

Psychologists and counselors in Grand Rapids, including those affiliated with Spectrum Health, Trinity Health, and community mental health services, can provide CBT for pain management.

Acupuncture

Acupuncture is a component of traditional Chinese medicine. It involves:

  • Inserting thin needles into specific points on the skin
  • Aiming to stimulate the body’s natural pain-relieving chemicals (endorphins)

Some people in Grand Rapids find acupuncture reduces the severity of their pain and helps them stay active. Research on its effectiveness is mixed, so results can vary. If you try acupuncture, choose a qualified local practitioner and let your doctor know.

TENS (Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation)

TENS uses low-voltage electrical currents delivered through electrodes on the skin. It may:

  • Help block or reduce pain signals
  • Provide relief for some people with chronic pain

Evidence is limited for some conditions, but TENS can be considered when other treatments have not provided enough relief. A physiotherapist or pain specialist in Grand Rapids can advise you on whether TENS is appropriate.

Pain Medicines: Types and Uses

Many adults will use pain medicines (analgesics) at some point. Always talk with your doctor or pharmacist before starting or changing any medicine.

Common Pain Medicines

  • Paracetamol (acetaminophen)

    • Often recommended first for short-term mild-to-moderate pain
    • Can help with headaches, minor aches, and some joint pain

  • Aspirin

    • Used short-term for fever and mild-to-moderate pain (such as period pain or headache)
    • Not suitable for everyone, especially older adults or those with certain conditions

  • Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs)

    • Examples: ibuprofen, naproxen
    • Help relieve pain and reduce inflammation (redness, swelling)
    • Often used for arthritis, sprains, and strains

  • Opioid medicines

    • Examples: codeine, morphine, oxycodone
    • Reserved for severe pain, such as after surgery or for cancer-related pain
    • Can be very effective but carry a high risk of side effects, dependence, and overdose

  • Local anaesthetics

    • Drops, sprays, creams, or injections
    • Used when nerves can be easily reached (for example, dental work, minor procedures)

  • Certain antidepressants and anti-epileptic medicines

    • Used for specific types of nerve pain (neuropathic pain)
    • Often prescribed for conditions like diabetic neuropathy or post-shingles nerve pain

How Pain Medicines Work

Aspirin and NSAIDs

Aspirin and other NSAIDs:

  • Block chemicals called prostaglandins
  • Prostaglandins cause inflammation, swelling, and make nerve endings more sensitive to pain
  • Reducing prostaglandins lowers pain and fever

However, prostaglandins also help protect the stomach lining from acid. Blocking them can lead to:

  • Stomach irritation
  • Indigestion
  • Risk of stomach ulcers and bleeding

Opioids

Opioid medicines:

  • Act on the brain and spinal cord
  • Change how pain messages are processed and perceived

Because they affect brain chemistry, they:

  • Can be addictive
  • May cause tolerance (needing higher doses over time)
  • Carry a risk of accidental overdose, especially if misused

Choosing the Right Pain Medicine

The safest and most effective pain medicine for you depends on:

  • Location, intensity, and type of pain
  • How long you’ve had the pain
  • What makes the pain better or worse
  • Your other medical conditions (such as heart disease, kidney disease, diabetes, or stomach ulcers)
  • Other medicines or supplements you are taking

Discuss all of these with your Grand Rapids doctor or pharmacist. They can help you:

  • Select the most appropriate medicine
  • Use the lowest effective dose
  • Limit the duration of treatment when possible

Using Pain Medicines Safely

General Tips

  • Always follow the instructions on the label or those given by your doctor or pharmacist.
  • Do not take more than the recommended dose.
  • Do not combine multiple over-the-counter medicines without checking with a pharmacist; many “cold and flu” products already contain paracetamol (acetaminophen).
  • Treat over-the-counter pain medicines with the same caution as prescription medicines.

Regular Use for Chronic Pain

For chronic pain, medicines often work best when taken regularly as prescribed, rather than only when pain is severe. This can:

  • Keep pain more stable and manageable
  • Reduce the need for higher doses
  • Lower the risk of severe flare-ups

If your pain medicine is not helping or is causing side effects, speak with your doctor or pharmacist. Do not increase the dose on your own.

Side Effects of Common Pain Medicines

Paracetamol (Acetaminophen)

  • Side effects are rare when taken at recommended doses for short periods
  • High doses or long-term use can cause liver damage
  • May cause skin rash in some people

Aspirin

Common side effects:

  • Nausea, vomiting
  • Indigestion, stomach upset
  • Stomach ulcers and bleeding

More serious side effects may include:

  • Asthma attacks in sensitive individuals
  • Tinnitus (ringing in the ears)

NSAIDs (e.g., Ibuprofen, Naproxen)

Possible side effects:

  • Headache
  • Nausea, stomach upset, heartburn
  • Skin rash
  • Bleeding and stomach ulcers

They can also:

  • Raise blood pressure
  • Worsen heart failure or kidney disease
  • Increase the risk of heart attack, angina, or stroke in some people

Opioids (e.g., Morphine, Oxycodone, Codeine)

Common side effects:

  • Drowsiness and confusion
  • Nausea and vomiting
  • Constipation
  • Dizziness, poor balance, and increased risk of falls

Serious risks:

  • Dependence and addiction
  • Slowed breathing, which can lead to accidental fatal overdose

Always review the Consumer Medicine Information leaflet (available from your pharmacist) for a more complete list of side effects and precautions.

Special Precautions

Older Adults

Older adults in Grand Rapids are at higher risk of side effects from pain medicines. For example:

  • Regular aspirin or NSAID use for arthritis can lead to dangerous bleeding stomach ulcers
  • Opioids can increase the risk of falls, confusion, and breathing problems

If you are older or caring for an older family member:

  • Always consult a doctor or pharmacist before starting any new pain medicine
  • Review all prescription and over-the-counter medicines with your pharmacist to avoid harmful interactions

Pregnancy

Do not self-medicate with pain medicines during pregnancy. Some medicines can:

  • Cross the placenta
  • Potentially harm the developing baby

Always talk with your doctor or midwife before taking any pain medicine if you are pregnant or planning pregnancy.

Chronic Conditions

If you have ongoing conditions such as:

  • Heart disease
  • Kidney disease
  • Liver disease
  • Diabetes

talk to your doctor or pharmacist before using over-the-counter pain medicines. Some products can worsen these conditions.

Managing Pain That Cannot Be Easily Relieved

Sometimes, pain persists even with treatment. This is common in chronic pain conditions and can be emotionally challenging. It is natural to feel:

  • Worried or fearful
  • Sad or frustrated

Practical Strategies

  • Focus on function, not total pain relief

    • Aim to improve your day-to-day activities, sleep, and mood
    • Accept that some pain may remain, and flare-ups can occur

  • Pace your activities

    • Avoid doing too much on “good days” and too little on “bad days”
    • Break tasks into smaller steps with rest breaks

  • Stay connected

    • Enlist support from family and friends
    • Let them know the kind of help you need
    • Use phone, video calls, or local community groups to avoid isolation

  • Look after your emotional health

    • Consider counseling or CBT with a psychologist or counselor in Grand Rapids
    • Learn relaxation techniques, meditation, or gentle yoga

  • Stay as active as possible

    • Gradually reintroduce activities you enjoy
    • Reduce activities slightly during flare-ups, then slowly build back up

  • Healthy lifestyle

    • Eat a balanced diet
    • Maintain a healthy weight
    • Get enough sleep
    • Avoid smoking and limit alcohol

Do not increase your pain medicine dose without medical advice. Higher doses may not improve pain and can cause harm.

Local Grand Rapids Resources for Pain Management

If you are living with pain in Grand Rapids, you do not have to manage it alone. Local resources include:

  • Your GP (primary care doctor) – first point of contact for assessment and treatment
  • Pharmacists – available at local pharmacies across Grand Rapids to advise on safe medicine use
  • Spectrum Health, Trinity Health Grand Rapids, Metro Health, Mercy Health – provide pain clinics, physical therapy, and specialist care
  • Physiotherapists (physical therapists) – for exercise programs, manual therapy, and TENS guidance
  • Occupational therapists – to help you adapt daily activities and your home or work environment
  • Counselors and psychologists – for CBT, stress management, and coping strategies
  • Kent County Health Department & Grand Rapids Public Health – may offer community programs, chronic disease management classes, and local support resources

If your pain is severe, sudden, or associated with symptoms like chest pain, difficulty breathing, weakness, or confusion, seek urgent medical care at a local emergency department or call emergency services.

Key Points

  • Pain is very common among adults in Grand Rapids and often increases with age.
  • There are two main types of pain:
    • Acute pain – short-term, usually related to injury or illness
    • Chronic pain – lasts longer than 3 months and may persist after healing
  • Understanding the cause of your pain and using a combination of treatments can improve your quality of life.
  • Effective pain management strategies include:
    • Pain medicines (used safely and appropriately)
    • Physical therapies (exercise, heat/cold, massage, TENS)
    • Psychological therapies (CBT, relaxation, stress management)
    • Mind–body techniques (such as acupuncture)
    • Support from family, friends, and local Grand Rapids health services
  • Do not rely on medicines alone. A multi-strategy approach is usually best.
  • Always consult your doctor or pharmacist in Grand Rapids before starting, changing, or combining pain medicines.