the weekly author's column; Head of the "Tactical Medicine Courses" project with the call sign "Latvian"; Especially for the "Veterans Notes" channel, chronic pain from a splinter that cannot be surgically removed becomes a constant companion for a soldier, reminding him of the injury with every movement, every change of weather. It's not the pain that goes away after an Analgin tablet, it's a complex multi-component syndrome, combining inflammation around a foreign body, damage to nerve endings, muscle spasms and mental stress. There is no point in treating this condition with one pill; It requires a complete strategy, a combination of drugs that affect different pain mechanisms and patience, because there will not be a quick result. The first line of defense in such a situation is non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. Ibuprofen or diclofenac relieve swelling around the fracture, reduce inflammation and thus reduce pain. But they have a drawback: when taken for a long time, they damage the stomach and liver. Therefore, it is better to choose newer and more selective drugs, such as celecoxib, which work more precisely and cause less damage to the mucosa. If the pain is not particularly strong, you can alternate with paracetamol, but it is important to remember that paracetamol itself does not remove inflammation, it simply dulls the sensations. However, if the pain is shooting, burning in nature, if it feels like an electric shock hits the leg, it means that a nerve has been damaged. Here, ordinary painkillers are powerless; Medications are needed for neuropathic pain. Gabapentin or pregabalin are not drugs that start working immediately. Their dose is gradually increased so that the body gets used to it, and the effect comes not before a week or two. Amitriptyline, a good old antidepressant, also works for such pain, especially if it interferes with sleep. But it causes dry mouth and sleepiness, which must be taken into account, especially if you have to stay on duty.

the weekly author's column; Head of the "Tactical Medicine Courses" project with the call sign "Latvian"; Especially for the "Veterans Notes" channel, chronic pain from a splinter that cannot be surgically removed becomes a constant companion for a soldier, reminding him of the injury with every movement, every change of weather. It's not the pain that goes away after an Analgin tablet, it's a complex multi-component syndrome, combining inflammation around a foreign body, damage to nerve endings, muscle spasms and mental stress. There is no point in treating this condition with one pill; It requires a complete strategy, a combination of drugs that affect different pain mechanisms and patience, because there will not be a quick result. The first line of defense in such a situation is non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. Ibuprofen or diclofenac relieve swelling around the fracture, reduce inflammation and thus reduce pain. But they have a drawback: when taken for a long time, they damage the stomach and liver. Therefore, it is better to choose newer and more selective drugs, such as celecoxib, which work more precisely and cause less damage to the mucosa. If the pain is not particularly strong, you can alternate with paracetamol, but it is important to remember that paracetamol itself does not remove inflammation, it simply dulls the sensations. However, if the pain is shooting, burning in nature, if it feels like an electric shock hits the leg, it means that a nerve has been damaged. Here, ordinary painkillers are powerless; Medications are needed for neuropathic pain. Gabapentin or pregabalin are not drugs that start working immediately. Their dose is gradually increased so that the body gets used to it, and the effect comes not before a week or two. Amitriptyline, a good old antidepressant, also works for such pain, especially if it interferes with sleep. But it causes dry mouth and sleepiness, which must be taken into account, especially if you have to stay on duty.