This is likely to be the doctor's first suggestion if your pain isn't too severe. Possible medications include ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin IB) or naproxen (Aleve). Though non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) can be very helpful, they may not be right for you if you have high blood pressure, asthma, heart or kidney problems. Talk to your doctor about these medications before you start because they can interfere with other medications, including herbal remedies or dietary supplements. NSAIDS are especially known to cause gastric ulcers. Consult your doctor if over-the-counter medications do not help within 7 days. Depending upon your symptoms and medical history, your doctor may suggest: Nerve pain medications. These medications are increasing in their popularity because the side effects are often less severe than those produced by narcotics. Common ones include gabapentin (Neurotin, Gralise, Horizant), pregabalin (Lyrica), duloxetine (Cymbalta), and tramadol (Ultram). Narcotics. These medications are likely to be prescribed when over-the-counter medications weren't strong enough and nerve pain medications weren't helpful. They may cause side effects including sedation, nausea, confusion, and constipation. These medications often have codeine or a mixture of oxycodone and acetaminophen (Percocet, Oxycontin). Muscle relaxants. Some people get painful muscle spasms and these medications can help this. A common one is diazepam. Some muscle relaxants may cause sedation and dizziness, so they are best used at night, just before bed. Read the packaging to determine whether you should avoid driving or operating machinery while taking them. Cortisone can suppress inflammation and swelling. If need be, your doctor may offer to give you an injection directly into the area that is causing the pain. Your doctor may also use oral steroids when trying to decrease swelling. Corticosteroids are often used to delay or possibly eliminate the need for surgery. The hope is that once the inflammation goes down, the body will naturally heal over the long-term. When given at high doses over the long-term, cortisone can cause weight gain, depression, diabetes, high blood pressure, osteoporosis, increased bruising, acne, and a vulnerability to infections. Your doctor may recommend surgery if other options are not improving your symptoms, your nerves are badly compressed. There a few different types of surgery your doctor may suggest: Open discectomy. During this procedure the surgeon makes a cut into your spine and takes out the damaged part of the disk. If the damage is extensive, the surgeon may remove the whole disk. If the whole disk is removed, it may be necessary to fix the vertebrae around the missing disk to give you stability. This is called fusion. Prosthetic intervertebral disk replacement. During this procedure, after the surgeon removes the damaged disk, it is replaced with a prosthetic disk. Endoscopic laser discectomy. During this procedure the surgeon will make a small cut into your spine, then insert a thin tube that has a light and a camera on it (an endoscope). The damaged disc will then be removed using a laser. Surgery helps most people who get it, but it may take you several weeks to recover. You may be able to go back to work after two weeks to a month and a half after the surgery. If you notice signs of any complications arising from the surgery, contact your doctor immediately. Though rare, possible complications include infections, damage to the nerves, paralysis, hemorrhaging, or temporarily losing sensitivity to touch. Spinal surgery works for a while. But if the patient fuses two vertebrae, the load is often transferred to the next adjacent vertebrae, which may require additional surgery. An important question to ask the doctor is if you may require additional surgeries in the future.

Summary: Deal with moderate pain with over-the-counter painkillers. Combat severe pain with prescription medications. Get cortisone injections for the pain. Discuss surgery with your doctor. Follow your doctor's instructions when recovering from surgery.

The most important thing you can do for your skin at night is to wash it. Removing all of the dirt and makeup from your skin will allow it to regenerate and will prevent breakouts. Keep your face free of oil during the night by keeping your hair away from your skin. Wrapping it in a silk scarf will protect both your skin and your hair. Friction between your face and your pillowcase can cause wrinkles to develop, so try to sleep on your back. If there's just no way for you to stop sleeping on your side, try switching to a pillowcase made from silk or satin. These materials create less friction, so they reduce your risk of wrinkles. It's also important to change your pillowcase every few days because the oils from your face can build up on it quickly. Some people's eyes tend to be puffy in the mornings, even if they've gotten a good night's sleep. This may be due to fluid accumulation, so prevent it by elevating your head slightly as you sleep. Two pillows should do the trick. Whether you're concerned about puffiness or dark circles under your eyes, allay them by applying a generous amount of eye cream before bed. For healthy looking skin with a dewy glow, be sure to apply a generous amount of moisturizer to your skin before bed. This is especially important in the winter. For facial moisturizing, be sure to use a product that won't clog your pores. If you have other skin concerns, such as dark spots or wrinkles, you can find night creams that are especially formulated to deal with them while also nourishing your skin with the moisture it needs. To moisturize feet, apply a liberal amount of lotion or petroleum jelly, then cover your feet with plush socks. Supplement your moisturizing regimen by drinking plenty of water and using a humidifier in the dry winter months. For radiant, nourished skin, try sleeping with a homemade mask on your face. Keep in mind that this will most likely be messy, so you will probably want to put a towel over your pillow. There are countless recipes available online, and some of the common ingredients include the following: Olive oil Tea Oatmeal Honey Brown sugar Lemon juice Avocado Essential oils If you have acne-prone skin, fight off the bacteria that cause blemishes with a nightly application of an acne cream that contains salicylic acid. For stubborn blemishes, try applying a clay mask before bed. For a more natural treatment, try applying a mixture of cinnamon and honey to your face before bed.
Summary: Keep your face clean. Sleep on your back. Elevate your head. Use eye cream. Moisturize. Hydrate. Apply a homemade face mask. Fight acne.