When I was a child, I use to take tablets for headache (no idea which ones. I was a child.) and almost every time, the headache came back more intense than before, when the effect wore off.
Later, I started understanding that headaches (and other pains) happen for a reason and it is better to find out the reason and fix it, than just turn off the alarm.
So now, even if I get hurt due to something, I say no to pain relievers. This has even saved me from re-injuring a previous injury a few times.
Sprained ankle / back pain : exercise and yoga.
Cramps from exercise: next time do proper stretching after exercise.
menstruation: I have no idea. never had that. sorry. But I can say for sure, people around me don't tend to resort to taking pills all the time. Even those that have it hard.
broke a ligament: definitely don't take a pill, or you won't realise if you are about to break it again.
Over here, pain management pills seems more like a last resort and not to be used for something that happens regularly. So, reading about it being treated like cereal, feels pretty weird.
