Back Pain Relief Medications – Lower Pain – Upper Pain

What is Back Pain Relief?

Back pain is a problem that can interfere with a person’s day to day activities. Several things can cause back pain, including an injury or lifting heavy items. Everyone has experienced this condition at some point in their life. Usually, it only lasts for a short period, but if the situation doesn’t improve, then it can lead to arthritis, which can break down the fluid-filled disks in the spine that act as shock absorbers. It can be lower back pain 0r upper back pain.

Though it is a harrowing situation to be in, there are various ways in which one can get treated for back pain. These treatments range from taking medicines to doing exercises to strengthen the body. However, before starting any treatment, one should visit a doctor and get a proper diagnosis for availing the most effective treatment.

What are the different treatments for back pain relief?

It is important to remember that every person experiences back pain in different ways, and it is not a simple condition. Though most people can find back pain relief within a few weeks of home treatment, for some, the pain can persist for more extended periods.

For short-term or acute pain, doctors don’t recommend bed rest, and usually over the counter (OTC) pills can do the job of giving a person back pain relief. This type of pain typically pass in a short while, and one does not have to stop doing physical activities.

People should continue their daily activities for as long as they can tolerate the pain, and only stop doing them, when they can no longer bear it. If the home remedies fail in giving relief from the back pain, then people should consult with a doctor for recommending some more potent medications.

Back pain Medications

There are various medications available that a doctor can recommend based on the type of pain a person is having.

Over the counter pain relievers

Medicines like ibuprofen or naproxen sodium can help relieve acute back pain. People should only use these as per their doctor’s recommendation, as these come under the category of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs or NSAIDs, which can result in severe side effects if overused. If the OTC medications fail to relieve the pain, then the doctor might prescribe other drugs.

Muscle relaxants

These medications help relieve the pain by relaxing the muscles. The increased blood flow to the muscles helps them release tension, which can decrease the pain.

Topical relaxants

These medicines come in the form of ointments or creams that a person can rub over the affected area to get back pain relief.

Narcotics

These drugs contain opioids like hydrocodone or oxycodone. Opioid pain medications are an effective cure for the treatment of severe back pain, but long term use of these medications can lead to addiction. Due to the habit-forming potential, these are not as helpful for people with chronic pain.

Antidepressants

Tricyclic antidepressants like amitriptyline can help relieve chronic back pain when consumed in low doses.

Injections

Doctors use this as the very last option when other medications do not sufficiently relieve the pain. They can inject an anti-inflammatory medicine or a numbing medicine near the spinal cord. Injections of drugs like cortisone can help decrease pain around the nerve roots, but their effects only last for a few months.

Non-Medication method of back pain relief

A doctor can recommend these procedures along or independently of the medications that one is taking for the back pain relief.

Exercise and Physical therapy

Physical therapists might employ a variety of techniques to help reduce pain, including electrical stimulation, ultrasound, heat, and muscle release, to soften the tissues to decrease the pain. Once the pain subsides below a bearable level, they can teach the patient some exercises to increase the flexibility and strengthen the back and abdominal muscles.

Surgery

One a very few individuals require surgery for back pain relief. This procedure is usually for the people who are having much more severe problems like narrowing of the spine or herniate disk, which other therapies fail to treat. A person having back pain should only get surgery when the pain starts to radiate to legs or cause progressive muscle weakness due to never compression. It is crucial to discuss with a doctor if the pain indeed requires surgery.