Back pain is a common distress people experience on a typical day. It hinders your movement and mood and can distract you from performing well at work. While surgical procedures are available for severe cases, you don’t have to rely on them for minor aches and pains.
Here are the most common medications for fast-tracking your back pain relief:
Over-The-Counter And Prescription Medications
Your provider may recommend over-the-counter (OTC) medication or prescription drugs to relieve your pain. Some examples are:
Non-steroidal Anti-inflammatory Drugs (NSAIDs)
NSAIDs such as naproxen, ibuprofen, and acetaminophen are some first-line options used for back pain relief.
Providers usually recommend NSAIDs to mitigate pain and discomfort. However, these OTC medications may not work for severe back pain from compressed nerves or damaged spinal discs.
Muscle Relaxants And Narcotics
These medicines block pain receptors or induce a spasm-relaxing response to promote back pain relief. These drugs can be a choice for mild to moderate pain resistant to OTC drugs.
Since narcotics like codeine or morphine may induce overdependence and cases of addiction, your provider will strictly monitor and limit your use of them. These are typically reserved for severe injury recovery or post-surgery recovery (typically given for only a few days).
Topical Pain Medicines
Topical pain medications are accessible and flexible in terms of forms. They may come in creams, ointments, salves, and even patches to apply to the skin. Many are available OTC, but some can be prescribed by your doctor.
Epidural Cortisone Injections
Your doctor may administer epidural cortisone injections if oral or topical medications don’t relieve your back pain. Cortisone is a corticosteroid that providers use to alleviate inflammation.
This drug injection reduces the inflammation around the epidural area, the covering that protects the spinal cord’s nerves.
Therapies For Pain Relief
Aside from medications, your doctor may suggest different therapies to help relieve your back pain. Examples include:
Radiofrequency Ablation (RFA)
RFA or radiofrequency neurotomy is a process where your doctor pushes a fine needle into the skin near the pain point. They will then release radio waves into the needle, numbing specific nerves in the area. This treatment will block the delivery of pain signals to the brain.
Implanted Nerve Stimulators
Implanted nerve stimulators provide back pain relief through the use of a device installed under the skin. Your doctor will implant the device under your skin in a minor procedure, which you will control externally and have the ability to administer electrical stimulation to nerves, as needed. Like RFA, this treatment aims to block pain signals from reaching the brain.
Physical Therapy
The job of physical therapists (PTs) is not limited to just helping rehabilitate patients and athletes recovering from significant injuries. Your PT can improve your back pain by suggesting a regimen to strengthen your back and abdomen and improve your flexibility.
Since back pain may be a product of poor posture, your therapist can teach you how to improve your posture. They can also help you modify your movements while doing your usual activities to avoid back pain and other symptoms.
Alternative Therapies
If the previous non-surgical treatments don’t work for you, you may try the following alternative therapies:
Chiropractic Care
Chiropractic care involves manually realigning the spine to relieve back pain.
Acupuncture
Acupuncture is an ancient Chinese method that involves applying pressure on acupoints. Your acupuncturist will insert thin needles into these specific points to stimulate muscles and allow your body to release endorphins.
Other Remedies
You can also go back to basic remedies to relieve back pain, such as:
Heat or Ice Compress
A hot or cold compress is the usual home remedy to relieve back pain fast.
Place a bag of ice or an ice-filled compression pack to the painful area. You may do this for 20 minutes at a time to relieve swelling, if applicable.
Alternatively, you can use a hot compress to relieve back pain, too. The heat can help loosen up and relax muscles that might be causing your back pain. If you are unsure of which compress to use, ask your doctor for guidance.
Yoga And Exercise
These activities may be the last thing you think of when your back is hurting. However, yoga and exercise can help significantly lessen your pain and discomfort in the long run. This is a great tip to incorporate into your lifestyle, so that you can stay healthy, flexible, and strong.
Additionally, since extra weight may pressure your spine, physical activities like sports can reduce excess weight that may burden your back.
Back Pain Relief In Melbourne, FL
Many conservative and non-surgical treatments can help relieve back pain. If the aching does not go away despite rest and home remedies, consult your provider to learn about your options.
The Central Florida Spine and Pain has a dedicated team of professionals that can provide backache treatment near you. Dr. Nicholas Giordano leads our highly talented team in giving compassionate services and personalized care to patients like you.
If you want to know how our services can help with your back pain, call us at (321) 802-5021. You may also book a consultation with a back doctor near you through our convenient online appointment request form.
We look forward to serving you!
