Medicate To Alleviate Your Back Pain
January 4th, 2008 Posted by: Sheila Ffloyd
A staggering eighty percent of the American population suffers from back pain. There is no question that this type of pain is big business, with desperate patients buying up new pain remedies as quickly as the pharmaceutical companies can churn them out. There are countless remedies available, and it can be difficult to know which ones are best for delivering the back pain relief you need.
Back pain is second only to headaches as the most common painful conditions affecting adults 30 and over. In fact, the condition is so common that four of every five people will develop or are already experiencing back pain.
There is good news: many treatment options are available for those suffering the rigors of back pain. Physical therapy, exercise and medications are all viable options for bringing back pain relief.
Many back pain medications can be purchased over the counter, without a prescription. These drugs can be helpful in relieving the pain and addressing several of the symptoms related to episodes of back pain. In addition to the non-prescription choices, other back pain medications are available only under a doctor’s prescription.
Common Acetaminophens
One of the main types of over-the-counter back pain medications, acetaminophen is a pain-relieving drug that acts by switching off the brain’s pain perception. It is unlike other back pain medications, which offer anti-inflammatory benefits in addition to painkilling properties.
A common dosage for back pain relief is up to 1000 mg taken every four hours, provided that you do not exceed more than 4000 mg within twenty-four hours. These types of drugs are among the most popular, because of their ability to act quickly in providing back pain relief.
Acetaminophens provide many other benefits for those suffering with back pain:
* Allergies to this type of medication are not common
* Side effects are few
* This type of drug will not cause addiction
* Even with extended use, patients are slow to develop a tolerance to acetaminophens. For that reason, these drugs keep their pain-relieving properties for a longer period of time
NSAIDs
Non Steroidal Anti Inflammatory Drugs, or NSAIDs, are another classification of commonly used, over-the-counter back pain medications. Inflammation is a contributing factor in many of the painful episodes that patients encounter, so the anti-inflammatory effects of NSAIDs are especially helpful. Like aspirin, NSAIDs provide back pain relief by limiting the formation of inflammation. Unlike aspirin, however, there are fewer gastrointestinal side effects.
Ibuprofen, Naproxen, and COX-2 Inhibitors are popular choices within the NSAID drug category.
Prescription Narcotics
Desperate times call for desperate measures and doctors will sometimes prescribe narcotics for severe back pain. These drugs are very addictive and only available with a doctor’s prescription. Narcotic drugs are not only highly addictive, they are also extremely potent.
Narcotic pain medications are dissociative in nature, meaning they don’t actually deaden the pain. Instead, the drugs disassociate the patient from the feeling of pain. Codeine, propoxyphene, hydrocodone and oxycodone are all types of narcotic medications prescribed to bring back pain relief.
Chronic back pain can be a symptom of a more serious underlying disease. If your back pain lasts for more than a couple of weeks, or if the pain is too severe for over-the-counter medications, see your doctor. With a doctor’s proper diagnosis, you’ll be better prepared to find a treatment that brings relief from your back pain.
