Medication for Back and Neck Pain

It’s important to give attention to pain management as a vital component of any patient’s recovery. Both acute and chronic back pain may lead to depression, insomnia, and difficulty exercising or performing normal day to day activities. These situation are not only limiting, but can further worsen and prolong the painful back condition.

When it comes to relieving pain and other related symptoms of back pain, there are various over-the-counter medications available. Pain relievers can come in either oral, topical, or injection forms.

• Oral pain medication – Pills or liquid medications are forms of oral medication. Each work in different ways, have unique benefits, and possible risks. Some can only be purchased through a prescription.
• Topical pain medication – These products that are applied to the skin. They aim to reduce localized pain, such as sore muscles or arthritis. Icy Hot, Arthricare, Aspercreme, and Ben Gay are just some of the popular topical pain relievers in the market today.
• Injections – These are medications that are injected directly into the source of pain.

Prescription and non-prescription medications for back pain

There is currently a lot of over-the-counter medications available for back pain. Two of the most common medications are acetaminophen (Tylenol) and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs or NSAIDS (Advil). When it comes to relieving the pain, these two types of medication work differently. That’s why they can even be taken at the same time.

Physicians may advise prescription medications for short periods of time in order to alleviate pain. Narcotic pain medications or muscle relaxants are the most common forms of prescription pain relievers. Anti-depressant or anti-seizure medications may also be used to help modulate pain sensation.

You face risks every time you take non-prescription drugs, which is why its vital to consult a medical professional before taking any sort of prescription medication. Patients with other medical conditions, such as diabetes, should take extra precaution. Spine Center of Texas advises patients to always read package labels and consult a physician in order to understand risks and side effects of such medication .

Don’t hesitate to contact Spine Center of Texas if you want to learn more about how you can manage your back pain.