Many people know firsthand what back pain is. Sometimes it completely paralyzes a person, the slightest movement is given with great difficulty, sometimes pulling pain sensations are accompanied for a long time, reducing the quality of life. Those who first felt the symptoms go to the doctor, others who face the problem more than once try to deal with it on their own. The primary task in this case is to eliminate pain and stop the inflammatory process. There are different forms of pain relievers: injections, tablets, rectal suppositories, ointments, gels, patches for back pain.
Pharmacological group
pharmacological effect
Analgesic (non-narcotic) drugs. Anti-inflammatory topical medications.
Indications for the use of a patch for back pain
Using a patch is a very convenient way to help yourself get rid of the unpleasant symptoms caused by degenerative-dystrophic changes in the spine. Indications for the use of patches are hernias, osteochondrosis, chronic myositis, spondylitis, subluxation of vertebrae. You cannot count on an instant reaction, the therapeutic effect is slow due to taking small therapeutic doses, but the side effects are minimal.
Release form
If earlier we knew only one type of gypsum - pepper, then at the present stage it exists in various forms of release:
- pain relief patches for back pain made using: non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs; local anesthetics; medicinal herbs; bioadditives;
- heating patches - using mustard, pepper to create an irritating effect on the body.
- heat retention - does not contain drugs, but has an internal reflective surface.
- with the use of chondroprotectors - agents that restore the cartilaginous tissue of the joints.
- combined action.
Names of medical patches
In the modern pharmacological market, patches are represented by a fairly wide range. To understand and choose the right one, we list their names and brief characteristics:
- Nano back pain patch is an innovative development designed to relieve inflammation, pain, swelling, bruise absorption, muscle tension relaxation. The healing effect on the affected area occurs due to the metal powder, which creates magnetic and infrared fields. It is a plate with an adhesive applied to it and then a protective film, which is removed before use. The plates are sold in three sizes: 7 by 9 cm, 9 by 12 cm and 11 by 16 cm. More effective in complex treatment with other drugs of the same direction.
- Chinese plaster - products are made from a fabric base impregnated with various medicinal compounds. It can be pine resin, myrrh, dogwood, ginseng, beeswax, black ants, chili pepper, cinnamon, ginger root, menthol, camphor and other natural ingredients. The patch is perforated, so it does not prevent air from penetrating the surface of the skin and does not disturb the metabolism. In addition to symptomatic treatment, it has a therapeutic effect on the entire body, because. the medicinal substances of its components penetrate into the bloodstream and spread through it to all tissues.
- pepper patch - for its production, red hot pepper is used, which creates an irritating and heating effect, and belladonna, which contains tropane alkaloids, their pharmacological action is to relieve pain and relieve spasms. It comes out plain and punchy. The latter is more expensive, but it is preferable because of the more beneficial effect on the skin.
- anesthetic patch - a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug is applied to its surface: with a surface of 70 cm2- 15 mg, 140 cm2- 30 mg. Treats inflammation, pain, swelling with muscle and joint damage.
- magnetic plaster - the use of a biomagnetic field in combination with medicinal herbs (myrrh, zoster, sophora japonica) - an innovative development of Korean and Chinese scientists that targets damaged musculoskeletal tissue. It is effective for back pain caused by torn lumbar muscles, intervertebral hernia, cysts in the spine, inflammation of the joints.
- Japanese plaster - its active ingredients are methyl salicylate and menthol, the pharmacological action of which is aimed at relieving pain and inflammation. There are several types of such products, some of them have a slight heating effect, others have a cooling effect.
- a back pain patch with an anesthetic that blocks pain signals through the pores. Acting directly on nerve endings, it has minimal negative impact on the body and is preferable to other forms of medication. There are three types of such patches.
- heating pad, contains mineral powder, activated carbon, salt and water. It stimulates the surface of the body, relaxes the muscles and reduces pain.
- mustard patch - irritates the nerve endings of the skin, improves blood circulation, reducing pain.
Pharmacodynamics
Medical plasters eliminate back pain, relax muscle stiffness, under their influence congestion and inflammation are reduced. The pharmacodynamics of the Chinese patch allows you to apply it to the area of the cervical vertebra with its osteochondrosis, it leads to the restoration of blood circulation in the brain, relieves migraine attacks, relieves tinnitus. The heating patches activate the blood flow at the application points, which ensures their therapeutic effect. The patch's mechanism of action is based on inhibiting the synthesis of prostaglandins - hormone-like substances that affect muscle contraction.
The lidocaine patch inhibits the increase in permeability to sodium ions, which stabilizes neuronal cell membranes, thereby preventing pain sensitivity.
Pharmacokinetics
Patches, in which natural substances are involved, have not been studied in terms of their pharmacokinetics. The active substance of the patch is mainly excreted by the kidneys, its half-life is 1-3 hours, lidocaine is 1. 5-2 hours.
Dosage and administration
Each type of patch comes with instructions for use. Based on the instructions contained in it, the nano-patch is applied to the skin for 12 hours, after removal, the next one can be applied after 6 hours. The maximum course of treatment is up to 9 days in case of chronic pathology of the joints, spine. In inflammatory processes - from 3 to 9, and bruises, hematomas - 3-6.
A Chinese plaster, including a magnetic one, is stuck to the painful area, having previously been cleaned with alcohol or detergent, left for 2 days, the next one can be applied after 6-7 hours. Repeat for 2 to 5 weeks.
The Japanese impose at 8 o'clock.
The application of pepper, mustard is carried out on a fat-free area after removing the protective film from it and leaving it for a day or two. With a strong burning sensation, it is recommended to remove, and not endure, lubricating the skin with petroleum jelly. The next treatment should be done after some time or the patch should be moved to another place.
The anesthetic patch is left on for a day, the duration of treatment is no longer than 14 days.
The lidocaine patch is kept on the body for 2-10 hours, it is applied once a day, the duration of use is 12 hours, the total duration of treatment cannot exceed two weeks. 3 plates can be used at the same time.
The patch is sometimes applied to a light fabric during the day because. causes intense stinging. Its period of action is up to 10 hours, you can reuse it only after 24 hours.
Application for children
The effectiveness and safety of most of the recommended patches in children has not been studied. With confidence, we can recommend pepper, mustard in the absence of a local reaction.
Using a patch for back pain during pregnancy
No studies have been conducted on the treatment with Chinese nano-patch during pregnancy, so this category of patients is not recommended. Hot patches: pepper, mustard on the lumbar region may cause unwanted effects during pregnancy. It is better to refuse the use of an anesthetic patch for the entire period of birth and feeding of the child. It can cause miscarriage, heart disease in the early stages, in the third trimester - delayed delivery or the duration of their course. This also applies to lidocaine patches.
Contraindications
Hypersensitivity to the ingredients used in the manufacture of the product, prohibit its use. Patches should not be applied to open wounds or damaged skin. Warts, sutures, neoplasms, fresh sutures are also contraindications to use. Heating pads are not recommended for patients with thrombophlebitis, elevated body temperature and high blood pressure. Painkillers should not be used by people with asthmatic manifestations while taking acetylsalicylic acid and other NSAIDs, open stomach ulcers. Lidocaine patches are not suitable for older people over 65 years of age, with diagnoses of hepatitis and cirrhosis of the liver, arrhythmias and heart abnormalities.
Back pain patch side effects
Medical patches can cause local side effects. Before use, it is necessary to study their composition so as not to cause an allergic reaction to one or another component. Pepper, mustard patches can cause burns, painkillers - adverse reactions in the elderly, as well as in people with kidney, heart and liver diseases.
Overdose
Due to the low dose of the therapeutic substance that enters the bloodstream when applied locally, its overdose is impossible.
Interactions with other drugs
There are warnings about interactions with other drugs for patches where drugs are used. Thus, the anesthetic patch should not be used concurrently with other topical NSAIDs, but lidocaine has no such warnings.
Storage conditions
Some types of patches are sold in packs and may not be used immediately. They should be stored in a dry place, away from children.
The best before date
The average shelf life of such products is 2-3 years, it is indicated on the packaging of each type.
Depending
Analogues of the described patches are other applicators similar in therapeutic effect, but with a different pharmacological effect, as well as analgesic and anti-inflammatory treatment in the form of tablets, injections, physical procedures (therapeutic exercises, massage, electrophoresis, darsonval).
Results
There are many people who experience back pain. Even after the relief of acute attacks, the pain is felt for a long time, but you need to maintain the normal rhythm of life, work. In this case, according to people's reviews, it is very convenient to use exactly this form of treatment. The patches are thin, invisible under clothing, do not leave marks on it and do not hinder movement, are odorless, non-addictive and due to their sharp application, they can actually have no unwanted side effects. It is difficult to name which patch is the best and most effective, because. these are all individual. Having removed the pain that does not allow movement with an applicator with painkillers, you can resort to heaters. Feeling warm during the day means relaxing muscles and experiencing comfort.