Back pain occurs for a variety of reasons, for example, intense physical activity, sedentary work, injuries and diseases of the spine. To eliminate discomfort, pills and injections are most often used, however these pharmaceutical forms can cause serious adverse reactions. There is a safer method of treatment - back pain patches. These are transdermal agents that attach to the diseased area and release medications slowly, providing a long-term therapeutic effect. Patches are safer to use, as the amount of active substances that penetrate the blood is minimal. Furthermore, they are simple and effective to use. However, before buying, you need to know what types of patches exist, when and how they can be used.
Indications for use of adhesives
The causes of back pain can be quite serious, so don't try to solve the problem alone. Visit a doctor who will diagnose and find out the cause of the pain. After that, you can ask a specialist if medicated patches can be used.
Important!Before using patches, it is necessary to exclude concomitant diseases, which can also manifest themselves as back pain. This includes kidney, respiratory, digestive pathologies and oncological formations.
Transdermal agents (TC) for back and joints are used in the following cases:
- Osteochondrosis, which causes pain in the neck, thoracic segment or lumbar region.
- Presence of protrusions (protrusion of the intervertebral disc without rupture of the outer layer), hernias (prolapse of the nucleus pulposus between the vertebrae).
- Osteoarthritis or arthritis of the joints.
- Damage to the spinal cord or its roots due to displacement of vertebrae.
- Back pain associated with injuries, heavy physical work or prolonged sitting.
- Tense muscles around the spine.
- Compression of spinal nerves, etc.
As you can see, patches are used for inflammatory or degenerative diseases of the spine and joints.
Mechanism of action
Transdermal devices are intended for external use. The patch is attached to the painful area of the body, where it releases the medication in doses. In this way, it helps eliminate pain in the neck, back and bone joints.
The action of TCs is mainly aimed at relieving pain and inflammation, which is why they are recommended for use as part of complex therapies. Treating diseases of the musculoskeletal system with patches alone will not be effective. And they are great as an aid.
TS have the following advantages:
- They are compact and easy to use.
- The patient will not need to determine the dosage, as the medication will be supplied in the right quantity.
- The TS acts directly at the site of the injury.
- The probability of adverse reactions is low, since the amount of active substances that penetrate the blood is minimal.
- The active components of the patch do not interact with other medications.
The therapeutic effect of TS differs, but they all consist of several layers:
- Fabric or synthetic base.
- Layer of medicinal substance that, under the influence of human body heat, softens and begins to be absorbed.
- An adhesive layer that helps the patch stick to the skin.
- Protective film that must be removed before use.
The medicinal patch is pasted on the diseased area, the medicinal layer softens, and the medicine penetrates deep into the skin, exhibiting therapeutic effect. The product acts directly at the source of pain and spasm. This method of treatment helps to avoid the negative effects of medications on the gastrointestinal tract and the entire body.
Types of therapeutic plasters for back and joints
Depending on the therapeutic effect, the following types of patches are distinguished:
- Anesthetic.This is an ET based on analgesics or anesthetics that reduce pain. Products containing NSAIDs help relieve pain and inflammation. They are most often used in the acute phase of spinal diseases. TS, the sticky layer of which contains anesthetics, only help to cope with pain, they do not affect the cause of its occurrence. The therapeutic effect is achieved by blocking surface receptors. Nanoplasties contain biologically active substances that affect pathological cells. Tiny nanoparticles surround the affected area, reducing unpleasant symptoms.
- OrthopedicThe back adhesive contains chondroprotectors. The composition of the medicinal layer includes chondroitin, which protects the cartilaginous lining of the vertebrae and joints from damage and accelerates their recovery. They also contain glucosamine, which accelerates the regeneration of cartilage tissue. And thiamine saturates bone joints with nutrients, restores innervation and improves immunity.
- Phytoplastycontain extracts of medicinal herbs, essential oils, etc. They accelerate blood flow and metabolic processes in the damaged area, relieve pain and inflammation. Some products contain magnetic components that accelerate the penetration of active substances inside. The therapeutic effect of phytoplasts has not been confirmed by research, but, according to reviews, they are effective.
- Warming up.These TCs contain pepper or mustard seed extract. The heating patch improves blood microcirculation, stimulates receptors and activates metabolic processes at the site of exposure. These products not only help to warm the tissues, but also improve their trophism and accelerate regeneration.
- Reflects heat.This group includes therapeutic patches that contain rare earth metal nanopowder. They create a magnetic and infrared field in the body, which improves blood flow, relaxes muscles, reduces pain and inflammation, and heals tissues faster. They do not contain active components, which is why they are considered the safest.
Reference.Most adhesives (except anesthetic products) have a complex effect. They accelerate the flow of blood and lymphatic fluid to the sore spot, so inflammation disappears faster, spasmodic muscles relax, cells are saturated with useful substances and tissue healing accelerates.
To know exactly what kind of patches to use in a specific case, you should consult your doctor.
The best means
The question of what is the best patch to use when back pain occurs is quite relevant. It depends on the nature of the pain, the cause of its occurrence, contraindications, etc. A doctor will help you choose the most suitable medicine.
The best transdermal products:
- Pepper patch for back pain is the most popular pharmaceutical remedy. It is a vehicle with pepper extract applied to its base. It has a warming and disturbing effect. You need to hold the piece of pepper until the pain disappears and a burning sensation appears. The maximum exposure time is 48 hours. Pepper patch can be used to warm up muscles before exercise, relieve symptoms after back injuries, and also for diseases of the respiratory organs instead of mustard plasters. The price of the product depends on the size.
- Anti-inflammatory agent based on a phenylacetic acid derivative. Helps eliminate pain, swelling and reduces inflammation. Most often, TS is used for radiculitis, arthrosis and osteochondrosis. The patch can be left on your back or other area for a maximum of 24 hours, then you need to take a short break. The therapeutic course lasts about 2 weeks.
- A patch based on a propionic acid derivative is also a representative of NSAIDs. The active substance slowly penetrates the damaged area, exhibiting a therapeutic effect. This medicine can be used twice a day.
- The best Japanese anesthetic patch. A layer of anesthetic is applied to your substrate. The patch helps to cope even with severe pain. The therapeutic effect lasts 3 hours. However, this product can suppress nervous reactions and is therefore not recommended for use before activities that require increased attention and precision.
- The nanopatch contains a layer of tiny rare earth metal particles that only affect pathological cells. It is able to heat and stop inflammation. The sticker is fixed on the back for 12 hours and then a break is taken. Can be used from 3 to 9 days.
- An adhesive based on activated carbon, powdered iron and salt has a pronounced warming effect. It relaxes contracted muscles and relieves pain. The warming patch lasts for 12 hours, then you need to remove it and treat the skin with moisturizer.
- A phytoplast based on 10 medicinal plants is effective for radiculitis, degenerative changes in intervertebral discs, osteoarthritis and myalgia (muscle pain). TS stimulates blood flow, relieves pain, reduces swelling and accelerates regeneration.
Also quite popular is a Thai patch based on camphor, mint oil, eucalyptus, menthol, etc. According to reviews, it helps to relieve or stop back pain in a few minutes.
You can buy any of the medicines described above in many pharmacies or on the Internet.
Chinese transdermals
According to reviews of patients who have experienced the effects of Chinese patches, they help to quickly cope with back pain and rarely cause adverse reactions. A huge disadvantage of such products is that there are no clinical studies proving their effectiveness and safety.
Popular Chinese Patches for Back Pain:
- Patch with extracts of medicinal plants, essential oils, insect venom (scorpions, ants). Quickly relieves inflammation and pain, accelerates tissue restoration in the damaged area. The duration of using a hot compress is about 2 days, then you need to take a break. You need to use 6 to 8 patches per course.
- TC based on myrrh and boswellia is suitable even for patients with sensitive skin, as it contains only plant substances. Before applying the patch, massage the skin for a few minutes. Duration of use is 18 to 36 hours. Treatment can last several weeks.
- The patch is based on extracts of ginger, cinnamon, mint, hot chili pepper and is equipped with magnets that enhance the effect of medicinal components. This patch exhibits a faster therapeutic effect and brings relief to the patient. The magnet product can be used for up to 2 to 3 weeks.
- TC containing about 20 medicinal plants that help quickly relieve inflammation and pain. The therapeutic effect lasts up to 14 hours. The course of treatment can last from 15 to 20 days.
- A patch based on a whole complex of plant components, including safflower and Borneo camphor, is good for back pain. According to the manufacturer, the adhesive slows down degenerative processes in the spine and accelerates the regeneration of damaged tissues. The duration of use is 2 or 3 days, requiring a 5-hour break. You can use 5 to 12 patches per course.
All products described above are not certified and therefore unsafe. They can cause allergies because they contain a large amount of bioactive substances. Therefore, doctors advise abandoning them in favor of safer patches that have undergone clinical trials.
Precautionary measures
There are few contraindications to using tape for back pain:
- Pregnancy, lactation period.
- Hypersensitivity to adhesive components.
- Presence of cracks, scratches, open wounds, inflammation in the affected area.
- Age up to 15 years.
- Infectious diseases in the acute phase.
- Presence of oncological formations in the attachment area.
- Reduced blood clotting.
In other cases, the use of patches is permitted. But to avoid negative reactions, it is better to consult a doctor before using TC.
Attention.Patches with a heating effect cannot be glued to areas of the body where blood vessels are located close to the skin. This is due to the risk of burns.
Adverse reactions after using the patches are rare. Some people have experienced local irritation after using TC, but this quickly disappears after removing the product.
Usage recommendations
Not all patients know how to use the patch. It is for them that the instructions for use are presented below:
- Before affixing the sticker, clean the desired area with a liquid containing alcohol.
- Remove the protective film and stick it to the healing plate.
- Leave it to act for the necessary time and remove carefully.
As you can see, there is nothing complicated.
But problems often arise while using the vehicle. For example, some patients are interested in whether it is possible to glue a piece of pepper to the spine. If the pain is localized to the ridge, attach the TS to the sides of the muscles surrounding it.
Attention.Before applying the patch to your back, it is recommended to do an allergy test. To do this, a piece is fixed on the wrist, if after 15-30 minutes there is no negative reaction, feel free to wear it.
The relevant question is how long a vehicle is maintained. The instructions for each patch indicate the recommended time, but it's best to trust your own feelings. Typically, even pepper braces cause discomfort that can be tolerated. If the burning sensation is very strong, remove the product and consult a doctor.
If after a week of treatment the pain does not disappear, consult your doctor. A specialist will help you choose a more effective medicine.
To easily remove the adhesive from irritated skin, use water or oil. The best option is to stay in the bathtub for a few minutes and then remove the sticker.
Assessments
Most patients are satisfied with the effect of back pain patches. They claim that the product helps to quickly eliminate pain and inflammation. Some people complain that they have allergies after using TC.
- "I have been suffering from lower back pain for a long time. I tried many ointments and creams, but they worked temporarily or did not help at all. Then, on the advice of a friend, I bought a nanoplaster. It did not work immediately, but after completing the course the pain gave way and motor activity was restored. After the break, I plan to take another course. "
- "I have tried several patches to alleviate the symptoms of sciatica. And for myself, I have identified several favorites - Japanese anesthetic and pepper plaster. During an exacerbation of the disease, I used an anesthetic-based patch and then stuck on a warming patch to improve circulation blood. This regimen allows me to get rid of pain for a long time. "
- "I often use patches for back pain, joint pain, headaches and colds. Over the years I have tried many patches, but the most effective have been the Chinese patch with magnets and the Japanese anesthetic patch. The venom-based patch The insect caused me an allergy, a few minutes after attaching it I felt a strong burning sensation and irritation. I immediately took off the patch and didn't use it again. "
The most important
Patches really help to reduce or completely stop back pain, but to do this they need to be used as part of complex therapy. There are pain relievers, heaters, orthopedics and phytoplasties. When choosing a vehicle, you need to take into account the diagnosis, age and the presence or absence of contraindications. It is better to entrust the choice of medication to the doctor. The specialist will talk about the intricacies of its use. Doctors do not recommend using uncertified Chinese patches, although many people are satisfied with the effect of their use. But in any case, the choice is yours.