Spinal column and back pain: These medicines help

Back pain – More and more people suffer from pain in the area of the spine. With increasing age, almost everyone suffers from back pain at times.

Once you are affected by the pain, the following principle applies: no bed rest!

Back pain requires above all exercise to prevent aggravation through relieving posture and muscular problems.

But if the pain hardly permits movement, the grip helps here to pain medicines. For it is important to break the vicious circle consisting of immobility through pain.

But what medications help with back pain? From the experts at Orthopaede.com supports, the following is an overview of the topic: medication for back pain.

Drugs only hide the pain

Painkillers do not eliminate the actual causes of back pain! Only the pain is relieved, which leads to becoming more mobile and active again.

Often the cause of pain in the spine is muscle tension, muscular dysfunction or cramps.

If the pain, which is often severe, no longer prevents movement, the affected muscle region can be loosened again through targeted movement and thus the pain also disappears.

For this reason, painkillers are usually prescribed along with exercise therapies. Incidentally, back pain can occur in the entire spinal area.

Back pain is not always found only above the buttocks in the area of the lumbar spine.

Common painkillers for back pain

Everyone has back pain at some time in their life. Often the causes are not clearly identifiable directly and the pain usually passes only after a few days without treatment.

If the pain remains however longer time, the course to the family doctor should be the first address.

Since the patient visits the doctor because of pain, pain therapy is usually first carried out with tablets from the group of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NASR).

Example of the tablets are drugs with the active ingredients ibuprofen, diclofenac or naproxone. These are particularly suitable for combating inflammatory processes.

They have an analgesic, antipyretic and anti-inflammatory effect. It is important to note, however, that side effects of these NASR drugs primarily affect the stomach and intestines.

Therefore, painkillers in this category should never be taken over a long period of time.

In the event of stomach problems in combination with painkillers, a doctor should therefore be consulted immediately. Often, pain medications are prescribed directly along with gastric protection.

Opioids – if the pain is too strong

Opioids are often used for particularly severe pain in the spine area.

They have a particularly pain-relieving effect, but always require a prescription. Well-known representatives of the opioids are Tramadal or morphine.

Side effects of opioids are usually headache, fatigue and dizziness. This can impair the ability to drive when taking these medications.

Just loosen up – the muscle relaxers

Medications for muscle relaxation can also help to relieve the pain of back pain. If muscles are severely tense or shortened, the cause is severe pain in that region.

The shoulder and neck region is frequently affected here. Especially by our work at the desk and computer shorten muscle parts in this area and it comes quickly to tensions in the area of the cervical spine.

Medications for muscle relaxation are then used for a short period of time. The possible consequences of taking these tablets are fatigue and drowsiness, which is why they are often taken before going to bed. Driving ability is also limited.

Relieve pain without tablets

Often, back pain can be combated without any medication at all. Especially in the case of pain caused by muscular tension, heat and exercise can work wonders.

Grain pillow, hot water bottle or even heat plaster. The power of heat promotes blood circulation in this area and muscles relax in a gentle way.

Even a hot bath often relieves pain in the area of the spine. It is important after the pain to move actively to prevent new pain directly.