Many people know firsthand what back pain is. Sometimes it completely paralyzes a person, the smallest movement is given with great difficulty, sometimes pulling pain sensations accompany for a long time, reducing the quality of life. Those who feel the symptoms for the first time go to the doctor, others who face the problem more than once try to deal with it themselves. The main task in this case is to eliminate pain and stop the inflammatory process. There are different forms of analgesics: injections, tablets, rectal suppositories, ointments, gels, patches for back pain.
Pharmacological group
pharmacological effect
Analgesic (non-narcotic) drugs. Anti-inflammatory local drugs.
Indications for the use of a patch for back pain
Using a patch is a very convenient way to help get rid of unpleasant symptoms caused by degenerative-dystrophic changes in the spine. Indications for the use of plasters are hernia, osteochondrosis, chronic myositis, spondylitis, subluxation of the 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 were familiar with only one type of plaster - pepper, then at the current stage it exists in various forms of release:
- back pain relief patches made from: non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs; local anesthetics; medicinal herbs; bio-additives;
- warming patches - using mustard, black pepper to cause an irritating effect on the body;
- retains heat - does not contain drugs, but has an internal reflective surface;
- with the use of chondroprotectors - means that restore the cartilage tissue of the joints;
- combined action.
Names of medical patches
On 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-patch for back pain is an innovative development designed to relieve inflammation, pain, swelling, resorption of bruises, relaxation of muscle tension. The therapeutic effect on the affected area is due to the metal powder that creates magnetic and infrared fields. This is a plate with an adhesive applied to it and then a protective film that is removed before use. The plates are sold in three sizes: 7 by 9cm, 9 by 12cm and 11 by 16cm. Most effective in complex therapy with other drugs from the same direction;
- Chinese plaster - products are made of a fabric base impregnated with various medicinal compounds. It can be pine resin, myrrh, dryanaria, ginseng, beeswax, black ants, cayenne pepper, cinnamon, ginger root, menthol, camphor and other natural ingredients. The patch is perforated, so it does not prevent the penetration of air to the surface of the skin and does not disturb the metabolism. In addition to symptomatic treatment, it has a healing effect on the whole organism, becausethe healing substances of its ingredients 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 warming effect, and belladonna, which contains tropane alkaloids, their pharmacological effect is to relieve pain and relieve spasms. Available plain and perforated. The latter is more expensive, but is preferable because of the more favorable effect on the skin;
- anesthetic patch - a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug is applied to its surface: with an area 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, cinquefoil, Japanese sophora) - an innovative development of Korean and Chinese scientists, aimed at damaged musculoskeletal tissue. It is effective for back pain caused by tearing of the lumbar muscles, intervertebral hernia, cysts of the spine, inflammation of the joints;
- Japanese plaster - its active ingredients are methyl salicylate and menthol, whose pharmacological action is aimed at relieving pain and inflammation. There are several types of such products, some of them have a slight warming effect, others have a cooling effect;
- back pain patch with an anesthetic that blocks pain signals through the pores. Acting directly on the nerve endings, it has a minimal negative effect on the body and is preferable to other forms of the drug. There are three types of such patches;
- warming patch, contains metal powder, activated carbon, salt and water. It irritates the surface of the body, relaxes the muscles and reduces pain;
- mustard plaster - 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 decrease. The pharmacodynamics of the Chinese plaster allows you to apply it to the area of the cervical vertebrae with osteochondrosis, leads to the restoration of blood circulation in the brain, relieves migraine attacks, relieves tinnitus. The heating patches activate the blood flow in the places of application, which guarantees their therapeutic effect. The mechanism of action of the patch is based on the inhibition of the synthesis of prostaglandins - hormone-like substances that affect muscle contraction.
The lidocaine patch inhibits the increase in permeability to sodium ions, which provides stabilization of neuronal cell membranes, thereby blocking pain sensitivity.
Pharmacokinetics
Patches containing natural substances have not been studied for pharmacokinetics. The active substance of the patch is excreted mainly 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 placed on the skin for 12 hours, after removal, the next one can be placed after 6 hours. The maximum course of treatment is up to 9 days for 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 on the painful place, having previously cleaned it with alcohol or a detergent, it stays for 2 days, after 6-7 hours the next one can be applied. Repeat every 2 to 5 weeks.
Japanese impose at 8 o'clock.
The application of black pepper, mustard is carried out on a fat-free area after the protective film is removed from it and left for a day or two. If there is a strong burning sensation, it is recommended to remove it and if you cannot stand it, lubricate 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 for one day, the duration of treatment is no more than 14 days.
The lidocaine patch is kept on the body for 2-10 hours, it is applied once a day, the duration of wearing is 12 hours, the total duration of treatment does not exceed two weeks. 3 plates can be used at the same time.
The patch is sometimes placed on a light fabric during the day, becausecauses severe burning. The period of action is up to 10 hours, you can use it again only after 24 hours.
Application for children
The efficacy and safety of most of the proposed patches in children has not been studied. We can confidently recommend black 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, therefore this category of patients is not recommended. Warming patches: pepper, mustard in the lumbar region can cause unwanted consequences during pregnancy. It is best to refuse the use of an anesthetic patch for the entire period of childbirth and feeding a child. It can cause miscarriage, heart disease in the early stages, in the third trimester - delayed birth or the duration of their course. This also applies to lidocaine patches.
Contraindications
Hypersensitivity to the components used in the production 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 for use. Heating patches are not recommended for patients with thrombophlebitis, elevated body temperature and high blood pressure. Painkillers should not be used by people with asthmatic manifestations when taking acetylsalicylic acid and other NSAIDs, open stomach ulcers. Lidocaine patches are not suitable for elderly people over 65 years old, with a diagnosis of hepatitis and cirrhosis of the liver, arrhythmias and heart defects.
Back pain patch side effects
Medical patches can cause local side effects. Before use, it is necessary to study their composition in order not to provoke an allergic reaction to one or another component. Pepper, mustard plasters can cause burns, painkillers - side effects in the elderly, as well as those with kidney, heart and liver diseases.
Overdose
Due to the low dose of the therapeutic substance entering the bloodstream during local administration, its overdose is impossible.
Interactions with other drugs
There are drug interaction warnings for these patches where drugs are used. So, the anesthetic patch should not be used at the same time as other topical non-steroidal anti-inflammatory agents, 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 out of the reach of children.
The best before a date
The average shelf life of such products is 2-3 years, it is indicated on the packaging of each type.
Analogues
Analogues of the described patches are other applicators with a similar therapeutic effect, but with a different pharmacological effect, as well as analgesic and anti-inflammatory therapy in the form of tablets, injections, physical procedures (therapeutic gymnastics, 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, non-marking and non-obstructive, odorless, non-addictive and, due to the spot application, can actually cause no unwanted side effects. It is difficult to name which patch is the best and most effective, becauseit's all individual. After eliminating pain that does not allow movement with pain-relieving applicators, you can resort to warming. To feel warmth during the day means to relax the muscles and experience comfort.