NSAIDs are often the go-to drugs for back pain relief. They can be purchased over the counter (or, in higher doses, by prescription) and include ibuprofen (Advil) and naproxen (Aleve). NSAIDs help reduce pain, swelling, and inflammation in muscles and around damaged spinal discs or arthritic joints.
It can be challenging to get up and move when back pain strikes. However, a short walk, aerobics, yoga, water aerobics, swimming, or another low-impact activity can help alleviate back pain. Exercise may loosen tense muscles and release endorphins, the brain's natural pain relievers.
Over-the-counter painkillers
Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDS) such as diclofenac, ibuprofen and naproxen are the most commonly used medications for low back pain. They can often relieve the symptoms a little. Lower doses of these drugs are available without a prescription.
I would agree that paracetamol alone should not be taken for back pain. The NICE guidance is that non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), such as ibuprofen, should be used as a first line, and paracetamol can be added to that.
You also shouldn't use it for more than 21 days. If you feel you still need it after that, it's time to check with a healthcare provider. Now, you may be asking, “Why can't I use Voltaren gel on my back or shoulder?” This is because it hasn't been well-studied on these body areas.
If you're experiencing back pain that's not responding to pain relievers, make an appointment with your doctor. They can recommend medications and other treatments that may be effective for your specific type of back pain.
The researchers found that analgesics reduced the pain, minimally, but they had a potential to increase the risk of adverse side effects. Side effects on the gastrointestinal system were nausea, dyspepsia, vomiting, and diarrhea. Discomforts related to the nervous system were drowsiness, dizziness, and headache.
If you have back pain, Voltaren may be just the relief you're looking for. Voltaren has several products suitable for relieving back pain from strains or sports injuries – read the labels on the products and talk to your pharmacist to find the right one for you.
We found high‐quality evidence that paracetamol (4 g per day) is no better than placebo for relieving acute LBP in either the short or longer term. It also worked no better than placebo on the other aspects studied, such as quality of life and sleep quality.
You should lie down to relieve the pain, but the goal should be not to return to sitting, but rather to regain your ability to stand and move. "The goal isn't to get into the chair.
Use ice or heat.
If you've experienced a lower back injury, applying ice within the first 24-72 hours afterward can help ease pain and reduce swelling. After that, switch to heat to help relax tight muscles. Heat also is useful for chronic lower back pain that isn't related to an acute injury.
“When your back hurts, it's not the time to be doing sit-ups, leg lifts, toe touches, high impact exercises or weight-lifting,” says Dr. Kumaraswamy.
When comparing the strength of ibuprofen and paracetamol, it's important to note that they have different mechanisms of action and may be more effective for different types of pain. Ibuprofen is generally considered to have stronger anti-inflammatory properties compared to paracetamol.
Because they each provide pain relief in different ways, paracetamol can be better at treating some types of pain, while ibuprofen is better at treating other types. But be wary of packaging that claims a medication is useful for targeting pain associated with a specific condition as these claims are not true.
Some back pain may be due to inflammation in the discs of the spine and the surrounding nerves and joints. Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) alleviate pain by targeting the inflammation. The most common NSAIDs are ibuprofen, naproxen, and aspirin, all of which are available over the counter at a drugstore.
You can use Voltaren gels for relief from back pain, knee pain strains, shoulder pain, hip pain strains or joint pain, specifically: Relief of pain, inflammation, and swelling in: Soft-tissue injuries or trauma of the tendons, ligaments, muscles and joints.
Ibuprofen is recommended as a first line of treatment for back pain by the NHS. It relieves pain, fever and has anti-inflammatory properties. Ibuprofen can provide superior pain relief to paracetamol in back pain. It targets the source by helping block the pain-inducing enzymes.
Symptoms of overdose/swallowing may include: severe stomach pain, change in the amount of urine, slow/shallow breathing. Lab and/or medical tests (such as blood pressure, complete blood count, liver/kidney function) should be done while you are using this medication. Keep all medical and lab appointments.
It's safe to take ibuprofen with paracetamol or codeine. But do not take ibuprofen with similar painkillers like aspirin or naproxen without talking to a pharmacist or doctor. Ibuprofen, aspirin and naproxen belong to the same group of medicines called non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs).
You may need to take paracetamol for longer if you have a long-term health problem that causes pain. It's safe to take paracetamol regularly for many years, as long as you do not take more than the recommended dose.
Common Causes of Chronic Back Pain
The most common causes include: Arthritis of the spine —the gradual thinning of the cartilage inside the spine. Spinal stenosis —narrowing of the spinal canal that may lead to nerve pain. Disc problems, such as a herniated or bulging disc.
Without enough physical activity, the muscles that support the back may become weaker and unable to hold the upper body in an upright position. In such cases, other structures of the spine may have to compensate for the lack of support from the back muscles, resulting in worsening pain.
The Spine Is Complex – Your spine is home to vertebrae, nerves, tendons, ligaments and other soft tissues, and all of these parts are susceptible to injury or degeneration. It can be difficult to pinpoint exactly what is wrong because there are so many different structures in a given location.
It's safe to take paracetamol with other types of painkiller that do not contain paracetamol, such as ibuprofen, aspirin or codeine. Do not take paracetamol alongside other medicines that contain paracetamol. If you take 2 different medicines that contain paracetamol, there's a risk of overdose.
Ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin) and Naproxen (Aleve).
“In general, pain that is associated with inflammation, like swelling or acute injury, is better treated with ibuprofen or naproxen,” says Matthew Sutton, MD, a Family Medicine physician at The Iowa Clinic's West Des Moines campus.