Medications for Back and Neck Pain
Medications play an effective role in the treatment of back or neck pain. Your doctor may prescribe several medications to help reduce pain and associated symptoms that are caused by unhealthy spinal conditions or deformities.
When treating chronic lower back pain, the healthcare professional will prescribe a medication regimen, taking into consideration the precise needs of the patient including severity, the period of pain, and the medical history of the individual. The main aim of prescribing medications is to reduce the pain and increase the comfort level of the patient and also to reduce the danger of misuse or abuse of the medications.
Over-the-counter pain relievers
Over-the-counter pain relievers are medications available without a doctor's prescription. They include acetaminophen, Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs (NSAIDs), and topical pain relievers.
- Acetaminophen (Tylenol) and NSAIDs help to reduce fever and alleviate pain caused by general muscle aches and stiffness. Moreover, NSAIDs can also reduce inflammation. NSAIDs help relieve pain by reducing the level of prostaglandins (hormone-like substances) that cause pain.
- Topical pain relievers (Aspercreme, Ben-Gay, and Capsaicin) include creams, lotions, and sprays that are applied to the skin of painful muscles or joints to ease the pain.
Neuropathic Medications: For pain caused by irritated or damaged nerves, your doctor may recommend neuropathic pain medications. These include certain antidepressants (such as amitriptyline or duloxetine) and anticonvulsants (such as gabapentin or pregabalin). Unlike traditional pain relievers, these medications work by calming overactive nerve signals that contribute to burning, shooting, or tingling pain often associated with spinal conditions.
Corticosteroids: Corticosteroids are used to reduce swelling caused due to inflammation. When used to control pain, corticosteroids can be prescribed in the form of pills or injections.
Muscle relaxers: Muscle relaxers are drugs that are commonly used to treat acute muscle problems. Sometimes, they can help treat painful muscle spasms. These medications help in reducing muscle tone and tension in skeletal muscles. Some muscle relaxers have a direct effect on the skeletal muscle fibers, while others work at the level of the spinal cord.
