Back pain is a problem faced by people of different ages and professions. It causes anxiety, limits life activities, and can occur at the most unexpected moment. In some cases, you can get out of this situation by using a cast or kinesiotherapy for back pain. The main thing is to choose a quality one and apply it according to the instructions.
Why does back pain appear?
Before choosing a drug patch, it is necessary to determine the exact cause of back pain. Conventionally, such reasons can be divided into 3 groups:
- The most common is muscle pain. They include stretching, injury, excessive tension, sedentary work, prolonged stay in an uncomfortable position, and so on.
- Another reason is degenerative pathologies of the spine (spondyloarthritis, intervertebral hernias, osteochondrosis, etc. ). In this case, back pain occurs due to constricted nerves.
- Diseases of the internal organs sometimes cause the appearance of pain. For example, renal colic is associated with severe low back pain.
The back pain patch can be used regardless of the cause of the discomfort. However, it should be understood that the treatment of serious diseases will require additional measures to address internal and organ and spinal problems.
What is the advantage of the back patch?
The main task when using the patch is to eliminate the symptoms. That is, it is only an adjunct to help alleviate the condition, but in no way replaces medication in severe cases. However, pain patches are popular for several reasons:
- The drugs in the anesthetic patch penetrate the skin in minimal doses, affecting only the site of inflammation. At the same time, the circulatory system and gastrointestinal tract are not involved in any way and the damage to the body is minimized.
- It is more practical to use than gels, rubs and ointments. Therefore, it can be used in any situation without contaminating your hands and clothes. Plus, you can always take it with you, because the patch takes up little space in the bag.
- There are patches on the market that use only natural ingredients, so they are harmless and can be used even without a doctor's advice.
How does an anesthetic patch work?
In the treatment of injuries, all aids are aimed at relieving pain, improving blood circulation and lymph outflow, and eliminating inflammation. In addition, this effect is achieved due to various active ingredients. There are several types of gypsum on sale today - irritating, reflective, analgesic and combined action. Each of them has its own effect, but you should choose the appropriate version of the patch based on the condition, the condition of the skin and the tendency to allergic reactions.
Irritating back patches
The therapeutic effect of such drugs is similar to warming ointments. The main component is hot red pepper and mustard extract, which is applied to every inch of the fabric base. When in contact with the skin, the main active ingredient irritates the nerve endings and receptors, causing strong blood flow to the affected area, which reduces pain. Thanks to the warming effect, a person feels better and lasts for several hours. Normally, after applying the patch, a pleasant warming sensation is felt, the pain is reduced. However, if you feel a strong burning sensation, you need to remove it, wipe the remnants of the product with oil and wash with water.
However, in case of damage to the application site, such a patch should never be used, as it will aggravate the situation. In addition, the patch should not be used in children and pregnant women with high body temperature.
Reflective plaster
If your back is stretched, you can use a heat-reflecting patch. In fact, there is no medicine inside - only a reflective surface is applied inside. As a result, heat is retained in the painful area and the warming effect is enhanced. Stick it on your underwear. The main advantage is that the patch can be used without harming the body.
Pain relief strips
The principle of operation of such a patch is similar to the action of gels and ointments. The drug, applied to the inner surface of the patch, is absorbed into the skin, relieves pain and helps eliminate inflammation. However, various active ingredients are used as a base:
- Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory patches can effectively relieve pain because they neutralize free radicals and reduce inflammation. However, you can use them for no more than two weeks, and if possible, take them only during severe pain, as they cause side effects.
- The anesthetic patch uses a substance that blocks the skin's surface receptors, thus reducing pain. This type of patch is used as a pain blocker in the acute stage of the disease.
- Herbal patches are made on the principles of alternative Chinese medicine. The therapeutic effect is provided to a certain extent by a complex of medicinal plants - the composition contains concentrated extracts from them. With the exception of the possibility of allergies, the use of such plasters is practically harmless, because they contain natural ingredients.
Nanoplasty - an innovation in the regenerative medicine market
A relatively new painkiller is a type of patch based on dietary supplements. Bioactive substances obtained by grinding plant products into nanoparticles are applied to the polymer base in several layers. Opinions about the patch are ambiguous, but it is believed that such small details penetrate the skin and directly affect the center of inflammation.
Mixed action products
When creating plasters, two effects are combined - anesthetic and warming. Plus, when the strip is glued, the pain stops at the same time, blood circulation increases, and the inflammation disappears. Different combinations of active ingredients can be found on the market, so the contraindications for patches depend entirely on the selected composition.
How to use patches properly?
There are no fundamental requirements and complex application schemes for applying the patch. The back of the application site should be dry and clean, without injuries, open wounds and burns. The only difficulty is that you need to accurately determine the location of the discomfort, because the size of the plaster is not very large. If the location is difficult enough to determine, for example, if the back "hits several places, several stickers can be applied at once - on one side of the spine and on the other.
After that, you need to remove the protective film and attach the strip to the selected area. Keep in mind that most plasters are not compatible with water procedures. Therefore, you should take a shower carefully while applying the patch.
The course of treatment depends on the disease, its stage and complex, additional measures. For example, if you periodically "hit" the lower back, you can have a plaster reserve for an ambulance - it makes no sense to go through a full course. And in the case of chronic diseases, in addition to the use of thermal stickers, a number of measures are needed.
Which to choose?
Before choosing patches, you need to find out the cause of the appearance of unpleasant symptoms - the doctor will choose a scheme for the use and duration of use of the drug. There are situations where you need help urgently - use patches in this situation, but choose the safest ones. If the discomfort intensifies and does not pass, or the pain is persistent, then be sure to consult a specialist.
You can buy several patches at once in pharmacies or stores. Contact experts who will help you choose only the best drugs from reputable manufacturers, constantly replenish the range with new products. If you have difficulty choosing a treatment, if you do not find the product you are interested in in the catalog, or if you are interested in the products of a particular brand, contact the consultants of the online store for help.