A herniated disc is one of the common causes of lower back pain, although it might occur anywhere along the spine. If you are suffering from this condition, you know how frustrating and painful it can be. You often want fast pain relief especially if the back pain interferes with your daily activities. Fortunately, painkillers can help relieve the pain while you pursue longer-term treatments like massage therapy, or physical therapy. This article will look at some top painkillers you can take to relieve the pain linked with a herniated disk.
- Nonsteroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs (NSAIDs)
Pain linked with a herniated disc might be due to inflammation in the soft tissue and nerves surrounding the affected disc. A swollen nerve swells may push up against the disk resulting ton pain. By taking nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medications, the swelling and pain might go away. Some of the common NSAIDs include naproxen, ibuprofen, and aspirin.
- Opioids
Opioids are narcotic pain medications that help relieve intense pain. Opioids help to relieve pain by triggering the release of endorphins that boost the feelings of pleasure and suppress the pain perception. These painkillers are only prescribed when pain is severe. They offer significant pain relief but can also be highly addictive, so ensure to only use them under a doctor’s guidance.
- Antidepressants
Antidepressants help to relieve herniated disc pain by blocking pain messages from getting to your brain and increasing the effects of endorphins, which are the natural painkillers in the body. Examples of antidepressants include duloxetine, venlafaxine, milnacipran, Doxepin, and Amitriptyline. One of the additional benefits of antidepressants is that they can help you get better sleep. Keep in mind that antidepressants are prescription-only medicines, so don’t use them without the doctor’s advice. These medications can cause withdrawal effects such as nausea, anxiety, sweating, agitation, and tremors.
- Muscle Relaxants
If muscle spasms cause your herniated disc pain, muscle relaxants can help relieve the pain. Muscle spasms occur when a disc slips from its place between pinches a nerve and vertebrae, disrupting the electrical signals that move from the nerve to the muscle tissue. Muscle relaxant medications can conveniently calm muscle spasms and relieve pain. However, due to their addictive nature, muscle relaxants such as benzodiazepines should only be used to treat acute pain from herniated discs. They offer substantial pain relief by relaxing the muscles. Never use muscle relaxants without the doctor’s approval.
- Topical Analgesics
Topical analgesics, such as patches and creams, provide localized relief with marginal systemic side effects. These medications are applied to the skin to relieve pain by reducing inflammation or changing how you process pain. Some of the common ingredients in topical analgesics include diclofenac, Menthol, capsaicin, lidocaine, and camphor. However, always ensure to read the package instructions. Never apply these analgesics to wounds or use them under a tight bandage.
Wrapping Up
A herniated disk can cause aggravating pain in a person’s back, particularly the lower back. Over the counter NSAIDs like naproxen and ibuprofen are the first step in managing herniated disc pain. For severe pain, you can consider prescribed medications such as muscle relaxants, opioids, antidepressants and topical analgesics. If the pain worsens or persists, consult with a healthcare professional. Dr. Wiederholz. Specialists at Performance Pain and Sports Medicine are dedicated to listening to your queries and offering top-quality healthcare service including the more permanent Discseel Procedure.
