The five fundamental things to know about back pain patches

A lower back pain patchlooks a lot like a bandage you'd apply on a cut or scratch. However, these patches have medicine that goes into skin to then fight lower lumbar pain and soreness.

This post talks about the most frequent questions that lower back pain sufferers have with these patches.

What is inside these patches?

There are several common ingredients found in these patches.

Methyl salicylate is a very common medicine in these patches. It is derived from the wintergreen leaf, & closely looks like aspirin. This is exactly why methyl salicylate has this pain relieving strength. In spite of this, there are two issues with methyl salicylate as a lower back pain reliever.

Firstly, methyl salicylate does not give the warm feeling that other medicines do (discussed later).

The next weakness is actually that individuals that are allergic to aspirin should not use methyl salicylate in their back patches.

Another common medicine is capsicum, or capsaicin.

When applied to the body, capsaicin gives a warming feeling, comparable to a heating pad. This works fine for lower back pain which responds well to heat, such as lower back pain caused by muscle strains.

Capsaicin back patches are just the thing for professional athletes, weekend do it yourselfers, or someone who needs treatment while staying on the go.

A third ingredient is a combination of menthol & camphor. The combination is actually usually found within back pain lotions and gels, but they can also be included in back pain patches.

Camphor and menthol work very well to fight several kinds of pain.

Camphor & menthol are frequently blended with methyl salicylate in the same patch. This combination is an excellent choice for tackling pain by means of separate medications at the same time.

Are patches safe?

Yes, these back patches are extremely safe to use. The only real issue is to be very careful while removing the pain patch from the backing so that the patch does not stick against itself.

And, always wash your hands after you've finished handling the pain patch.

Can I apply these pain patches together with my prescription pain killers?

Yes, back pain patch products can be used along with oral pain medicines.

To my knowledge, there is no interaction between the medicines in these products & the pain medications we take by mouth.

The only potential exception can be if you use aspirin for your aches and pains, then you ought to double check with your doctor or druggist before applying a pain patch that contains methyl salicylate.

Can lower back pain patches be used on other parts of the body?

Definitely.

Back pain patch products are also used on other parts, such as the shoulder, the upper back, & even the elbow.

These patches can be trimmed to size, depending on where they will be used, e.g, the hand or the wrist.

Which brands should I look for?

The choice of product is dependent on the type of pain you have.

For example, a pain patch like Imbue patch works well for muscle strain & for arthritis within the lower back.

Imbue also works for arthritis aches and pains in other areas, like the shoulder and the elbow.

If the pain responds well to a heating pad, then a hot capsicum patch like Salonpas Hot works quite well.

Summary

Back pain patches are an inexpensive, safe approach to treat pain, including lower back aches and pains.

They can be used along with prescription medicines, and they are also quite safe to use.

Unlike lotions and gels, they are easy to apply, and are odorless.

Plus, patches can be left on for several hours at a time.

So if you have constant lower back aches and pains from osteoarthritis or any other cause, consider using back pain patch products.

You're lower back will thank you!