Back pain can be very debilitating. It can affect the ability to function normally on a daily basis. There are many great pain relief pills on the market today, and there are pharmaceuticals that can also help in combating pain. However, there is another method of dealing with back pain that works very well, it’s the pain patch. Many people have never even considered how much easier a pain patch is for alleviating pain compared to pain pills.
How Pain Patches Work
A pain patch works very well by putting the medication right where the pain is located. You can readily apply this, or have someone put it on the exact area of the pain. This can deliver the medication right to the injured area. This medication is then absorbed through the skin and will apply the required medication to alleviate the pain directly to the area that is hurting.
If you’re seeking immediate relief for pain, the pain patch is by and far the quickest route to go. If you’re tired of back pain, you may wish to consider this as an alternative therapy that will help to alleviate pain. There are many pain patches that are available over the counter (OTC) or you can ask your doctor what they might recommend for your pain.
There are different kinds of pain patches on the market today. You can find pain patches that have menthol, medication or both on the market. There are also pharmaceutical pain patches that can be applied to the back. A pain patch will begin to work the moment it’s applied to the back and it will keep working for four, six, eight, or in some cases twelve to twenty-four hours.
Why Pills Take Longer To Work
By contrast, the pills must first be ingested, work their way through the digestive system and then begin to take effect on the pain. This process can take up to two or more hours depending on the particular type of pain pill used.
You’ll also have to go to the doctor to get the prescription strength pain pills that will help to alleviate your pain. This prescription is expensive, some take several days to fill, and you’re going to be very restricted in what you can do while you’re on the pain pills.
That is two or more hours that you’re going to have to endure pain and deal with it before your medication begins to work. Taking the pills may also include side effects that can include nausea, vomiting, constipation, diarrhea, and dizziness. You may also not be allowed to drive when you’re taking pain medications.
Deciding Which To Use
If you’re still unsure of which product to use, you may wish to consider the fact that many of the over the counter types of pain patches work just as well, or better than pills that must first be ingested. These pain patches are an ideal alternative to becoming dependent on pills.
People who are suffering from back pain will want to find relief as quickly as possible. Many people mistakenly take an overdose of pain pills because they hurt so badly that they want the pain to stop. They take their pain pills and then when they’re not getting the immediate relief that they seek they often take more pills to see if more is better.
More is never better, the bottom line is that the pain pills must first go through the entire digestive system before they begin to work. Many people don’t wait the right length of time to allow the pain pills time to work. They then become addicted to pain pills and seek more and more to get relief from their pain.
Prescription Pain Patches
Many doctors also have prescription pain patches that have menthol and other pain relieving ingredients in them. These are applied to the area of pain or a specific area of the body to offer pain relief. Not all pain relief patches need to be applied at the site of the pain. Such pain patches will offer the patient relief from the pain however, they must be used under the supervision of a physician.
These pain patches often have pharmaceuticals in them that will help to ease pain however, they may become addicting. Whenever possible, doctors attempt to avoid using products (patches or pills) that could be addicting. If however, the pain is severe, the doctors will often prescribe such a patch.
Pros And Cons Of Pain Patches
There are many pros and cons of pain patches. Here are a few to help you understand which will work best for you:
Pros
There are many nonprescription pain patches that are available on the market today.
- Pain patches work by reaching the area that is in pain immediately.
- Pain patches can be applied directly to the area that is injured or in pain.
- Pain patches can be used several times per day to relieve pain.
- Pain patches are affordable and can even be found at a dollar store.
- Pain patches aren’t addicting unless they’re a pharmaceutical pain patch.
Cons
Over the counter pain, patches aren’t covered by insurance.
- The skin may become irritated where the pain patch is applied.
- Sometimes it can be difficult to reach the area that the pain patch needs to be placed on.
- You may require several pain patches if it’s over a larger area of the back that is in pain.
- Some pain patches are heavily menthol scented and can be offputting to many people.
Understanding your options for pain patches vs pain pills will go far in helping you to determine which is the better route to go. In most cases, pain patches for back pain are an ideal alternative to pharmaceutical therapy as well as over the counter medications that may not work as quickly.
Finding quick relief for pain is important when you’re hurting and if you’re in a hurry to get some pain relief, a pain patch is well worth the effort to stop that pain.
