Acetaminophen

Back Pain Medication Overview: Understanding Medication for Back Pain Relief

Ben Parr — Wed, 12 Nov 2008 14:24:16 -0800

There are multiple over-the-counter (non-prescription) and prescription medications that can provide back pain relief. Patients considering taking any type of medication for back pain should first meet with their physician to determine their individual risk factors and appropriate treatment options.

Back Pain Treatment: Non-Surgical Options for Pain Relief

Ben Parr — Wed, 12 Nov 2008 14:24:12 -0800

Prior to starting any type of treatment, it is always advisable to first see an appropriately trained spine specialist to develop an appropriate treatment program for your specific condition and medical history.

The main goals for managing back pain in the lumbar spine (lower back) usually include:

Acetaminophen

spine-health — Mon, 17 Dec 2007 08:42:12 -0800

Acetaminophen is probably the single most effective non-prescription medication for lower back pain and has the fewest side affects. Tylenol is an example of a well-known medication that has acetaminophen as its active ingredient.

Are Your Medications Making You Sick?

spine-health — Mon, 17 Dec 2007 08:42:12 -0800

If you are feeling so-so or are experiencing more serious symptoms, it's possible that your back pain medications are the cause. While the recent media attention to certain drugs has certainly raised a red flag for many patients, the sometimes misleading or contradictory headlines have also created confusion and unnecessary fear for many. In this newsletter and on Spine-health.com, we profile (based on the facts) potential side effects and risks of several commonly used drugs for back pain.

Medications for Back Pain and Neck Pain

spine-health — Mon, 17 Dec 2007 08:42:12 -0800

There are multiple over-the-counter (non-prescription) and prescription medications that can be helpful in relieving pain and addressing related symptoms while an episode of low back pain is getting better. Careful attention to pain management is a critical component of a patient’s recovery, as acute or chronic low back pain can lead to depression, difficulty sleeping, and difficulty exercising and stretching, all of which in turn can exacerbate and prolong a painful back condition.

First Aid for Your Back

spine-health — Tue, 11 Dec 2007 23:07:35 -0800

Even if the pain is severe, episodes of back pain—and pain from ongoing back conditions—can be somewhat relieved with some first aid methods you can do at home. After an injury, resting for a day or two can give your back a chance to recover and start to heal on its own. In addition, some combination of the following treatments is usually recommended to help alleviate or at least manage the pain.

Degenerative Scoliosis

spine-health — Tue, 11 Dec 2007 21:54:09 -0800

Degenerative scoliosis comes about as the result of degeneration in the disc space and paired facet joints posteriorly (in the back of the spine). As the joints degenerate they turn and create a bend in the back, resulting in the classic scoliotic curve.

Whereas idiopathic scoliosis is much more common in the thoracic spine (mid back), degenerative scoliosis is much more common in the lumbar spine (lower back). It occurs most frequently in people over 65 years of age.

Pain Medications

spine-health — Tue, 11 Dec 2007 21:23:07 -0800

There are multiple medications that can help relieve low back pain associated with degenerative disc disease. Any medication, including many non-prescription (over-the-counter) drugs, should be taken under a physician’s care, direction, and supervision. Many of the pain medications below should not be taken by people with certain health conditions (e.g., diabetics should not use oral steroids since the medication increases blood sugar levels). Patients should ask their physicians and pharmacists about potential side effects of any medication.

Osteoarthritis Medications

spine-health — Tue, 11 Dec 2007 21:13:34 -0800

Many different medications are used to control the pain associated with spinal arthritis. Two important factors that must be considered in medications are the level of the patient’s pain and the potential side effects of the medication. Even nonprescription drugs should be checked for side effects.

Facet Joint Osteoarthritis

spine-health — Tue, 11 Dec 2007 21:13:34 -0800

More Osteoarthritis Info:

Osteoarthritis Causes

Osteoarthritis Symptoms

Osteoarthritis Diagnosis

Facet Joint Disorders