Back pain is a problem that people of different ages and occupations face. It causes discomfort, limits life activity and can appear at the most unexpected moment. In some cases, you can get out of this situation by using a back pain patch or kinesio tape. The main thing is to choose a quality one and apply it according to the instructions.
Why does back pain occur?
Before choosing medicated patches, it is necessary to accurately determine the cause of back pain. Typically, such reasons can be divided into 3 groups:
- The most common is muscle pain. They appear as a result of stretching, injuries, overexertion, sedentary work, prolonged stay in an awkward position, etc.
- Another reason is degenerative pathologies of the spine (spondyloarthritis, intervertebral hernias, osteochondrosis, etc. ). Back pain in this situation is caused by pinched nerves.
- Diseases of the internal organs sometimes cause pain. For example, renal colic is associated with severe lower back discomfort.
A back pain patch can be used for whatever reason. But it is necessary to understand that the treatment of serious diseases, problems with internal and organs and spine will require additional measures of influence.
What is the advantage of a back patch?
The main task when using patches is to alleviate the symptoms. That is, this is only an auxiliary measure that will help alleviate the condition, but never replace medications in severe cases. However, painkillers are popular for several reasons:
- Drugs in the anesthetic patch penetrate the skin in minimal doses, affecting only the focus of inflammation. At the same time, the circulatory system and the gastrointestinal tract are not involved in any way, and the damage to the organism is minimized.
- More practical to use than gels, rubs and ointments. Therefore, it can be used in any situation without getting your hands and clothes dirty. Plus, you can always carry it with you because the patch takes up little space in your bag.
- There are patches on the market that use only natural ingredients, so they are harmless and can be used without a doctor's recommendation.
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 alleviating inflammation. Moreover, this effect is achieved thanks to various active substances. There are currently several types of gypsum on sale - irritating, reflective, analgesic and combined. Each of them has the appropriate effect, but you must choose the appropriate version of the patch based on the situation, skin condition and susceptibility to allergic reactions.
Irritating patches on the back
The therapeutic effect of such drugs is similar to warming ointments. The main component is an extract of hot red pepper and mustard, which is applied to every inch of the cloth base. In contact with the skin, the main active ingredient irritates nerve endings and receptors, causes strong blood flow to the affected area and therefore reduces pain. Thanks to the warming effect, the person feels better and lasts for several hours. Normally, after applying the patch, you feel a pleasant warm-up, the pain decreases. But if you feel a strong burning sensation, you need to remove it, wipe the remnants of the product from the skin with oil and rinse with water.
But such a patch should never be used in case of damage at the site of application, as this will only worsen the situation. In addition, the patch should not be used for fever, children and pregnant women.
Reflective plaster
If your back is stretched, you can use a patch that reflects heat. In fact, there is no medicine in it - only the reflective surface is applied from the inside. Thanks to that, the place where it hurts retains heat and intensifies the heating effect. Attach it to your underwear. The main advantage is that the patch can be used without any harm to the body.
Pain 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 relieve inflammation. But different active substances are used as a basis:
- Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory patches can effectively relieve pain because they neutralize free radicals and reduce inflammation. But you can use them for no longer than two weeks, and if possible, take them only in case of acute pain, because they cause side effects.
- The anesthetic patch uses a substance that blocks the skin's surface receptors so that pain is reduced. This type of patch is used as a pain blocker in the acute phase of the disease.
- Herbal patches are made based on the principles of alternative Chinese medicine. The healing effect is provided by a complex of medicinal plants in certain proportions - the composition contains concentrated extracts from them. The use of such patches is practically safe, with the exception of the possibility of allergies, because the composition contains natural ingredients.
Nanoplastics - a novelty on the market of regenerative medicine
A relatively new painkiller is a type of patch based on dietary supplements. Bioactive substances are applied to the polymer substrate in several layers, obtained by grinding plant products into nanoparticles. Reviews of the patch are ambiguous, but it is believed that such small details penetrate the skin and have a direct effect on the focus of inflammation.
Combined products
When making a patch, two effects are combined - anesthetic and warming. The plus is that when the tape is glued, the pain stops at the same time, the circulation increases and the inflammation disappears. Various combinations of active ingredients can be found on the market, so the contraindications for patches depend entirely on the chosen composition.
How to use patches correctly?
There are no basic requirements and complex application schemes for patch application. The back at the site of application should be dry and clean, without injuries, open wounds and burns. The only difficulty is that you have to pinpoint the location of the discomfort, because the size of the patch is not very large. If it is difficult enough to determine the location, for example, if the back shoots in several places, then you can put several stickers at once - on both sides of the spine.
You must then remove the protective film and attach the tape to the selected area. Keep in mind that most plasters are incompatible with the adoption of water treatments. Therefore, while wearing the patch, take a shower carefully.
The course of treatment depends on the disease, its stage and complex additional measures. For example, if you occasionally "shoot" in the lower back, then you may have a supply of emergency patches - taking a full course does not make sense. And in the case of chronic diseases, a set of measures is required with the use of thermal labels.
Which one to choose?
Before choosing patches, you need to find out the reason for the appearance of unpleasant symptoms - the doctor will choose a scheme for the use of drugs and the duration of use. There are situations when help is urgently needed - in this case, use patches, but choose the safest ones. If the discomfort intensifies and does not disappear, or the pain becomes constant, be sure to consult a specialist.
In pharmacies or stores, you can pick up several patches at once. Contact experts who will help you choose only the best medicines from proven manufacturers, constantly updating the range with new products. If you have difficulty choosing medicines, you have not found a product that interests you in the catalog or you are interested in products of a particular brand, contact the online store consultants for help.