Effective patches for back pain: names, prices and treatment principles

Back pain patch is a transdermal preparation used to treat back pain of various causes and causes. This dosage form features a gradual release of active ingredients, providing long-lasting therapeutic effects. The active ingredients of all analgesic patches penetrate the systemic blood stream at low concentrations, so the contraindications for transdermal administration are significantly shorter than for oral and parenteral drugs. Back pain is often caused by pathologies of the gastrointestinal and genitourinary systems, so medical attention and examination are needed.Patch to help relieve inflammation and back pain

Classification of transdermal products

Back pain (back pain) results from functional reversible obstruction of the intervertebral joints. Pathological conditions often precede lumbar spondyloarthropathy or osteochondrosis. Obstruction typically occurs due to increased static or dynamic loading, counterphysiological postures, and microtrauma. Neuropathologists and rheumatologists warn that back pain needs to be treated comprehensively because tissue damage in one area of the spine will lead to functional changes in adjacent areas. Gradually, compensatory overactivity will develop, reducing the person's quality of life.
76% of the population suffers from low back pain. Severe discomfort was diagnosed in 7% of cases. Back pain causes disability in more than 9% of people.
Treatment of pathologies of the musculoskeletal systemPatches are used to reduce pain, relieve inflammation and swelling. Clinical studies have proven the efficacy and analgesic effects of topical transdermal preparations. Back pain treatment patches are classified as follows:
patch group feature
warm up The active ingredient of the topical preparation is an extract of chili pepper or mustard seed. The patch works by improving blood circulation to damaged tissue and accelerating its regeneration
heat reflection The patch contains rare earth metal nanoparticles that use the body's own resources to increase body temperature in areas of inflammation
Anti-inflammatory (medicine) The active ingredients of transdermal drugs are nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. This set of patches can effectively treat any area of back pain
phytoplastic surgery Chinese manufacturers offer locally applied products containing medicinal plant extracts, essential oils and other natural ingredients. Plasters are not only used for treatment, but also for the prevention of lumbar spine lesions
In medical practice, pain lasting 1-1. 5 months is considered acute pain, and pain lasting 12 weeks is considered chronic pain. Patches with analgesic properties are prescribed to eliminate discomfort at any stage of pathology.
Recently, transdermal products with chondroprotective agents have appeared on pharmacy shelves. They contain chondroitin, glucosamine, and sometimes hyaluronic acid and B vitamins to improve innervation. These bioactive substances are the structural units of cartilage, bone and joint tissue of the musculoskeletal system.Such meshes are rarely included in the treatment regimen of patients with lumbosacral osteochondrosis or radiculitisSince the effectiveness of quickly eliminating pain of any intensity is low. The main task of a cartilage protection patch is to restore tissue affected by inflammation, which can take months or even years. Many traumatologists and neurologists are skeptical about the topical use of such agents due to a lack of evidence base for therapeutic efficacy.
Back pain ranks at the top of the list of people seeking medical help. According to the results of epidemiological studies conducted by major clinics in various countries, among 1, 300 patients, 24. 9% of the main complaints were lumbosacral pain.

Heat the patch with red pepper extract

Pepper patches for back pain are the most popular transdermal treatment for back pain of any severity. The active ingredients are red pepper and belladonna extracts, dimethyl sulfoxide, and eucalyptus essential oil. Thanks to lanolin (animal wax obtained by boiling wool) and rosin, the active ingredient is easily absorbed into the skin and penetrates into the inflamed area. Pepper patches have the following therapeutic benefits:
  • pain relievers;
  • distract;
  • Locally irritating.
Capsicum extract has the ability to dilate blood vessels in painful areas. The analgesic effect is also manifested by a reduction in muscle tone and an improvement in tissue nutrition. Belladonna (Belladonna) extract is characterized by a significant antispasmodic effect, which is provided by the alkaloid atropine present in the plant. The manufacturer adds dimethyl sulfoxide to the patch to ease the inflammatory process, a common symptom of back pain. This organic compound inactivates hydroxyl radicals and accelerates metabolic processes in pathological areas.
For people with sensitive skin, the use of transdermal products can cause severe burning, itching, and vascular congestion at the application site. If you experience any of the listed side effects, wipe the affected area of your body with a cotton pad soaked in sunflower oil.
Chili Patch is not intended for treatment of patients under 14 years of age, pregnant or breastfeeding women. Absolute contraindications are varicose veins and compromised skin integrity.To eliminate peripheral neuropathic pain that occurs when the peripheral nervous system (from roots to nerve endings) is damaged, warm patches containing high levels of capsaicin can be used. This transdermal product is not suitable for use at home as certain conditions must be met for use.Capsaicin is a highly selective vanillic acid receptor agonist with type 1 transient receptor potential. TRPV1-expressing cutaneous pain receptors are activated immediately after topical application of the patch. Patients may experience a burning sensation and redness in the adhesive area due to the release of vasoactive neuropeptides. This external medicine has the following pharmacodynamic characteristics:
  • Capsaicin significantly reduces the sensitivity of skin pain receptors to mediators. But a person's ability to experience pain remains unchanged when exposed to mechanical and vibrational stimulation;
  • Under the positive influence of capsaicin, changes in skin pain receptors are reversible and occur after a period of time. Response to painful stimuli recovers after 2-4 weeks.
The patch is characterized by slow transepidermal and transdermal absorption. One hour after applying the patch, only 1% of the active ingredient had penetrated into the damaged tissue.
The application range of topical drugs is determined by the attending physician, the procedure is performed by medical staff. The patient's skin is first treated with products with pronounced anesthetic activity to reduce the intensity of discomfort. Use gloves and goggles to apply the patch. These precautions are necessary to prevent epidermal redness and mucous membrane irritation.

heat reflective patch

Nanopowder patches have been well proven in the treatment of lumbar osteochondrosis, intervertebral hernia, and radiculitis in the treatment of back and lumbar pain. The composition of transdermal products is represented by fine mixtures obtained by processing rare earth materials. Nanopowders capable of generating infrared radiation are applied to a hypoallergenic polymer substrate.
The patch exposure time is 12 hours. The following topical applications should only be used after 6 hours.
The drug’s pharmacological mechanism of action lies in the combined influence of infrared radiation and the magnetic field formed by rare earth materials.. The temperature of the inflammatory focus increases, thereby improving microcirculation. Bioactive substances and nutrients begin to flow to the damaged tissue, initiating the regeneration process. This results in a multifaceted therapeutic effect, chief among which are:
  • Improve local lymph and blood circulation;
  • prevent stagnation;
  • Normalization of venous outflow;
  • Alleviates inflammatory processes;
  • Reduce the severity of pain;
  • Accelerates metabolic processes;
  • Relax cramped muscles.
The patch has analgesic, anti-inflammatory and anti-edema activities. Under the influence of infrared rays, striated skeletal muscles relax and optimal transmission of nerve impulses to the central nervous system is restored. Use of transdermal medications for 5-7 weeks helps to increase functional activity of the musculoskeletal system and normalize range of motion. If your back pain is the result of a fall or severe bruising, using a patch can not only relieve pain but also relieve large hematomas by improving microcirculation in damaged tissue.A Polish manufacturer produces a thermal pain relief patch. This medication does not contain nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs.The active ingredient in the patch is iron powder.Activated carbon acts as a catalyst for biochemical reactions.
The interaction of intestinal adsorbents and iron powder results in an increase in the temperature of inflammatory lesions to 45-50 °C. The body generates heat through the oxidation of alkaline earth metals (the basis of iron powder).
Deep heating of spasmed muscles helps increase blood supply to damaged tissue and decreases skeletal muscle tone. The warming effect lasts for 12 hours, then peel off the patch and rub any moisturizer into the application area.To prevent skin burns, treatment sessions are performed up to 3 times every 7 days.. The patch contains no ingredients that are absorbed into the systemic circulation, ensuring minimal side effects. Transdermal preparations should not be used by patients who are pregnant, lactating and menstruating. An absolute contraindication is also the presence of cracks, wounds or scratches on the skin. The potential for burns and irritation increases significantly when the patch is applied to a vascular area of the body close to the surface of the skin, such as the groin area.

NSAID patch

When patients ask which patch is better for back pain, neurologists and rheumatologists have a clear answer—a transdermal plus an NSAID. NSAIDs reduce the severity of the clinical manifestations and eliminate the pathology causing the clinical manifestations by blocking cyclooxygenase. This results in reduced production of prostaglandins, the primary mediators of pain and inflammation. Most commonly, in the treatment of radiculitis and lumbar osteochondrosis, patches containing the active ingredient phenylacetic acid derivatives are used. Topical agents also include levomenthol, which has the following effects:
  • local irritation;
  • pain relievers;
  • Weak preservative.
The amount of phenylacetic acid derivative released from the patch during the day was equivalent to the volume absorbed from a similar dose of 1% gel. Transdermal products have many advantages: convenience, low frequency of use, and no oil stains left on clothes and bedding after use.
Approximately 5-6% of phenylacetic acid derivatives penetrate into the blood, but this amount is not sufficient to cause significant systemic side effects. T1/2 for inactive metabolites of NSAIDs - within 1-3 hours. After glucuronidation in hepatocytes, phenylacetic acid derivatives are excreted mainly through the urinary system (65-70%) and the remainder through the feces. 1% of the active ingredients are not metabolized in the body.Recently, a patch from a Korean manufacturer appeared on pharmacy shelves whose active ingredient is a propionic acid derivative NSAID. Its analgesic activity is also based on blocking prostaglandin synthesis through inhibition of cyclooxygenase.
Propionic acid derivatives have the undoubted advantage of being useful in the treatment of patients with a history of chronic renal and hepatic failure. Regardless of the pathological stage, the metabolism of NSAIDs in hepatocytes does not change, which explains their lack of accumulation.
08-0. 15μg/ml。 5-8 hours after applying the patch, its biological concentration in the serum reaches 0. 08-0. 15 μg/ml. Propionic acid derivatives are metabolized by liver cells during glucuronidation, and the conjugates are excreted from the body mainly through urine.The transdermal drug is used as a symptomatic medicine to treat neuralgia, low back pain, osteochondrosis and radiculitis in patients over 15 years of age. Topical agents have analgesic and anti-inflammatory effects and can effectively reduce swelling. To increase effectiveness, notes recommend applying the patch to painful areas of the body twice a day. The duration of the course of treatment depends on the severity of the diagnosed disease, but should not exceed 6 days.

Traditional Chinese Medicine Pain Relief Patch

The Chinese Osteochondrosis Patch is a transdermal product containing medicinal plant extracts and bioactive substances with cartilage protective properties. When transdermal medication is applied to areas of pain and inflammation, acupuncture points located in the spine are activated. The result of this action is improved blood circulation, delivery of nutrients and bioactive substances to damaged tissues, and acceleration of metabolic processes.
A wide range of traditional Chinese medicine plasters for joints and spine are not available on pharmacy shelves, and doctors rarely include them in patients' treatment regimens. The manufacturer does not conduct clinical trials, the results of which will provide the evidence base for the therapeutic efficacy of transdermal drugs.
To reduce the severity of pain and relieve inflammation and swelling, the following herbal patches can be used:
  • An external medicine containing about 30 ingredients including whole scorpion powder, bee venom, myrrh, cinnamon, angelica root, and borneol;
  • Patches containing 88 bioactive substances, including herbal sources: angelica, comfrey, licorice, peppercorns and buffalo horn extracts, myrrh, turmeric, orange peels, powders that produce infrared radiation, etc. ;
  • Transdermal agents, including saffron, musk, ginger, menthol, myrrh, peach and angelica root extracts, and methyl salicylate (a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug);
  • The preparation contains aconite, belladonna, cinnamon, parsnips, ginger, chiribuha seeds, myrrh and rosin, clove bark extract and galangal root extract.
All herbal ingredients in TCM patches have a cumulative effect, so the analgesic effects appear hours or even days later. Before using them, it should be taken into account that the composition contains many biologically active substances that may cause severe allergic reactions. Traditional Chinese Medicine patches are not suitable for the treatment of children, pregnant or breastfeeding women.