Back pain is a problem faced by people of different ages and professions. It causes discomfort, limits vital activity and can occur at the most unexpected moment. In some cases, you can get out of this situation with the help of a back pain patch or kinesio tape. The main thing is to choose a quality one and apply it according to the instructions.
Why do back pains occur?
Before choosing medical patches, it is necessary to accurately determine the cause of back pain. Usually these causes can be divided into 3 groups:
- The most common is muscle pain. They appear as a result of stretching, injury, overexertion, sedentary work, prolonged stay in an awkward position, etc.
- Another reason is the degenerative pathologies of the spine (spondyloarthritis, intervertebral hernias, osteochondrosis, etc. ). Back pain in this situation occurs due to pinched nerves.
- Diseases of the internal organs sometimes provoke the appearance of pain. For example, renal colic is associated with severe lower back discomfort.
The back pain patch can be used regardless of the cause of the discomfort. But it is necessary to understand that the treatment of serious diseases, problems with internal organs and the spine will require additional measures.
What is the advantage of the back patch?
The main task when using a patch is to relieve symptoms. That is, it is only an ancillary measure that will help alleviate the condition, but in no way replaces drugs in severe cases. However, pain patches are popular for several reasons:
- The drugs in the anesthetic patch penetrate the skin in minimal doses, affecting only the inflammatory focus. At the same time, the circulatory system and the gastrointestinal tract are not involved in any way and the damage to the body is minimized.
- More practical to use than gels, rubs and ointments. Therefore, it can be used in any situation without staining your hands and clothes. In addition, you can always carry it with you, because the patch takes up little space in the bag.
- There are patches on the market that use only natural ingredients, so they are harmless and can be used even without a doctor's recommendation.
How does the anesthetic patch work?
In the treatment of injuries, all aids are aimed at eliminating pain, improving blood circulation and lymph flow and relieving inflammation. In addition, this effect is achieved thanks to various active substances. There are currently several types of plasters on sale - irritating, reflective, analgesic and combined action. Each of them has a suitable effect, but you need to choose the right version of the patch based on the situation, skin condition and susceptibility to allergic reactions.
Irritating spots on the back
The therapeutic effect of such drugs is similar to warming ointments. The main component is hot red pepper and mustard extract, which is applied to every inch of the tissue base. Upon contact with the skin, the main active ingredient irritates nerve endings and receptors, causes a strong flow of blood to the affected area and therefore reduces pain. Thanks to the warming effect, a person feels better and lasts for several hours. Usually after applying the patch you feel a pleasant warming heat, the pain decreases. But if you feel a strong burning sensation, you should 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 to the application site, as this will only worsen the situation. In addition, the patch should not be used in fever, in children and pregnant women.
Reflective plaster
If your back is straight, you can use a heat-reflecting patch. In fact, there are no drugs in it - only a reflective surface is applied inside. Thanks to this, the heat is retained at the place where it hurts and the warming effect is intensified. Attach it to your underwear. The main advantage is that the patch can be used without any harm to the body.
Pain relief tapes
The principle of action 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 by neutralizing free radicals and reducing inflammation. But you can use them for no more than two weeks and if possible, take them only in case of acute pain, as they cause side effects.
- The anesthetic patch uses a substance that blocks the skin's surface receptors so that the pain subsides. 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 of them. The use of such plasters is practically harmless, except for the possibility of allergies, as the composition contains natural ingredients.
Nanoplastics - a novelty in the market of regenerative medicine
A relatively new painkiller is a type of patch based on nutritional supplements. Bioactive substances are applied on a polymer base 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 center of inflammation.
Combined products
When creating patches, two effects are combined - anesthetic and warming. The plus is that when the tape is glued, the pain stops at the same time, blood circulation increases and the inflammation disappears. Different combinations of active ingredients can be found on the market, therefore the contraindications for patches depend entirely on the chosen composition.
How to use the patches correctly?
There are no basic requirements and complex application schemes for applying the patch. The back of the application site must be dry and clean, free of injuries, open wounds and burns. The only difficulty is that you need to accurately determine the location of the uncomfortable sensations, as the size of the plaster is not very large. If it is difficult enough to determine the location, for example, if the back "shoots in several places, then several stickers can be placed at once - on one side and on the other side of the spine.
Then you need to remove the protective film and attach the tape to the selected area. Keep in mind that most plasters are incompatible with water treatments. Therefore, while wearing the patch, you should take a shower carefully.
The course of treatment depends on the disease, its phase and complex additional measures. For example, if you periodically "shoot" on 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 needed in addition to the use of thermostats.
Which to choose?
Before choosing patches, you need to understand the cause of the unpleasant symptoms - the doctor will choose a scheme of drug use and duration of use. There are situations when emergency help is needed - in this case, use stickers, but choose the safest. If the discomfort intensifies and does not disappear or the pain becomes permanent, then be sure to consult a specialist.
You can get several patches at the pharmacy or store. Contact specialists who will help you choose only the best drugs from trusted manufacturers, constantly updating the range with new products. If you have difficulties in choosing medicines, you have not found the product you are interested in in the catalog, or you are interested in the products of a particular brand, then contact the consultants of the online store for help.