The back pain patch is a transdermal agent used in the treatment of back pain of various etiologies and genesis. The dosage form is characterized by a gradual release of the active ingredients, which provides a long-term therapeutic effect. The active ingredients of all patches with analgesic properties penetrate into the systemic blood circulation in low concentrations, so the list of contraindications for the transdermal drug is significantly shorter than for drugs for oral and parenteral administration. The causes of back pain are often pathologies of the gastrointestinal tract and genitourinary system, so medical advice and examination are required.
Classification of transdermal products
Back pain (back pain) develops as a result of functionally reversible blockade of the intervertebral joints. Pathological conditions often precede spondyloarthropathy or osteochondrosis of the lumbar region. Blockage often occurs as a result of increased static or dynamic loads, abnormal postures and microtraumas. Neuropathologists and rheumatologists warn of the need for complete spinal treatment, as tissue damage in one area of the spine will lead to functional changes in adjacent areas. Gradually, compensatory hyperactivity will form, reducing a person's quality of life.
Low back pain occurs in 76% of the population. Intense discomfort is diagnosed in 7% of cases. In more than 9% of people, spina bifida caused disability.
In the treatment of pathologies of the musculoskeletal systemPatches are used to minimize pain, relieve inflammation and swelling. Clinical studies have proven the high effectiveness of transdermal agents for local use, which have an analgesic effect. Therapeutic patches for back pain are classified as follows:
| Patch group | Characteristics |
|---|---|
| Warming up | The active ingredients of the external preparations are hot pepper or mustard seed extracts. The mechanism of action of the patches is to improve blood circulation in the damaged tissues and accelerate their regeneration |
| Reflective heat | The patch contains rare earth metal nanoparticles, which have the ability to increase body temperature in areas of inflammation using the body's own pores |
| Anti-inflammatory | The active ingredients of transdermal drugs are non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. This group of patches is effective in the treatment of back pain of any localization |
| Phytoplastics | Chinese manufacturers provide products for topical application that contain extracts of medicinal plants, essential oils and other natural ingredients. Plasters are used not only for treatment, but also for the prevention of pathologies of the lumbar spine |
In medical practice, pain lasting 1-1. 5 months is considered acute and pain lasting 12 weeks is considered chronic. The prescription of patches with an analgesic effect is applied to eliminate discomfort at any stage of the pathology.
Relatively recently, transdermal products with chondroprotectors appeared on pharmacy shelves. They contain chondroitin, glucosamine and sometimes hyaluronic acid with B vitamins that can improve innervation. These biologically active substances are structural units of cartilage tissues, bones and joints of the musculoskeletal system. Such patches are rarely included in the regimens of patients with lumbosacral osteochondrosis or radiculitisdue to the low effectiveness of quickly eliminating pain of any intensity. The main task of chondroprotective patches is to restore tissues affected by inflammation, which can last several months and sometimes years. Many traumatologists and neurologists are skeptical about this type of drugs for local use due to the lack of an evidence base for their therapeutic effectiveness.
Dorsalgia occupies one of the first places in the structure of people seeking medical help. According to the results of epidemiological studies conducted in leading clinics of the countries, out of 1300 patients, in 24. 9% the main cause of complaints was pain in the lumbosacral region.
Heated patches with red pepper extract
Pepper patch for back pain is the most popular transdermal remedy for treating back pain of any severity. The active ingredients are red hot pepper and belladonna extracts, dimethyl sulfoxide, eucalyptus essential oil. Thanks to lanolin (animal wax obtained from boiling sheep's wool) and pine rosin, the active ingredients are easily absorbed by the skin and penetrate into inflamed areas. The following therapeutic actions are characteristic of the pepper patch:
- painkiller;
- it distracts the attention?
- locally irritating.
Pepper extract has the ability to dilate the blood vessels located in the area of pain. The analgesic effect is also manifested by a reduction in muscle tone and an improvement in tissue trophism. Belladonna extract (belladonna) is characterized by a strong antispasmodic effect, which is provided by the alkaloid atropine, which is part of the plant. The manufacturers have added dimethyl sulfoxide to the patch to relieve inflammatory processes, a frequent accompaniment of back pain. The organic compound deactivates hydroxyl radicals and accelerates metabolic processes in areas of pathology.
For people with sensitive skin, using a transdermal product will cause severe burning, itching and congestion of the blood vessels at the application site. If any of the listed side effects occur, wipe the affected area of the body with a cotton ball soaked in sunflower oil.
Pepper patch is not used in the treatment of patients under 14 years of age, pregnant or lactating women. Absolute contraindications are varicose veins and impaired skin integrity.
To eliminate peripheral neuropathic pain that occurs when the peripheral nervous system is damaged (from the roots to the nerve endings), a heating patch with a high capsaicin content is used. This transdermal product is not intended for home use as certain conditions must be met when applying it.
Capsaicin is a highly selective vanilloid receptor agonist, the transient receptor potential of which belongs to type 1. Immediately after topical application of the patch, cutaneous nociceptors expressing TRPV1 are activated. The patient feels a burning sensation and redness appears in the area of the glue caused by the release of vasoactive neuropeptides. The external drug is characterized by the following pharmacodynamic effects:
- Capsaicin significantly reduces the sensitivity of skin nociceptors to mediators. But when exposed to mechanical and vibrational stimuli, a person's ability to experience pain remains unchanged.
- Changes in skin pain receptors under the active influence of capsaicin are reversible, which happens after some time. The response to painful stimuli is restored after 2-4 weeks.
The patch is characterized by slow transdermal and transdermal absorption. One hour after sticking the patch, only 1% of the active ingredient penetrates the damaged tissue.
The area of application of the external medicine is determined by the attending physician, and the procedure is performed by medical personnel. The patient's skin is initially treated with a product with strong anesthetic action to reduce the intensity of the discomfort. The patch is applied with gloves and safety glasses. Such precautions are necessary to avoid redness of the skin and irritation of the mucous membranes.
Heat reflective pads
In the treatment of lumbar osteochondrosis, intervertebral hernia, radiculitis, a nanopowder patch for back and lower back pain has proven itself well. The composition of the transdermal product is represented by a fine mixture obtained by processing rare earth materials. A nanopowder with the ability to produce infrared radiation is applied to a hypoallergenic polymer base.
The duration of exposure to the patch is 12 hours. The following topical application can only be used after 6 hours.
The mechanism of the drug's pharmacological action lies in the combined effect of infrared radiation and the magnetic field formed by rare earth materials. The temperature in the inflammatory focus increases, which leads to improved microcirculation. Biologically active ingredients and nutrients begin to flow into the damaged tissues, triggering regenerative processes. This leads to multifaceted therapeutic effects, among which the following predominate:
- improvement of local lymph and blood circulation.
- prevention of stagnation;
- normalization of venous outflow.
- relief of the inflammatory process.
- reducing the severity of pain.
- acceleration of metabolic processes.
- relaxation of spasmodic muscles.
The patch has analgesic, anti-inflammatory and anti-edematous effects. Under the influence of infrared rays, the striated skeletal muscles relax and the optimal transmission of nerve impulses to the central nervous system is restored. The use of a transdermal drug for 5-7 weeks helps to increase the functional activity of the musculoskeletal system and normalize the range of motion. If the cause of the dorsal abdomen is a fall or a severe bruise, then the use of the patch will relieve not only pain, but also extensive hematomas by improving microcirculation in the damaged tissues.
A Polish manufacturer produces a warming and analgesic patch. The drug does not contain non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs.The active ingredient in the patch is iron powder.Activated carbon acts as a catalyst for biochemical reactions.
The interaction of enteroabsorbant and iron powder leads to an increase in temperature at the focus of inflammation to 45-50 °C. The production of heat by the body is through the oxidation of alkaline earth metals, the basis of iron powder.
Deep heating of torn muscles helps increase blood supply to damaged tissues and reduce skeletal muscle tone. The warming effect lasts for 12 hours, then the patch should be peeled off and any moisturizer should be rubbed into the application area. In order to avoid skin burns, the treatment procedure can be carried out no more than 3 times every 7 days.. The absence of components in the patch that are absorbed into the systemic circulation ensures a low number of side effects. The transdermal agent is not prescribed to patients during pregnancy, lactation and menstruation. The presence of cracks, wounds or scratches on the skin is also an absolute contraindication. When the patch is applied to areas of the body with blood vessels close to the surface of the skin (for example, the groin), the possibility of burns and irritation increases significantly.
Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug patches
When asked by patients which patch for back pain is best, neurologists and rheumatologists give a clear answer - a transdermal agent with non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. NSAIDs reduce the severity of clinical manifestations and eliminate the pathology that caused them by inhibiting the cyclooxygenase enzyme. This leads to a decrease in the production of the main mediators of pain and inflammation, prostaglandins. Most often, in the treatment of radiculitis and lumbar osteochondrosis, a patch with an active ingredient from the group of phenylacetic acid derivatives is used. The external agent also includes levomenthol, which has the following effects:
- local irritant;
- painkiller;
- weak antiseptic.
The amount of phenylacetic acid derivative released from the patch during the day corresponds to the volume adsorbed by a similar dose of 1% gel. The transdermal product has many advantages: convenience and low frequency of use, no greasy marks on clothes and bedding after use.
About 5-6% of the phenylacetic acid derivative can penetrate into the bloodstream, but this amount is not enough to develop significant systemic side effects. T1/2 of inactive metabolites of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs - within 1-3 hours. After glucuronidation in the hepatocytes, the phenylacetic acid derivative is mainly excreted through the urinary system (65-70%) and the rest is excreted in the feces. 1% of the active ingredient leaves the body without metabolism.
Relatively recently, a patch from a Korean manufacturer appeared on the shelves of pharmacies, the active ingredient of which is a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug from the group of propionic acid derivatives. Its analgesic effect is also based on the inhibition of prostaglandin synthesis by inhibiting cyclooxygenase.
The undoubted advantage of the propionic acid derivative is the possibility of use in the treatment of patients with a history of chronic kidney and liver failure. Regardless of the stage of the pathology, the metabolism of NSAIDs in liver cells does not change, which explains its lack of accumulation.
5-8 hours after sticking the patch, its biological concentration in blood serum reaches 0. 08–0. 15 μg/ml. The propionic acid derivative is metabolized by hepatocytes during the glucuronidation reaction and the conjugates are excreted from the human body mainly in the urine.
The transdermal drug is used as a symptomatic agent in the treatment of neuralgia, sciatica, osteochondrosis and radiculitis in patients over 15 years of age. The external agent has an analgesic and anti-inflammatory effect and effectively relieves swelling. To increase effectiveness, the commentary recommends sticking the patch 2 times a day on painful areas of the body. The duration of the therapeutic course depends on the severity of the diagnosed disease, but it should not exceed 6 days.
Chinese Pain Relief Patches
The Chinese osteochondrosis patch is a transdermal product containing medicinal plant extracts and biologically active substances that have chondroprotective properties. After sticking the transdermal drug to the area of pain and inflammation, the acupuncture points located on the spine are activated. The result of this effect is the improvement of blood circulation, the supply of nutrients and biologically active substances to the damaged tissues and the acceleration of metabolic processes.
There is not a wide range of Chinese plasters for the joints and spine on the shelves of pharmacies, and doctors rarely include them in the treatment regimens of patients. Manufacturers do not conduct clinical trials, the results of which would create an evidence-based basis for the therapeutic effectiveness of transdermal drugs.
To reduce the severity of pain, relieve inflammation and swelling, the following Chinese patches are used:
- An external remedy containing scorpion powder, bee venom, myrrh, cinnamon, angelica, borneol and about 30 other ingredients.
- A patch containing 88 biologically active substances, including of plant origin: angelica, comfrey and licorice root, extract of Sichuan pepper polyflora and buffalo horn, myrrh, turmeric, orange peel, powder that produces infrared radiation and others.
- Transdermal agent, which includes extracts of saffron, musk, ginger, menthol, myrrh, peach and angelica root, methyl ester of salicylic acid, which belongs to the group of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs.
- A preparation containing extracts of aconite, belladonna, cinnamon, parsnip, ginger, chilibuha seeds, myrrh and pine resins, clove bark extract and galangal root.
All herbal components of Chinese patches have a cumulative effect, so the analgesic effect appears after several hours and sometimes days. Before using them, it should be taken into account that the composition contains many biologically active substances that can cause a severe allergic reaction. Chinese plasters are not intended to treat children, pregnant or lactating women.