The second leading cause of a visit to the doctor is back pain and virtually everyone will have an experience with it at some point. Most back pain is not serious and is the result of a strain of the muscles in the back. Generally, back pain will resolve with conservative care, such as chiropractic or physical therapy. Your pain should be diagnosed if it does not resolve within a few days or is recurring or getting worse. If you seek the care of your family doctor for your back pain, you will likely be prescribed one or more of the following medications.
NSAIDs
Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are common pain relievers, and they include asprin, ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin) or naproxen (Aleve). This class of drugs is an effective first line at decreasing pain that can arise from arthritis or muscle strains. They not only treat pain, but are also effective at reducing the inflammation that can occur with many back conditions. Pain in the back can result from inflammation causing irritation to the nerves, making anti-inflammatory properties important. These drugs are generally taken by mouth, but can be applied in the form of a cream or gel. Potential adverse side effects include swelling, nausea, vomiting, gastrointestinal bleeding and ulcers.
Narcotics
In the acute phase of a severe bout of back pain, you may be prescribed narcotics such as codeine, morphine or oxycodone, but according to the Mayo Clinic, these drugs should only be used for a short time and under close supervision of your doctor. These medications block the pain by binding to opioid receptor sites. Potential side effects include addiction, nausea and vomiting, dizziness, headache, and sleepiness. These drugs can be effective pain control tools, but great care is required in managing their use.
Muscle Relaxers
A key component in back pain is often the muscle spasm. Muscle relaxers affect the ability of the muscle to contract at the central nervous system rather than directly at the muscle. The effect is to break the contraction and relax the muscle, increasing range of motion and decreasing pain. Common muscle relaxers include Flexeril, Soma and Skelaxin, all of which are effective at reducing the muscle spasm and allowing proper motion to return to the structures of the back. Possible side effects include dry mouth, urinary retention, drowsiness or dizziness, and addiction.
Steroids
The use of steroids is typically reserved for back pain accompanied by radiculopathy or radiating pain, such as sciatica. This radiating pain is thought to be related to inflammation at the nerve root. Steroids are effective at reducing the inflammatory process. They can be given orally or injected directly into the site of the inflammation and pain, but have potentially serious side effects and should be used carefully.
