Back Pain Patch is a transdermal agent used to treat back pain of a variety of causes and origins. The dosage form is characterized by the gradual release of active substances, providing a long-lasting therapeutic effect. The active ingredients of all patches with analgesic properties penetrate into the systemic blood in low concentrations, therefore the list of contraindications for transdermal drugs is significantly shorter than for drugs administered orally. oral and injectable. The cause of back pain is often diseases of the digestive tract and genitourinary system, so medical advice and examination is needed.
Classification of products that penetrate through the skin
Back pain (back pain) develops due to functional blockage of the vertebral joints. The pathological condition often occurs before spondylosis or osteoarthritis in the lumbar region. Obstruction often occurs due to increased static or dynamic loading, counterphysiological positions, and microtrauma. Neurologists and rheumatologists warn about the need to adequately treat back pain, as tissue damage in one area of the spine will lead to functional changes in neighboring areas. Gradually, compensatory hyperactivity will form, reducing a person's quality of life.
Lower back pain occurs in 76% of the population. Severe discomfort is diagnosed in 7% of cases. In more than 9% of people, back pain causes disability.
In the treatment of pathologies of the musculoskeletal systemThe patch is used to minimize pain and reduce inflammation and swelling. Clinical studies have demonstrated the high effectiveness of transdermal agents when used topically, providing pain relief. Back pain patches are classified as follows:
| Group of patches | Featured |
|---|---|
| Heat it up | The active ingredients of external preparations are extracts of pepper or mustard seeds. The mechanism of action of the patch is to improve blood circulation in damaged tissues and accelerate their regeneration. |
| Heat reflection | The patch contains rare earth metal nanoparticles, which are capable of increasing body temperature in inflamed areas by using the body's own resources. |
| Anti-inflammatory | The active ingredient of the transdermal drug is a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug. This group of patches is effective in treating back pain in any location |
| Phytoplasties | Chinese manufacturers offer products for local use that contain medicinal plant extracts, essential oils and other natural ingredients. Plaster is not only used for therapy but also helps prevent lumbar spine diseases |
In medical practice, pain lasting 1-1. 5 months is considered acute, and pain lasting 12 weeks is considered chronic. Prescription of patches with analgesic effect is carried out to eliminate discomfort at any stage of the pathology.
Recently, transdermal products with chondroprotectants have appeared on pharmacy shelves. They contain chondroitin, glucosamine and sometimes hyaluronic acid with B vitamins that can improve conservation. These biologically active substances are the structural units of cartilage, bone and joint tissues of the musculoskeletal system.Such patches are rarely included in the treatment regimen of patients with lumbosacral osteoarthritis or radiculitis.due to low effectiveness in quickly eliminating pain of any intensity. The main task of the cartilage protector is to restore tissues affected by inflammation, a process that can take several months and sometimes years. Many traumatologists and neurologists are skeptical about these drugs for topical use due to the lack of an evidence base regarding their therapeutic effectiveness.
Back pain 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 country, out of 1300 patients, 24. 9% of the main cause of complaints was pain in the lumbosacral region.
Red pepper extract warming patch
Back pain patches are the most popular transdermal treatment for back pain of any severity. The active ingredients are extracts of red pepper and belladonna, dimethyl sulfoxide, eucalyptus essential oil. Thanks to lanolin (animal wax obtained by boiling sheep's wool) and turpentine, active ingredients are easily absorbed by the skin and penetrate into inflamed areas. The following therapeutic effects are characteristic of pepper patches:
- analgesic;
- distraction;
- causes local irritation.
Chili extract has the ability to dilate local blood vessels in the painful area. The analgesic effect is also manifested in reducing muscle tone and improving tissue nutritional status. Belladonna extract (belladonna) is characterized by a pronounced antispasmodic effect, which is provided by the atropine alkaloid, which is part of the plant. Manufacturers have added dimethyl sulfoxide to the patch to reduce inflammation, a common cause of back pain. This organic compound neutralizes hydroxyl radicals and accelerates metabolic processes in pathological areas.
For people with sensitive skin, using products that penetrate the skin will cause burning, itching and severe blockage of blood vessels at the site of application. If any of the listed side effects occur, wipe the affected area of the body with a cotton pad soaked in sunflower oil.
Pepper patch should not be 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 neuropathy pain that occurs when the peripheral nervous system is damaged (from the roots to the nerve endings), people use warming patches with a high capsaicin content. This transdermal product is not intended for home use as certain conditions must be met for use.
Capsaicin is a highly selective agonist for vanilloid receptors, transient receptor potential of type 1. Immediately after application of the local patch, cutaneous nociceptors expressing TRPV1 are activated. Patients experience a burning sensation and redness appears in the adhesion area due to the release of vasoactive neuropeptides. External drugs are characterized by the following pharmacodynamic effects:
- Capsaicin significantly reduces the sensitivity of skin pain receptors to mediators. But when exposed to mechanical and vibrational stimuli, a person's ability to feel pain remains unchanged;
- Changes in pain receptors in the skin under the active influence of capsaicin are reversible and occur after some time. Response to painful stimuli is restored after 2-4 weeks.
The patch is characterized by slow skin and transdermal absorption. One hour after applying the patch, only 1% of the active ingredient penetrates into damaged tissue.
The scope of external application of the drug is determined by the attending physician, and the procedure is performed by medical staff. The patient's skin is first treated with a product with a pronounced anesthetic activity to reduce the intensity of discomfort. The patch is applied using gloves and safety glasses. Such precautions are necessary to prevent redness of the epidermis and irritation of the mucous membrane.
Heat reflective patch
In the treatment of lumbar cartilage degeneration, intervertebral hernia, and radiculitis, nano powder patches for back and lower back pain have been proven to have good effects. The composition of the transdermal product is represented by a fine mixture obtained by processing rare earth materials. A nanopowder capable of generating infrared radiation is applied to a hypoallergenic polymer matrix.
The exposure time to the patch is 12 hours. The following topical medications can only be used after 6 hours.
The pharmacological mechanism of action of the drug lies in the combined effect of infrared radiation and magnetic fields formed by rare earth materials.. The temperature in the area of inflammation increases, leading to improved microcirculation. Biological activity and nutrients begin to flow to damaged tissues, activating the regeneration process. This leads to a multifaceted treatment effect, where the following prevail:
- improves local lymph and blood circulation;
- prevent stagnation;
- normalizes venous flow;
- reduces inflammatory processes;
- reduces the severity of pain;
- accelerate metabolism;
- Relaxes constricted muscles.
The patch has analgesic, anti-inflammatory and anti-edema effects. Under the influence of infrared rays, striated skeletal muscles relax and optimal transmission of nerve impulses to the central nervous system is restored. The use of transdermal medication for 5-7 weeks enhances the functional activity of the musculoskeletal system and normalizes range of motion. If the cause of back pain is a fall or severe bruises, then the use of the patch will not only relieve pain, but also reduce the spread of hematomas by improving microcirculation in the damaged tissues. .
A Polish manufacturer produces warming and pain relief patches. 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 between enteric absorbents and iron powder leads to an increase in temperature in the area of inflammation to 45-50 °C. The body's heat production occurs through the oxidation of alkaline earth metals, the basis of iron powder.
Deep heating of contracted muscles increases blood supply to damaged tissues and reduces skeletal muscle tone. The warming effect lasts for 12 hours, after which the patch should be removed and any moisturizer applied to the applied area.To prevent skin burns, the treatment procedure can be carried out no more than 3 times in 7 days.. The absence of the ingredients in the patch being absorbed into the circulatory system ensures few side effects. Transdermal medications are not prescribed to patients during pregnancy, lactation and menstruation. An absolute contraindication is also the presence of cracks, wounds or scratches on the skin. When the patch is applied to areas of the body where blood vessels are close to the skin's surface (for example, the groin area), the likelihood of burns and irritation is significantly increased.
Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory patch
When asked by patients which back pain patch is better, neurologists and rheumatologists give a clear answer - a transdermal agent with a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug. NSAIDs reduce the severity of clinical manifestations and eliminate the pathology that causes them by blocking the enzyme cyclooxygenase. This leads to a decrease in the production of the main mediator of pain and inflammation, prostaglandins. Usually, in the treatment of radiculitis and osteoarthritis of the lumbar region, a patch with an active ingredient from the group of phenylacetic acid derivatives is used. External agents also include levomenthol, which has the following effects:
- local stimulation;
- analgesic;
- Weak antiseptic.
The amount of phenylacetic acid derivative released from the patch during the day corresponds to the volume adsorbed from a similar volume of 1% gel. Products that penetrate the skin have many advantages: convenience, low frequency of use, and do not leave greasy stains on clothes or bedsheets after use.
About 5-6% of phenylacetic acid derivatives can enter the bloodstream, but this amount is not enough to cause significant systemic side effects. T1/2 of inactive metabolites of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs - within 1-3 hours. After glucuronidation in liver cells, phenylacetic acid derivatives are excreted mainly through the urinary system (65-70%), the remainder is excreted in feces. 1% of active ingredients prevent the body from being metabolized.
Recently, a patch from a Korean manufacturer appeared on pharmaceutical shelves, the active ingredient of which is a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug of the propionic acid derivatives group. Its analgesic activity is also based on blocking prostaglandin synthesis by inhibiting cyclooxygenase.
The undoubted advantage of propionic acid derivatives is the possibility of use in the treatment of patients with a history of chronic kidney and liver failure. Regardless of the pathological stage, the metabolism of NSAIDs in hepatocytes remains unchanged, which explains its lack of accumulation.
5-8 hours after patch application, the biological concentration of the patch in serum reached 0. 08–0. 15 μg/ml. Propionic acid derivatives are metabolized by hepatocytes in a glucuronidation reaction and the conjugates are excreted from the human body mainly through urine.
The transdermal drug is used as a symptomatic agent in the treatment of neuralgia, low back pain, osteoarthritis, and radiculitis in patients over 15 years of age. External agents have effective analgesic, anti-inflammatory and swelling-reducing effects. To increase effectiveness, the caption recommends applying the patch twice a day to painful areas of the body. The duration of the treatment course depends on the severity of the diagnosed disease, but should not exceed 6 days.
Chinese pain relief patch
China's cartilage degeneration treatment patch is a transdermal product containing medicinal plant extracts and biologically active ingredients with cartilage-protecting properties. After applying the transdermal medication to the painful and inflamed area, acupuncture points located in the spine will be activated. The result of this effect is improved blood circulation, delivery of nutrients and biologically active substances to damaged tissues and acceleration of metabolic processes.
There aren't many Chinese plasters for joints and spine on pharmacy shelves, and doctors rarely include them in their patients' treatment regimens. Manufacturers do not conduct clinical trials, the results of which would form the evidence base on the therapeutic effectiveness of transdermal drugs.
To reduce the severity of pain, reduce inflammation and swelling, people use the following Chinese patches:
- A topical remedy containing scorpion powder, bee venom, myrrh, cinnamon, angelica, borneol and about 30 other ingredients;
- One patch contains 88 biologically active ingredients, including herbal origin: angelica, comfrey and licorice root, extracts from Sichuan polyflower pepper and buffalo horn, myrrh, turmeric, orange peel, citronella powder. infrared and other radiation;
- Transdermal agent, including saffron, musk, ginger, menthol, myrrh, peach root and angelica extracts, salicylic acid methyl ester, is part of the group of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs;
- A preparation containing extracts of aconite, belladonna, cinnamon, parsley, ginger, chili seeds, myrrh and turpentine, clove bark extract and galangal root.
All herbal ingredients of the Chinese patch have a cumulative effect, so the pain relief effect occurs after several hours and sometimes days. Before using them, it should be borne in mind that the preparation contains many biologically active substances that can cause severe allergic reactions. The Chinese patch is not intended for the treatment of children, pregnant or lactating women.