How are medications selected?
Back pain can occur at any age in all clinical groups of patients. Usually this is not an independent pathology. As a rule, pain is a concomitant symptom of certain disorders of the body.
Injections for pain in the back and lower back are prescribed by the doctor after collecting complete information for the medical history. After identifying existing diseases, you can prescribe treatment that will help stop pain, remove inflammation, relieve swelling and enhance recovery. What injections for back and lower back pain can alleviate the patient’s condition?
Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs)
Most often, NSAID injections are used to relieve pain in the spine, because they extremely quickly affect the source of inflammation, removing unbearable pain, stiffness, swelling, and fever.
Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs are prescribed for the following pathologies:
- low back pain of a long-term and wave-like nature due to a pinched nerve;
- radiculopathy and osteochondrosis;
- intercostal neuralgia;
- traumatic syndromes in the back;
- intervertebral hernia, etc.
NSAID therapy is external in nature, while analgesic injections for back pain have a number of contraindications. To reduce side effects, it is recommended to use modern NSAIDs - COX-2 inhibitors.
Ketorol
This medicine is quite popular as injections for back and lower back pain. Its main component is ketorolac, which is a strong anti-inflammatory non-steroidal substance.
This medication should not be used if you are hypersensitive to ketorolac, as well as during pregnancy, breast lactation, and children under 16 years of age.
Ketoprofen
A medicine based on ketorolac trometamol. Ketoprofen has a strong analgesic effect. To avoid side effects, you should strictly follow the dosage shown in the annotation.
Xefocam
The main component of this medication is lornoxicam. Relieves pain in the lower back and back with a large number of side effects. Should be used only as prescribed by a doctor.
Texamen
This pain reliever contains tenoxicam with additional components. Injections are not recommended for patients with hypertension, diabetes, liver and gastrointestinal diseases.
Diclofenac
The so-called “golden mean” among similar drugs with analgesic activity. With one injection you can eliminate discomfort in the back and lower back associated with muscle contraction and overstrain. However, it has quite a few contraindications. Among them it is worth noting individual intolerance, gastrointestinal diseases, cardiac pathologies, etc.
Meloxicam
This product contains movalis. The medicine is of the latest generation, which means it has minimal side effects. It is believed that these are good injections for back and lower back pain. It is well tolerated and has a fairly long-lasting effect.
Dexalgin
The main component of this drug is dexketoprofen. Relieves back and lower back pain due to pinched nerves and various diseases of the musculoskeletal system. The course of injections is no more than 5 days.
Causes of sciatica
The sciatic nerve originates in the spinal cord and continues to the phalanges of the toes. In the knee area it bifurcates: one part is responsible for the innervation of the lower leg, and the other for the foot. This structure also provides sensitivity to the muscles of the lower extremities. It regulates the connection of the tissues of the listed areas with the central nervous system.
What can cause a person to get a cold in the sciatic nerve? Symptoms of the problem appear after a long stay in a draft, in cold water or due to hypothermia of the entire body. The inflammatory process can also be caused by infringement of this structure. A similar situation occurs with degenerative lesions of the spine.
Among the main causes of inflammation are the following:
- hypothermia of the body;
- infectious diseases (tuberculosis, herpes zoster, influenza, etc.);
- spinal injuries;
- osteophytes;
- diabetes;
- gout;
- heavy metal intoxication;
- spinal canal stenosis.
A sedentary lifestyle, predominantly sedentary work, and heavy lifting can contribute to the development of inflammation.
Muscle relaxants
Quite often, back pain occurs as a consequence of muscle spasms. There are usually two different types based on etiology:
- spasticity resulting from damage to brain activity;
- muscle pain and spasms due to musculoskeletal disorders.
Injections of muscle relaxants are prescribed to enhance the effect of NSAIDs and steroid medications. Injections should be carried out in full compliance with the dosage and administration rules.
Mydocalm
Relaxes the spinal muscles, blocks nerve endings and relieves back and lower back pain. Contains an active substance - tolperisone, which provides a local anesthetic effect. May cause allergies in patients intolerant to lidocaine.
Atarax
This drug is a piperazine derivative. Intramuscular injections relax the vertebral and smooth muscles of the back with a moderate effect on the gastrointestinal tract.
Contraindications: pregnancy, hypersensitivity to components, arrhythmia and renal failure.
Baclofen (Baklosan)
The main therapeutic component is baclofen, which helps reduce the excitability of sensitive nerve endings and impulses, relieving pain in the lower back and back. Contains contraindications for patients with Parkinson's disease, muscle cramps, epilepsy and intolerance to the components.
Hydroxyzine
The active ingredient is hydroxyzine. Injections help relieve muscle tone in the lower back and neurotic pain in the back. Its effects are similar to Atarax, since it is a piperazine derivative. Should be used with caution in patients with renal failure.
Tizanidine
The main substance in the composition is tizanidine. Reduces the aggravated tone of the skeletal muscles, removes spasms in the back, reduces muscle resistance during inert movements, and increases the power of free contractions. May have side effects at higher doses.
Sirdalud
Derived from tizanidine. Relieves various muscle tones, lower back pain of various etiologies, providing an analgesic effect.
Physiotherapy and massage
In addition to the course of medications, physiotherapy is prescribed. Their action is aimed at restoring metabolism in the affected area, improving blood circulation and stimulating muscle fixation. The following procedures are considered the most effective:
- traction;
- phonophoresis;
- magnetic therapy;
- electrophoresis;
- paraffin therapy.
It is better to do the procedures in courses of 7 sessions, then take a break. If necessary, the treatment is repeated or a different method of exposure is chosen.
Massage for sciatica improves lymph flow and blood supply. Contraindications to its use include purulent tissue damage, skin diseases, and spinal injuries. There are several types of massage for the inflammatory process:
- Relaxing. Prescribed during periods of exacerbation.
- Medicinal. They do it for the purpose of prevention.
- Vacuum. It is performed using special cans.
- Spot. The impact is carried out at acupuncture points. Performed with fingertips.
Massage should only be performed by a qualified specialist.
Steroid drugs
Hormonal drugs create a strong anti-inflammatory effect, but at the same time they have a large number of side reactions. Steroid injections for back and lower back pain are prescribed for the following diseases:
- spinal intervertebral hernias;
- progressive radiculitis;
- ankylosing spondylitis;
- rheumatoid arthritis.
Flosteron
It contains a glucocorticosteroid. Injections are used mainly for severe forms of musculoskeletal diseases, when non-steroidal medications do not have an effect. The dosage is selected individually, taking into account the severity of the disease and the patient’s response to treatment.
Diprospan
The potent substance in betamethasone is a broad-acting steroid hormone. It has a large number of side effects, which the attending physician should warn about. Negatively affects the functioning of the adrenal glands. May be addictive if used frequently.
Hydrocortisone
Intravenous injections are prescribed for back pain of any nature, in particular rheumatic and intervertebral hernia. The dosage should be determined by the doctor individually, comparing the patient’s health status with contraindications.
Prednisolone
A drug from the group of glucocorticosteroids. Prescribed for back and lower back pain, diseases of the spinal column of various types. It has a fairly large number of side effects. The dosage is prescribed by the doctor as prescribed.
Kenalog
Contains triamcinolone acetonide. It is used as injections for various arthrosis, relieving inflammation and back pain. Has side effects.
Chondroprotectors
Medicines in this group are prescribed to quickly restore connective tissue, regenerate the structure of the spine and reduce inflammation in the back.
Chondroitin sulfate
The active substance in the form of chondroitin is used to eliminate destruction of bone and cartilage tissue. During the course of injections, inflammation and pain in the lower back go away, and joint mobility is normalized.
Alflutop
Injections are given intramuscularly to relieve pain in the back and lower back. Included in the list of the best chondroprotectors. It regenerates cartilage and fights intervertebral hernia.
Types of exercises
With sciatica, compression of the nerves in the lumbosacral region occurs. The cause may be displacement or deformation of the spine.
To prevent and treat inflammation, you should regularly exercise the muscles in this area.
Sciatica causes pain, so the first thing you want to do is reduce physical activity. However, when the sciatic nerve is inflamed, physical activity is needed.
You should start a set of exercises only after severe pain has subsided. Exercises for the sciatic nerve are performed standing, lying and sitting.
Lying down
The most effective exercises include the following:
- Raise your leg and then bend it at the knee. Bring it closer to your chest. Lower it and repeat for the other leg.
- Place your palms under your buttocks and ride a bicycle with your legs raised.
- Stretch your arms to the sides, lift your legs up. Perform tilts to the right and left.
- Lie on your side with your legs bent and your toes pulled up. Bring your knees closer to your chest.
For each exercise, you should do 10 repetitions, increasing the load every day.
Sitting
Effective exercises can also be performed while sitting:
- Place your hands on your back, hold and slowly return to the starting position.
- Turns to the sides while sitting on a chair with a backrest.
- Get on all fours, arching your back first down and then up.
The complex in a sitting position should be performed either on a mat or on a low chair.
standing
These exercises should be performed at the moment when the pain subsides a little:
- Spread your legs, place your hands on your hips and slowly move your pelvis from side to side.
- Place your feet shoulder-width apart and lean forward, raising your arm above your head.
These are the most popular and effective exercises for the sciatic nerve; videos of other useful exercises will help strengthen your back and prevent inflammation in the future.
Combined painkillers
After completing a course of injections for back and lower back pain, the patient may be prescribed other forms of medications - ointments, tablets, suppositories. These drugs will have a supporting effect and prevent the development of possible complications.
The fight against back pain is a long-term and complex process. Anesthetic injections give a good and lasting result, but they should only be used under the supervision of a doctor.
