What is best pain medicine for severe back pain?

Answer 1

It depends on the severity of the pain, whether it's acute (short term) or chronic (persistent and long term), and the long term prognosis and treatment. However, realistically the best treatment is prevention and lifestyle change. If you're past that point, the the following meds will help.

For severe pain that has no real chance of getting better, Fentanyl patches are the treatment of choice, but it is not to be considered lightly.

Under that, OxyContin is the best, though its effectiveness decreases over time as users become more dependent and tolerant.

Percocet is the next really effective drug, though it's an acute pain med rather than a chronic pain med.

Ideally, you want a combination of OTC meds or prescription NSAID's and muscle relaxers in addition to pain meds for severe Back pain. For example, my personal favorites are:

Napoxen (prescription strength, 500mg). Also available OTC as Aleve.

Tylenol ES Rapid Rapid Release Gel Caps

Bayer Back and Body Aspirin

Flexeril - fantastic muscle relaxer

Fiorinal w/ Codeine - even though I use it for migraines, the barbiturate in it effectively relaxes everything to give pretty good pain relief.

Note that continued use of Naproxen and other NSAIDS over the long term can cause ulcers, especially if you're using aspirin along with it.

Answer 2

"Severe Pain" is subjective to each individual, so it depends on the underlying cause of the pain. If your pain tolerance is low, it might not take much to feel really bad. What might be excruciating for some people can be mild pain for people like me who have had extreme chronic pain for many years.

Depending on the cause (structural damage, disease, bad surgery, etc. - I've got all 3) and the severity of the pain and how long it lasts (acute or chronic, where chronic is 24/7 and acute is occasionally), there are different drugs that will deal with each on their own terms.

For Acute pain, Schedule 3 drugs like Vicodin are commonly prescribed. If you can get by with that, do so. For higher levels of pain, Schedule 2 drugs like Percocet can be prescribed, but that's a whole new world not to be considered lightly unless it's a quality of life decision, and the pain is severe enough and going to be with you for a long time. It's not just the dependence and side effects that come with it - it's how it affects you, your family and friends, and the fact that you're required to obtain new prescriptions every month from your doctor since they cannot be refilled. Trust me when I say if you like to travel, it can really put a damper on your life.

Chronic drugs include Duragesic (Fentanyl) patches which last up 3 days, and OxyContin, which is the timed-release version of Oxycodone and lasts up to 12 hours. I used Oxy for a year before making the switch to Duragesic in 2000. OxyContin works well, but has a steep dropoff point that leaves you pretty drained. Duragesic by comparison takes several hours before you notice any withdrawal symptoms or increased pain levels.

I've added a link to the American Pain Foundation site which I contribute to occasionally. You should download their Pain Notebook and start keeping a diary of your pain which is considered evidence by a doctor of your pain level and is used to prescribe pain medication. NEVER ask for pain medication or you'll be tagged a drug seeker - let them see your evidence (any pictures help also that can show the problem) and determine what to give you. Stick with pain specialists whose primary area of expertise is pain, and not someone like an Anesthesiologist who has a pain certification on the wall. You'll just waste your time.

Answer 3

If you live with chronic back pain, you should consider back pain options such as the minimally invasive AccuraScope Procedure. To talk to an expert or to get a Free MRI review.

Answer 4

Hydrocodone and Oxycodone are the two most common painkillers given for a bulged disc in the lumbar spine.

Answer 5

The best medicine for severe back pain is DEEP HEAT . you can buy it from your local pharmacy.

Answer 6

Therapies can give you instant and log term relief from back pain. You can choose for shockwave therapy for back pain relief.

Answer 7

Ibuprophen and hydrocodone

Answer 8

oxycodone

Answer 9

Providing immediate relief from pain, bulletproofing your body and becoming completely pain-free in 30 days or less.