How to Prevent Back Pain and When to Consider Diclofenac?

Causes of Back Pain — In-Depth Insights

Many factors such as lifestyle changes, medical conditions, etc. cause back pain. Let’s explore more!

1. Bulging or Herniated Discs

The discs located in your spine are circular disks that act as shock absorbers between the spinal bones. When the soft material of these discs affects nearby nerves due to tear or injury, it results in bulging or herniated discs.

The symptoms of this condition are numbness, tingling, and sciatica (pain radiating down your legs). 

2. Muscle Strains

Prolonged poor posture, lifting heavy objects, or sudden, improper movements cause tearing or overstretching of back muscles or ligaments, resulting in muscle strain. The symptoms of muscle strain are muscle stiffness, pain, and spasms. 

3. Degenerative Discs

As you age, the discs between your vertebrae lose their cushion ability, resulting in disc degeneration and causing discomfort and pain. Its symptoms include chronic lower back pain while prolonged standing or sitting. 

4. Poor Posture

Prolonged poor posture such as hunching (back is leaning towards something) or slouching (shoulders and upper back lean forward) causes strain in the back ligaments and muscles.

In this condition, you feel stiffness and chronic lower or upper back pain. 

5. Spinal Stenosis

This condition occurs when the spinal canal becomes narrow, putting pressure on nerves and the spinal cord. In spinal stenosis, you feel numbness, weakness, and pain in the arms, legs, and back.

6. Arthritis 

Arthritis (osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis) affects your joints in the spine and causes pain, swelling, inflammation, and stiffness in the back. You feel chronic back pain, especially in the morning. 

7. Osteoporosis 

Osteoporosis makes your bones weak and enhances the risk of fractures, leading to sudden and severe back pain. This condition is more common in elderly people.

8. Injuries

Sports injuries, accidents, or falls sometimes damage your spine, ligaments, or muscles leading to chronic or acute back pain. In this condition, you feel bruising, swelling, or sudden onset of pain in the back.

Treatment of Back Pain — Complete Analysis

The treatment of back pain depends on the condition and severity of back pain. Its range of treatments include:

• Physical therapy
• Medications
• Home remedies
• Surgery 

1. Physical Therapy

Physical therapy effectively treats back pain, improving mobility, strengthening your back muscles, reducing back pain, and preventing future injuries.

A physiotherapist treats back pain and makes a program according to an individual's needs such as different types of exercises to improve posture, flexibility,

and strength of back muscles or manual techniques such as mobilization, massage, electrical stimulation, and modalities like ice or heat. 

Physical therapy alleviates pain and lets you cope with daily activities with greater confidence and strength.

2. Medications 

Whether you have acute or chronic back pain, your doctor may prescribe you medications, including over-the-counter or prescription drugs. These medicines alleviate upper back or lower back pain. So, what painkillers are best for back pain? Let’s indulge in it!

• Anti-Inflammatory Tablets

Anti-inflammatory tablets such as NSAIDs (nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs) relieve back pain and reduce inflammation.

These medicines block the synthesis of inflammation-causing chemicals and treat acute or chronic back pain.

However,you must use them according to your doctor’s advice and recommendations as their excessive use may cause serious effects such as kidney, heart, or stomach problems. 

• Topical Painkillers 

Topical painkillers are effective and the first line of therapy for reducing inflammation and back pain. Topical options such as gels, creams, or patches are applied directly to the affected part of the skin to relieve pain.

These products contain many active compounds such as NSAIDs, capsaicin, lidocaine, or menthol that penetrate to your affected area and alleviate pain and inflammation without any systematic side effects.

Topical products are best for mild-moderate back pain relief; however, you must use them according to your doctor’s advice to prevent irritation or other side effects. 

• Over-the-Counter Drugs

Paracetamol, acetaminophen (Tylenol), naproxen (Aleve), or ibuprofen (Motrin, Advil) are effective OTC drugs for mild-moderate back pain relief without any prescription.

These drugs are effective for short-term pain management, helping you deal with your daily activities effectively.

However, consult your doctor before taking any medication to avoid stomach irritation (side effects of NSAIDs) or liver damage (due to excessive use of acetaminophen).

• Muscle Relaxants 

Muscle relaxants such as methocarbamol and cyclobenzaprine act on your central nervous system, improving mobility, alleviating pain, and reducing muscle spasms and stiffness.

They relieve back pain resulting from muscle spasms or tension. Although effective, muscle relaxants are prescribed for the short term as they carry the risk of addiction, dizziness, or drowsiness.

So adhere to your doctor’s guidelines while using muscle relaxants to avoid adverse effects.

Home Remedies: Effective Strategies for Back Pain Prevention and Management

With preventive measures and lifestyle changes, you can manage your back pain and reduce the risk of developing it. Let’s jump into these strategies!

• Rest 

Sometimes you only need to rest to relieve back pain resulting from sports injuries or lifting heavy objects. Avoiding these activities and resting heal your back pain and let you return to your daily routine. 

• Stretches 

Stretching (like yoga or pilates) prevents and relieves back pain resulting from muscle strains. You can do stretching while watching TV or sitting at your desk by targeting either lower back pain or upper back pain.  

• Applying Cold

Applying ice reduces inflammation, treats sore back, and alleviates pain. You can do this by using a bag of frozen veggies or wrapping an ice pack in a thin towel.

• Maintain a Good Posture

Poor posture puts pressure or strain on your back or spine muscles, causing discomfort and pain. So, avoid slouching, keep your feet flat, your back supported by the chair,

and your knees at a right angle while sitting, and while standing keep your head aligned with your spine. These effective measures will reduce pain and improve your health. 

• Wear Supportive Shoes

Wearing supportive shoes helps you maintain good posture and provide a good base for your body weight. For back pain management, you must wear good shoes or footwear with heels under 2.5 cm. 

• Apply Heat

Heat relaxes your muscles and reduces back pain. To apply heat, you can use a hot water bottle or sit in a hot tub to relax your muscles and promote healing. 

• Exercise 

Exercise strengthens your muscles, enhances blood flow to the affected area, improves mobility, and promotes healing and good posture.

Engage in walking, cycling, walking, pelvic tilts, planks, and bridges to improve your cardiovascular health, strengthen your muscles, maintain a healthy weight, and reduce the strain on your back. 

• Massage 

Massaging or therapeutic massaging to the affected area restores functionality, relieves back pain, and allows you to return to your daily activities effectively. 

• Maintain a Healthy Weight 

Eat a balanced diet such as whole grains, lean proteins, fresh vegetables, and fruits. Also, engage yourself in regular exercise to maintain a healthy weight and avoid putting additional strain on your back.   

• Sleep on a Supportive Mattress

A supportive or firm mattress maintains the natural curvature of the spine and provides support and comfort while sleeping.

So sleep on your back and place a pillow between your legs or under your knees to reduce pressure on your spine and alleviate pain. 

• Use Ergonomic Furniture 

Ergonomic furniture maintains your body’s natural posture and avoids the risk of discomfort and strain.

Use an ergonomic chair with support while prolonged sitting and adjust your computer screen, desk, and chair for proper alignment and reducing back pain. 

• Stay Well-Hydrated 

Drink plenty of water or 8 glasses a day to maintain the elasticity of the spine’s soft tissues. Staying well-hydrated reduces your back pain and prevents the risk of future injury. 

Surgery 

If medications, physical therapy, and lifestyle changes do not provide relief from back pain, surgical interventions such as spinal fusion, discectomy, or laminectomy are considered.

Surgery is best for patients suffering from severe and persistent back pain conditions like degenerative discs, spinal stenosis, or herniated discs.

Although surgical interventions are best, they carry the risk of nerve damage, blood clots, or infection. So consult your doctor and figure out whether surgery is best for you or not. 

When Should You Seek Medical Attention and Consider Diclofenac?

When you are unable to manage back pain with OTC drugs and self-care, it is time to seek medical attention. Your doctor will suggest you some tests,

evaluate the cause of your back pain, and offer treatment accordingly. So the signs to seek medical attention are:

1. Neurological symptoms:

If you are feeling tingling, weakness, or numbness in your buttocks, arms, or legs, you must consult your doctor as it could be a sign of nerve damage or compression.

2. Severe pain:

If your pain is persistent or becoming worse, consult your doctor immediately as it can be a sign of underlying health conditions such as fracture, spinal stenosis, or herniated disc. 

3. Unusual weight loss:

If you experience sudden weight loss along with severe back pain, visit your doctor immediately as it can be a sign of cancer.

4. Loss of bowel or bladder control:

If you get sudden loss of bowel or bladder control along with back pain, seek emergency help as it can be a sign of cauda equina syndrome. 

5. Fever:

If you experience chills or fever along with back pain, consult your doctor immediately as it could be a sign of infection such as spinal abscess or osteomyelitis.

When is Diclofenac the Best Option for Back Pain?

Diclofenac is a stronger nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) that is effective for the treatment of moderate-severe inflammation and pain.

It is available in various forms such as patches, gels, capsules, and oral tablets. So you must consider diclofenac in:

• Moderate-severe pain that is not treated by other milder painkillers.
• Inflammatory conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis, and ankylosing spondylitis.
• Topical use to treat localized pain such as back muscle or joint pain.
• Short-term treatment as its prolonged use can cause adverse effects.

How Diclofenac Treats Back Pain?

Diclofenac inhibits the synthesis of pain and inflammation-causing substances such as prostaglandins in the body, alleviating pain and inflammation.

It blocks cyclooxygenase (COX) enzymes and blocks inflammatory chemicals, reducing swelling, stiffness, and pain associated with back pain.

It is best for conditions such as muscle sprains, strains, or degenerative disc problems. 

Side Effects of Diclofenac

Diclofenac can cause many adverse effects such as:

GI (gastrointestinal) problems:

Diclofenac can cause stomach bleeding, discomfort, and ulcers. So you must take diclofenac with milk or food to avoid stomach irritation.

Heart issues:

Its prolonged use can enhance the risk of stroke or heart attack so if you have a history of cardiovascular issues, take diclofenac under a doctor’s supervision.

Liver and renal effects: If you have a history of kidney or liver problems, diclofenac can cause liver or kidney dysfunction.

Drug interactions:

Diclofenac can interact with other drugs such as other NSAIDs, blood thinners, or antidepressants.So inform your doctor if you are taking any other medicine before taking diclofenac to avoid serious effects. 

Moreover, before taking diclofenac, it is important to consult your doctor and tell him about your medical history and recent condition.

This information will help him to determine the exact diclofenac dose for you, the duration of use, and whether diclofenac is best for you. 

Diclofenac (Voltaren) Products for Back Pain Relief

Different diclofenac products are best for back pain relief such as:

• Voltaren Rapid 25 Oral Tablets: These tablets offer dual benefits, alleviating severe back pain and treating inflammation. 
• Voltaren Rapid 12.5 Liquid Capsule: These liquid capsules offer quick absorption and effectively treat back pain.
• Voltaren Emulgel Back & Muscle Pain: This diclofenac applicator offers clean and easy application of gel directly on the painful area, providing quick back pain relief. This gel is best for adults 16 years or older. Apply 2-4 g gel 3-4 times a day. Do not use it more than 4 times a day.
• Voltaren Emulgel Extra Strength: It penetrates deep into your skin to alleviate pain and inflammation for adults 18-65 years. Apply 2g gel two times a day. Do not use more than 4 g a day. 

Diclofenac Back Pain Dosage

So, what is the maximum dose of diclofenac in 24 hours? The dosage of diclofenac depends on the type and severity of back pain.

For oral tablets, the recommended dose is 50 mg 2-3 times a day with a maximum dose of 150 mg per day. However:

• Doctors prescribe extended-release tablets that are taken one time a day.
• If you are using diclofenac topical gel, you must apply 2-4 g on the affected area four times a day.
• However, if you are using diclofenac patches, you must use one patch on the affected area one or two times a day.

Besides this, it is important to adhere to the doctor’s advice for diclofenac dosage to avoid any side effects. Moreover, never exceed the recommended dose as it will cause serious complications. 

What Is a Good Alternative to Diclofenac for Back Pain?

If diclofenac is intolerable for you or it is causing any side effects, you must opt for diclofenac alternatives such as:

• Corticosteroid injections: These injections are best for severe pain and inflammation, offering significant relief.
• Alternative therapies: Chiropractic care, acupuncture, and massage therapy are also effective for back pain relief. 

Wrapping Up

Back pain is a common issue; however, you can manage it effectively with the right medications, lifestyle changes, and preventive measures.

For acute back pain, OTC drugs are best but in case of chronic back pain, diclofenac is the best choice. Moreover, you must take diclofenac under your doctor’s supervision as its prolonged or irregular use can cause serious effects.

Frequently Asked Questions about Diclofenac Tablets

Can I Use Diclofenac for Back Pain? Can You Use Diclofenac Gel for Back Pain?

Diclofenac Tablets, gel, patches, or capsules are potent anti-inflammatory drugs and are best for back pain relief. It is the first line of therapy for the treatment of back pain, reducing pain and inflammation.

However, you must use it under your doctor’s supervision to avoid any adverse effects. 

Is Diclofenac Better than Ibuprofen for Back Pain?

Both drugs are effective for back pain relief. Diclofenac is more potent than ibuprofen but is best for the short term as it can cause serious effects. Ibuprofen is less potent but it has a lower risk of side effects.

However, the choice depends on the patient's health condition and the doctor’s recommendation. 

What Is the Best Cream for Lower Back Pain?

The best cream for lower back pain depends on the severity and cause of the pain. However, topical NSAID creams such as Voltaren (diclofenac) are best for reducing inflammation and treating back pain.

It contains capsaicin or menthol, offering a cooling or heating sensation and improving your health.

Can You Take Diclofenac as Needed for Pain?

You can take diclofenac for short-term pain management. However, you must take it according to your doctor’s advice and recommendation as it carries a higher risk of adverse effects.