Arthritis Back Pain Relief Medications - Are They Effective?
So often, when we are seeking arthritis back pain relief, it can feel as if taking medication might be the only effective form of treatment for your pain, but you might want to take a look at the side effects of taking medication for the long term before you decide that this is going to be your treatment of choice.
Common Drugs and Their Side Effects
Some of the most common medications that people use to get arthritis back pain relief are NSAIDs, or non-steroid anti-inflammatory drugs. Common examples of this type of drug are Vioxx, Bextra and Celebrex. It should be said that many people do get relief from their back pain and other arthritis pain; however the side effects may not be worth the risk.
For example, Vioxx had to be taken off the market because of the risk of strokes and heart attacks, especially when taken for long periods of time. It’s important to remember that many NSAIDs will reduce, or block the effects of many blood pressure medications. While this can be helpful for the short term, the long term results can be potentially devastating.
Since many people who are seeking arthritis pain relief also have high blood pressure, if you choose to take any of these medications, it’s a good idea to talk to your health care provider about what might be a better option for your overall health. You should also talk to your doctor if you take over the counter medications such as Aleve or Ibuprofen, as these can have similar side effects as their prescription counterparts.
Natural Treatment Options
You may find that you can get very effective arthritis natural pain relief by using products such as glucosamine and chondroitin to help lubricate the joints and offer the same effect as if you still had a healthy spine with the cushioning benefits found in healthy backs. When this is combined with physical therapy as needed or other products which are rich in Omega 3 fatty acids, you might find that you get a long term remedy for your back pain. Also look for ingredients such as turmeric, which has been found to be anti-inflammatory.
You should also consider products such as orthopedic back and neck braces to help ease your back pain and offer you arthritis back pain relief as needed. In the mean time, you should also work to keep the back muscles strong so you are less likely to experience a flare up of your arthritis back pain. Consider activities such as swimming and other low or no impact exercises such as Pilates to help you stay strong and keep the muscles in your back balanced so they can properly support the spine and offer better shock absorption, which may help to prevent a lot of your pain.
Make sure to wear good shoes, also. Give yourself the extra cushioning that you likely need to offset some of the shock your spine might be experiencing if you walk a lot. Often, by learning to offset the chances that you will suffer from back pain, you can find that you don’t need to seek arthritis back pain relief so often.
