Your Guide To Pain Relief Patches – Do They Really Work?

Your Guide To Pain Relief Patches – Do They Really Work?

 

Do you suffer from chronic pain that is starting to feel like it is taking over your entire life? Living with such continual pain is enough to have a significant impact on your everyday life, as well as your mood and your outlook. Acute pain is also a real challenge for many people. Even when the pain has come on from a known activity or event and has an end in sight, getting to that point can leave you feeling tired, frustrated and out of ideas.

 

For people who are suffering from such pain as we have described above, the proposal to use pain relief patches may be an option that is worth considering. If you are in such a situation you may be wondering how such patches actually work and whether they will really make a considerable difference to your current situation. Allow us to provide you with a brief guide which should give you a helping hand in getting answers to your questions.

 

What Can Pain Relief Patches Be Effective For?

Pain relief patches are used for aches and pains where the pain is associated with sprains and strains of the muscles or joint. For example, someone suffering from chronic neck pain, someone who is struggling with a backache or a person who is suffering from pain in the shoulder may benefit from pain relief patches.

 

How Do Pain Relief Patches Actually Work?

Let us use the example of salonpas pain relief patches. Two active ingredients are contained in the patches; levomenthol and methyl salicylate. Methyl salicylate is a derivative of salicylic acid.

 

When the patch is applied to the skin the active ingredients contained in it are absorbed into the skin. This process happens slowly.

 

What Is The Purpose Of The Levomenthol?

The purpose of the levomenthol is to dilate blood vessels in the area to which the patch is applied, we call this the local area. You will feel this effect as a cooling sensation which in turn gives way to a painkilling effect.

 

What Is The Purpose Of The Methyl Salicylate?

The actions generated by this active ingredient are both anti-inflammatory and painkilling. Initially, when it is applied to the skin it will generate a feeling of heat. This sensation actually acts as a distraction to the brain and hence reduces how the pain you feel is perceived. The anti-inflammatory effect works to reduce inflammation found in the joints and muscles.

 

Do Pain Relief Patches Really Work?

Of course, whether such a pain measure will work for you in your current situation will really depend on how you react to its use. However, it is safe to say that many people who face pain as part of their daily life have seen much benefit from the use of pain relief patches. For example, when used for stiff neck symptoms and back pain, both upper and lower, users have found that the pain relief benefits are rather significant. In addition, individuals who suffer from arthritis have also found these patches to make a real difference to their pain levels.

 

How Are Pain Relief To Be Used?

As is the case with any new medication, it is always advised to seek advice from your medical practitioner before trying something new. Pain relief patches are not suitable for everyone and some conditions or other medications may interact with their use. If you have any other medical condition, such as asthma, long-term indigestion or heartburn, allergic reactions, and so forth, always make your health care provider aware of this before trying a new medication or pain measure such as a pain relief patch.

 

In addition, elderly people, people who have a history of stomach or intestine disorders, people who have blood clotting problems and woman who are pregnant or breastfeeding are recommended to always consult their health care provider as the use of such a new medication as pain relief patches could be harmful.

 

In terms of how to use pain relief patches, the guide below should give you some insight.

 

– Pain relief patches are to be for use only for adults aged 18 years and over.

 

– The area of skin where the pain relief patch will be applied should be clean and dry without any skin breakage or irritation.

 

– There is usually a plastic film on the patch which should be removed before use. The adhesive side of the patch should then be applied to the skin.

 

– Only one patch should be applied to the affected area.

 

– The length of time that the patch should be left on the skin will be determined by the manufacturer, hence all instructions should be carefully followed. Often this time period is for between 8 and 12 hours.

 

– For small areas of pain, it is often possible to cut the patch to a smaller size if this is more appropriate or perhaps convenient for the pain location.

 

– Within a 24 hours period there will be a maximum number of patches which can be used, this may be 2 patches per 24 hours. Make sure you follow such instructions as is provided with your pain relief patches or by your healthcare provider.

 

– Usually, patches should be used for a maximum of three days in a row, or as is advised by your healthcare provider.

 

Indeed, we know how much of a negative impact it can have on a person’s life when they are suffering from pain, whether such pain is acute or chronic. Perhaps you have a pain in the neck, suffer from lower back pain, are nursing a shoulder injury or are struggling with pain in another area of the body.

 

While pain relief patches are not for everyone, many people have found that they can be a real difference for the good. If you think this may be a line of treatment which could be of benefit to you we recommend that you discuss the idea with your health care provider.