best meds for back pain

[bolly]

I injured my back about 12 years ago. From time to time (about once or twice a year) it flares up again. I usually run to the doc and he gives me some meds and injections and i am good to go. Nothing incapacitating--( it happened last week on Friday and Saturday night i was shagging my GF as good as ever )

 

But back pain is a fickle fuck and can come at any moment--so any recs for meds if it happens in LOS? Also, good meds I could buy in LOS i can bring back with me.

 

Thanks--those with back pain know what i am talking about--not fun at all.

[chosen]

 

 

Thanks--those with back pain know what i am talking about--not fun at all.

 

 

You're looking at one here (only 24 years old) What has helped me GREATLY is doing lower back exercises. Since i started doing that a year ago, i have had not one back problem. I use to have them on a regular basis.

[gogo dog]

I hurt my back playing cricket about ten years ago, it was uncomfortable for about six months until I went skiing. A week on skis really sorted it out. As for medication, I found Ibuprofen the best.

[tisler]

Bring advil and take about 800 mgs or so..?

 

Best advice I can think of is to go to the doctor.. they have docs there in LOS (as far as i can tell from TRs) and they can take pretty good care of you

 

I think lower back exercise is good advice

[syeard]

I collapsed 3 discs when on Safari in Africa 2 years ago and spent 2 weeks in a hospital there. They were trying to get me to have an op which would see me stuck in Jo'Burg for 3 months so decided against it then went to see a top specialist in Jordan who basically told me to live with it until it gets so bad that you need an op because even with an op it may still give you lots of pain afterwards. Told me to do lots of swimming and lower back exercises which I didn't do because my back was feeling better and then 2 months later in went again just slightly leaning over so from then on I do both religously and have never had one complaint since and that was 2 years ago.

[Shuggy]

Ibuprofen is good but one of the side effects is it can do damage to your stomach lining. If you have stomach ulcers or problems its a big no no.

 

Other anti-inflametries like Volatren are brilliant but also have a similar stomach shredding side effect. To get around this there is a stomach medication called Somac. Its used to treat ulcers. If you take Somac(Pantoprazole) along with either Voltaren or higher doses of Ibuprofem it protects your stomach. Did me wonders.

 

Another option is Mobic which is another anti inflametry. Its much gentler on your guts than what i have mentioned above so you dont have to take the Somac with it.

 

The good news is that all of the above are available over the counter in Thailand though you may have to hunt around for the Somac or ask for it by its generic name ,Pantoprazole.

[Badger77]

Sorry this is off-topic but I've been dying to know: Hey Shuggy!, "Is that a self-portrait as your avatar?"

[boydeste]

Ibuprofen is good but one of the side effects is it can do damage to your stomach lining. If you have stomach ulcers or problems its a big no no.

 

Other anti-inflametries like Volatren are brilliant but also have a similar stomach shredding side effect. To get around this there is a stomach medication called Somac. Its used to treat ulcers. If you take Somac(Pantoprazole) along with either Voltaren or higher doses of Ibuprofem it protects your stomach. Did me wonders.

 

Another option is Mobic which is another anti inflametry. Its much gentler on your guts than what i have mentioned above so you dont have to take the Somac with it.

 

The good news is that all of the above are available over the counter in Thailand though you may have to hunt around for the Somac or ask for it by its generic name ,Pantoprazole.

 

I have had a back problem and had a disk ectamy 9 years ago, I still get regular periods where I get lots of pain and I usually take ibuprofen 800mgs twice daily BUT always take with food and a fair bit of it then the stomach problems will be minimised. Regular exercise will help as will regular sports massages. Not a problem getting these in patts me thinks!

Edited July 12, 2009 by boydeste

[luv.you.long.time]

I suffered a prolapsed disc in L4 (lumber 4th disc up) and have been dogged with disc-bulging ever since, so I can empathise with what you are going though.

 

For me, it was key to engage core-stability exercises in EVERYTHING I do (bend, lean, lift) and just gently tense my abnominal core muscles to protect my back. A physio will show you how to do this as its quite a tricky thing to perfect.

 

When the inevitable flare ups occur, I take Ibuprofen, then if that doesn't work, I take Dihydrodcodeine (30mg) x 2. If that still doesn't take the sharpness off it, I take 2 paracetamol which multiplies the effects of Dihydrocodeine.

 

Diyhdrocodeine is not available in Thailand. I just pick some other strong painkiller if I dont have my meds with me. Xanax or Amatriptolene seems to ease it, but not as effectively as what I have said.

 

Diydrocodeine has to be taken carefully over long periods. Many people can become tolerant of its analgesic properties and increase the dose, which can lead to an addiction to codeine that has to be managed.

[boydeste]

I suffered a prolapsed disc in L4 (lumber 4th disc up) and have been dogged with disc-bulging ever since, so I can empathise with what you are going though.

 

For me, it was key to engage core-stability exercises in EVERYTHING I do (bend, lean, lift) and just gently tense my abnominal core muscles to protect my back. A physio will show you how to do this as its quite a tricky thing to perfect.

 

When the inevitable flare ups occur, I take Ibuprofen, then if that doesn't work, I take Dihydrodcodeine (30mg) x 2. If that still doesn't take the sharpness off it, I take 2 paracetamol which multiplies the effects of Dihydrocodeine.

 

Diyhdrocodeine is not available in Thailand. I just pick some other strong painkiller if I dont have my meds with me. Xanax or Amatriptolene seems to ease it, but not as effectively as what I have said.

 

Diydrocodeine has to be taken carefully over long periods. Many people can become tolerant of its analgesic properties and increase the dose, which can lead to an addiction to codeine that has to be managed.

Be carefull if not traveling direct as some of the drugs like dihydrocodeine may be viewed as illegal in some of the stop over airport countries and i beleive may be subject to up to 4 years in prison

[Shuggy]

Sorry this is off-topic but I've been dying to know: Hey Shuggy!, "Is that a self-portrait as your avatar?"

 

Yeah. Thats me. I'm sexy arent i!!

[arbiez]

Bolly,

 

In short, you should be able to either ask Dr for a travel prescription to get meds beforehand or take a script with you and get some at the local pharmacy or Watson's while in country (only if needed).

 

I think that in order to answer in more detail, we need to know more.

 

1) Is your back pain spinal - joint related or is it muscle related? (sharp pains or spasms)

2) Ask your doctor what medication you received last time:

• If muscle related, you were probably on a muscle relaxant like Flexeril or Soma in conjunction with pain med.
  
• If joint, you were probably on codine, morphine or vicodin.
  
• (My combo was Flexeril/Vicodin along with Physical Therapy and ultrasonic treatments for 6 weeks.)

3) If back flares up, do NOT get a Thai massage! It will inflame the area more. (Ice and gentle massage or vibration work best.)

 

Remember that the muscle relaxants knock you out immediately. Don't take if you have a schedule to keep (day of travel arrangements).

 

http://www.webmd.com/sleep-disorders/aches-pains-disrupt-sleep-6/treatments

Edited July 13, 2009 by arbiez

[kw59]

You're looking at one here (only 24 years old) What has helped me GREATLY is doing lower back exercises. Since i started doing that a year ago, i have had not one back problem. I use to have them on a regular basis.

 

You are right sir!

 

Bolly, this will require a few minutes a day

or alternate days if that works for you.

 

I had a herniated disc fixed with micro-surgery

back in 1988 when I was 28 and have found that if

I do not do the exercises prescribed for the lower

back i've always had intermittent back related problems.

 

I lived for years like this and then started to adopt

healthy habits to replace some of the bad habits.

 

Now that I am almost 50 diet and exercise for my entire body

have become an everyday routine.My back rarely gives me a problem.

[bolly]

Thanks to all for the top notch advice. Really appreciate it.

 

See some of you in August!

thanks again!

[beenthere]

As already stated, NSAIDS like ibuprofen and voltaren are excellent because of their anti-inflammatory properties as well as anaelgesic properties, but they do come with the caveat that they can be rough on the stomach and should always be taken with food. Of course there are many meds that will help with the stomach problems as well, probably omeprazole being the best. The Ibuprofen plus (neurofen plus) are good because they come with codeine, however I don't think one can buy anything with codeine OTC in LOS.

Care though with the NSAIDS like ibuprofen as prolonged use will damage your kidneys.

 

Now, alternatives. Tramadol is excellent, though many have bad side effects from it (sold as Tramal I think). It is a sort of synthetic opiate but not as controlled as codeine and morphine. Some pharmacies in LOS do the 100mg slow release tablet, which is excellent, but the 50s are good as well 4 hours apart. Tramadol isn't addictive per say, but coming off it suddenly can cause a few withdrawal problems.

 

Lastly, two mainstays, good old paracetamol and aspirin (not in vogue due to its hardness on the stomach). In hospital, as long as your liver is not totally knackered, everyone who may have any pain issues at all is on 1g panadol, 4 times a day. It works on the central nervous system (like opioids, though obviously not the same receptors) and also peripherally. It is a really effective pain killer and constantly keeps pain levels low. There is no problem popping some panadol with NSAIDS or tramadol, but watch those doses, no more than 4g/day.

 

Back pain's a killer, not literally, but it drags you down. I have spondylolisthesis, I know!

Cheers.

[bolly]

Visited the Doc today---a specialist. He x-rayed me and said my spine is beautiful (his words--well--my translation of his japanese--lol) So my personal problem is some kind of muscle problem. He echoed what the board has said--exercise and muscle training. He gave me some new meds and they seem to be helping a lot today. So once the pain is fully gone, I will start a new exercise regime. So I got some good news and some good meds from the doc and that is nice.

 

Thanks again to all who posted.

 

And my sincere sympathy to those of you with serious spine/back pain issues. In all honesty, if I was 20 years younger, I would go into medicine and work like a mother-fucker to find a cure for back pain. It sucks sooooo bad.

 

Best to all and I hope those of you suffering can find relief soon.

[cmyradnad]

cyclobenzaprine 10 mg every 8 hours.

 

Brother in law calls them "dick in the dirt" pills. He can't drive after taking them. But, they do relax your muscles in a quick fashion. Excerscies will help in the long term, but for quick resolution.

 

Flexiril(cyclobenzaprine HCl) 10 mg every 8 hours will help you. Be advised, combination with alcohol can and will intensify the effect of this medication.

 

Best wishes

[Jumbo]

I injured my back about 12 years ago. From time to time (about once or twice a year) it flares up again. I usually run to the doc and he gives me some meds and injections and i am good to go. Nothing incapacitating--( it happened last week on Friday and Saturday night i was shagging my GF as good as ever )

 

But back pain is a fickle fuck and can come at any moment--so any recs for meds if it happens in LOS? Also, good meds I could buy in LOS i can bring back with me.

 

Thanks--those with back pain know what i am talking about--not fun at all.

 

Been there Bolly for bluddy years I had Back Pains.

Not now though. Went to a Wellness Clinic in Soi Kautolo called SOQI and after a few treatments it went!

Suggest you do likewise Pal.

Edited August 13, 2009 by Jumbo

[redsol16]

I have to agree with some of the other on here...

See I was an electrician for four years and one day on the job I messed up my back to wear I was in tears but after much much ice and excersice with regular lower back and crunches I have yet to ever have a flare up...

 

As long as you strengthen your core you will not ever have much to worry about so I suggest a good gym membership and be religious about it you will never need any type of perscription and it doesnt hurt to be healthy either....

[Greaktom]

Hello everyone!

 

I have arthritis in both my hands. I live on asprin and it takes most of the pain away but my hands still feel swollen and stiff. Is there any over the counter medicines or treatment that works better than asprin. I hate Ibuprophin..

I am an artist by trade so I really need my hands. Please help...Herbal Supplements

[ladysguy]

Ibuprofen is good but one of the side effects is it can do damage to your stomach lining. If you have stomach ulcers or problems its a big no no.

 

Other anti-inflametries like Volatren are brilliant but also have a similar stomach shredding side effect. To get around this there is a stomach medication called Somac. Its used to treat ulcers. If you take Somac(Pantoprazole) along with either Voltaren or higher doses of Ibuprofem it protects your stomach. Did me wonders.

 

Another option is Mobic which is another anti inflametry. Its much gentler on your guts than what i have mentioned above so you dont have to take the Somac with it.

 

The good news is that all of the above are available over the counter in Thailand though you may have to hunt around for the Somac or ask for it by its generic name ,Pantoprazole.

I've got lower back pain, real bad,I just got switched from Norco, (hydrocodone), to Oxycodone and it gets about 80% of the pain for a couple hours, then Bang, here we go again. I'm ready to try something else. My friend was on Meloxicam, similar to Celebrex, and both his kidneys shut down. He went on dialysis and his kidney function returned, but no more anti inflammatories, beware of kidney problems with anti-inflammatories. Edited May 16, 2012 by ladysguy