Top 5 Lower Back Pain Relief Products

If you suffer from back pain you are not alone. It impacts millions of Americans every year. You are also undoubtedly looking for some of the best products to treat back pain available. Well, have no fear there are many products out there to treat your back pain. It all depends on what you are suffering from, how intense or chronic your pain is, and what therapy matches your lifestyle and needs.

We collected the top 5 back pain relief products from heating pads to painkillers to help you decide how to treat your symptoms.

What are the Top 5 Best Back Pain Relief Products

Painkillers

Conventional pain killers remain one of the top remedies for back pain relief. Tens of millions of Americans use traditional painkillers to ease pain symptoms every year. How effective they are depends on the individual and the type of back pain. Ibuprofen, NSAIDs like Advil, and Acetaminophen (Tylenol) all can help relieve some back pain. However, they have side effects including nausea, ulcers and kidney damage (typical of NSAIDs), and Acetaminophen is known to cause liver problems. Stronger painkillers like Opioids carry the risk of addiction along with other symptoms like constipation. These only treat the pain however, so relief is temporary. They do not improve the back problem.

Back Massagers

A back massager can relieve back pain without the side effects caused by medication. Massagers can loosen up tightened back muscles (the main cause of some types of back pain) and this will reduce your pain symptoms. Massagers will not work on all types of pain including herniated or bulging discs. Back massagers come in all sizes and types. Wearable back massagers, handheld and massage chairs are among the most popular. These can relieve muscle-related back pain by loosening cramps and providing temporary pain relief.

TENS Units

A TENS (transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation) unit is an alternative to traditional medications. Like a drug or painkiller, they disrupt the pathways where pain is transferred to the nervous system. Unlike conventional medicines, they do so without chemicals. The TENS unit sends electrical signals to the area of pain that disrupt the pain signal causing the body to not "feel" the pain. The benefit is no chemical is added to the body. The electrical impulses are adjusted by the user until the pain is no longer felt. Treatments can occur at home and are simple enough to be administered by the user. TENS units are also affordable with prices starting as low as $35. Browse and price TENS Units for sale.

TENS Units provide back pain relief by sending electrical impulses that disrupt pain signals.

Creams, Gels and Rub-on Painkillers

Topical creams and gels are another option for back pain. These solutions are rubbed into the area of pain and deliver a topical painkilling medication to provide relief at the site of the pain. The advantage is that the medication is delivered only where needed. In certain types of muscular back pain it can be more effective and patients do not need to risk symptoms from oral painkillers. Creams and gels only provide temporary relief and they can be messy to apply. They may also cause skin irritation in some patients.

Cold Packs & Heating Pads

Cold packs and heating pads are another way to relieve back pain. Applied to the area of pain, an ice pack can reduce swelling and the heating pad relaxes and loosens muscles. This type of therapy is good for chronic pain as there are few side effects. The ice pack (cold therapy for back pain) is applied right when pain starts. The cold reduces swelling in the back—which causes the pain. After a couple of days, start applying a heating pad. Use the heating pad for 15-20 minutes at a time, several times a day to loosen and sooth muscles over the next 3 days or as needed.

More Non-narcotic / Non-medication Options for Back Pain Relief & Treatment

There are other therapies and treatments out there to soothe your back pain. They include better mattresses with dense memory foam and gels that help cradle your body and improve your sleep posture to ergonomic seat cushions and chairs to improve posture during your waking hours.

Treating back pain by finding the cause and changing behavior is the best way to solve your back pain problem. Whether it is ergonomic and related to daily repetitive motions, or it is a sign of overall body fatigue, you can make changes in your life to prevent back pain.

Other treatment options can be used on a daily basis. Here's a quick list of more back treatment product and options:

• Orthopedic gel seat cushions
• Sit/stand desks for better ergonomics
• Inversion tables
• Roller balls for exercise and stretching
• Physical exercise (check with your physician before starting any exercise routine)