Back Pain

If you’re suffering from lower back pain, you might be wondering what painkillers are out there to relieve your discomfort.

You may be offered NSAIDs like ibuprofen, naproxen, and diclofenac, or your healthcare provider might offer you codeine, which can be used to treat pain when other painkillers haven’t worked.

Codeine works by stopping the pain signals in their tracks before they reach the brain, but be careful - codeine can be addictive, so always take it as your doctor advises.

Muscle relaxants like diazepam help the muscles relax, which in turn can relieve your pain.

Sciatica is when the sciatica nerve becomes compressed, and you might feel a shooting, burning pain running from your lower back to your feet.

The first treatment options your GP may suggest are exercises and stretches or offering you painkillers that can relieve your pain.

If this doesn’t work, they may refer you to have painkiller injections, a procedure to seal off some of the nerves to stop them from sending pain signals, or decompressive surgery.

NSAID stands for non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, which are a type of medicine typically used to relieve pain, reduce inflammation, and a high temperature.

They are given to people who are suffering from pain, whether it be from a headache to something long-term like arthritis.

You can buy NSAIDs over the counter or on prescription, and you might recognize some like ibuprofen and naproxen.

There are numerous over-the-counter pain relievers out there to help you manage your nerve pain, ranging from topical painkillers, which include anaesthetic properties to numb the area of pain.

This is a good option as it effectively targets the direct spot that requires treatment.

You may wish to use over-the-counter painkillers like aspirin or ibuprofen, but they probably won’t be effective for severe nerve pain - if you think you need stronger painkillers, speak to your doctor.