A variety of approaches to pain relief have been explored in the medical community. Since pain attacks the body in numerous ways, treatments from medication to physical therapy to holistic methods are used. One option to pain relief, for both chronic and acute pain, is epidermal, or through the skin. The simplicity of applying pain patches is one reason epidermal pain relief is becoming widely used. More importantly, the long-lasting pain relief it provides and the minimal amount of common side effects makes epidermal pain relief more regularly prescribed and chosen by patients.
Heat Patches
Heat is a common treatment for pain relief. Hot showers and heating pads are not always convenient, but heat patches are available to treat your pain on the go. Made of iron, water, carbon and salt, these patches generate heat when iron is exposed to oxygen.
Purchase ThermaCare, Beyond Bodi Heat and Bengay at your local pharmacy. Regular patches can cover your arm or leg, but larger patches can be purchased to cover larger areas, like your back. Depending on the patch, it may take up to 15 minutes to heat up, and can be worn for up to 8 hours. Heat patches should not be worn more than once in a 24-hour period.
Ice Patches
Inflammation causes pain. To treat a swollen body part, typically you should apply ice for 20 minutes a few times each day. An easier way of achieving the cooling sensation without having to worry about a leaky bag of ice or your frozen dinner from the freezer, purchase ice patches.
ThermaCare also offers cooling patches in addition to heat therapy. You can also use Icy Hot to receive benefits from both the cold and the hot.
Lidoderm Patches
A lidocaine-based topical medicine, Lidoderm patches allow a small amount of drug into your bloodstream, penetrating just deep enough to sooth damaged nerves and relieve pain.
Wear Lidoderm patches for 12 hours at a time, taking a break for 12 hours before reapplying. They are only available by prescription.
Duragesic
The Duragesic patch offers a stronger treatment for intense chronic pain. It delivers fentanyl, which is an opioid pain medication, slowly through the skin and treats pain for up to three days.
Like Lidoderm patches, Duragesic is only available by prescription.
Pain Patch Side Effects
You may experience drowsiness while using a pain patch. Other side effects include nausea, dizziness, drop in blood pressure and loss of appetite.
Remove the patch and call your doctor if you have trouble breathing while wearing the patch.
Pain Creams
Pain medication can also be distributed through creams.
Zonalon, which contains Doxepin, is an antidepressant, and treats pain by blocking receptors that send pain signals to the brain.
Menthol cream is also available for temporary pain relief. The menthol tingles, creating a warming sensation which soothes muscles.
These creams also activate your body's opiod receptions, providing natural pain relief.
Tags: pain relief, Lidoderm patches, pain relief, available prescription, epidermal pain, epidermal pain relief, only available
