Question

I suffer from back pain. Can I treat it with over the counter painkillers?

Clare’s Answer

Back pain is extremely common and most back pain is caused by strains that can happen when lifting heavy objects, turning awkwardly, slouching when sitting or standing in a bad position. The pain normally begins suddenly in the lower back and is associated with movement.

You can treat the pain by taking paracetamol or by taking an anti-inflammatory medicine such as ibuprofen. When taking ibuprofen, remember to take it after food and if you are asthmatic, talk to your doctor before commencing treatment. Some anti-inflammatory medicines also come in the form of a gel and can be applied to the affected area. These include Ibuleve and Oruvail gel. Speak to your local pharmacist about the best medication for you.

As an alternative you could also consider using a TENS machine. TENS stands for Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation and works by sending gentle electrical pulses across the surface of the skin and along the nerve fibres. The pulses help to relieve pain in two ways; they prevent pain signals reaching the brain and encourage your body to produce higher levels of its own natural painkillers called endorphins.

You should consider seeing your doctor if there is no improvement after about a week. You should also see you doctor if you have any pain running down one or both of your legs, if you are experiencing any numbness in your legs or if you are have any problems passing urine.

Clare has worked for Lloydspharmacy for 16 years since training as a pharmacist at Queens University in Northern Ireland.