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Author: Admin | 2025-04-28
Pain relief for lower back painNSAID tabletsIf you have lower back pain, your GP may suggest you take an over-the-counter NSAID (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug), such as ibuprofen. If this doesn’t help, your doctor may prescribe a different NSAID or another type of painkiller that may work better for you. They’ll prescribe the lowest dose to take for the shortest period of time. NSAIDs can cause stomach problems, such as indigestion, which causes pain and discomfort, bloating and nausea. NSAIDs can also potentially cause stomach ulcers. So, your doctor may also prescribe another medicine to protect your stomach while you take the NSAID for lower back pain. And it’s best to take NSAIDs with a meal to help protect your stomach. NSAID gelAnother option to ease lower back pain is an NSAID cream or gel that you put on the affected area. This is far less likely to cause any stomach problems. But creams and gels only work where you apply them. For example, although an ibuprofen tablet might help pain in both your back and knee, you would need to put cream on both places to feel the effects in both areas. OpioidsYour doctor may also prescribe a medicine called an opioid for lower back pain. Weak opioids (such as codeine) may be given for moderate pain. For severe and persistent pain, you may need stronger opioids, such as morphine. You might have this with or without paracetamol. Paracetamol works well for lower back pain when combined with other medicines. There’s a risk of becoming dependent on codeine, and it can also cause constipation. Your doctor will take this into consideration and explain the risks and side-effects to you.
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