Medications for back pain

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When taken properly, mild pain medications can help you feel better.

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Orthopedics | About spine surgery | Diagnosis | Treatment | Recovery and rehabilitation

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If you suffer from back pain, medication can make a big difference. It won't stop wear and tear on your spine, but it can reduce pain and swelling.

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Medication types

Accordion Block v2

You can get aspirin without a prescription. Aspirin can help lessen minor pain and back aches.

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Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are available without a prescription and include ibuprofen, acetaminophen and naproxen. NSAIDs work well for lessening pain that often comes with muscle strain and inflammation. They also help stop swelling in joints.

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Non-narcotic prescription medications, which are also called analgesics, help relieve pain in the area where you're injured. They are used to treat long-term pain that's mild to moderate.

Some non-narcotic analgesics that require a prescription from the doctor include NSAIDs such as:
- Carprofen
- Fenoprofen
- Ketoprofen
- Sulindac
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If you have intense pain, your doctor may tell you to take a narcotic pain medication, such as codeine or morphine. Narcotics help lessen pain by numbing the central nervous system.

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Muscle relaxants help lessen pain from muscle spasms (tightening). Long-term use isn't suggested.

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Back pain is a common symptom of depression, which causes serious, long-term sadness. That’s because the chemicals in nerve cells that lead to depression also control how the body feels pain.

Antidepressants can help lower the emotional stress that leads to symptoms of back pain. Some antidepressants also help with sleep.

If you're having trouble sleeping, your doctor may tell you to take antidepressants. Some antidepressants can cause:
- Sleepiness
- Loss of appetite
- Problems with bowel movements
- Dry mouth
- Lack of energy
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Epidural steroid injections (ESIs) are also called nerve blocks. These shots help reduce pain and swelling caused by a number of back conditions, including:
- Stenosis, which makes the spine tighten and press on the spinal cord
- Irritated nerve roots
- Slipped discs
Shots containing a medication and a numbing agent are delivered to the correct spot in the back. Sometimes ESIs don't work. Usually they're used only if other medications haven't helped.
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