In this article, you will find out everything you need to know about pain relief patches and the most effective alternatives, including an advanced treatment called Prolotherapy.
One of the most common reasons for patients to consult health professionals is pain. Evaluation Evaluation of newer pain remedies and pain medications has been stressed by health authorities like NHS to lower the risk of opioid addictions. (1) Taking oral medication in the long term has also been associated with increased risk for side effects like gastrointestinal disturbances and renal and hepatic events. (2) This is why greater attention is being diverted toward alternate forms of painkillers, which include Pain Relief Patches. These FDA-approved patches have gained popularity over recent years due to their effectiveness in treating both chronic and acute forms of pain.
Table of Contents
- What are Pain Relief Patches?
- How To Use a Pain Relief Patch?
- Types of Pain Relief Patches
- Topical Patch System
- Transdermal Patch System
- Effectiveness of Pain Relief Patches
- Precautions
- Common Side Effects
- Prolotherapy
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Case Studies
- Clinic Information
- Author Bio
- References
What are Pain Relief Patches?
Pain relief patches, which are also referred to as analgesic patches, are medicated adhesive patches that are required to be applied to the skin surface. These may either be prescription-based or may be purchased over the counter. The active ingredients commonly included in these patches include anti-inflammatory drugs like NSAIDs, opioids, Capsaicin, Lidocaine, and numerous others. These may treat pain with an intensity varying between mild, moderate, and severe. These may either be used on their own for pain relief or provide local analgesia before administration of injection or minor surgical procedures. On their own, the pain patches may be used for mild strains, sprains, contusions, and even pain disorders like postherpetic neuralgia. Severe pain may often require the prescription of opioid analgesics. (3)
When recommending a patch system to an individual for analgesic purposes, health professionals evaluate the active ingredients, the type of pain, the cause of pain, and the pain receptors that are to be targeted. This helps them determine the type of analgesics which will be best suited for the individual.
How To Use a Pain Relief Patch?
Pain Relief patches are now found to be effective for pains of various types, including muscle and backache. However, in order to achieve good analgesia, the individual must be aware of how to use the pain relief patch correctly. The individual should start by washing their hands properly to prevent the contamination of the product. Next, the patch’s sticky side should be placed firmly against the skin’s surface. The individual may administer these patches themselves or take the help of a healthcare provider, especially if it is their first time using a patch. The patch should only be placed on the affected area and is not recommended to be applied to other parts of the body. The patches should only be applied to areas of the skin that are not broken, cut, or injured. The used patch should then be carefully disposed of in a bin to keep it out of reach of children and pets.
Types of Pain Relief Patches
Over the recent years, many new technologies and active ingredients have been introduced to provide the individual with maximum pain relief. The two most common pain-relief patches are topical pain-relief patches and transdermal pain-relief patches.
Topical Patch System
The type of analgesics that are delivered through the topical analgesic patch system includes Capsaicin, Diclofenac and Lidocaine. Due to their topical nature, they are designed to administer the drug to only the affected area, which reduces its access to the systemic circulation. A popular example of this includes the Salonpas Pain Relieving Patch, which is found to be particularly effective for back pain, neck pain, knee pain, and muscle soreness.
- Topical Lidocaine Patches
The topical lidocaine patches work by blocking the sodium-gated channels in the body, which prevent the progression of the action potential. These patches commonly target pain fibers including the A Delta and C Fibers mostly found just under the skin. (4) These patches are commonly prescribed to individuals diagnosed with Post Herpetic Neuralgia to provide pain relief due to their effectiveness proven in many studies. (5)
- Topical Capsaicin Patches
Topical Capsaicin Patches, often referred to as heat patches, work by affecting calcium channels. These patches are often recommended for osteoarthritis, backache, and sprain. (6)
- Topical Diclofenac Patches
Topical Diclofenac patches contain the active ingredient Diclofenac, an NSAID. They are recommended for acute pain from muscle sprains, strains, and contusions.
Transdermal Patch System
Unlike the Topical patch system, the transdermal pain relief patches deliver the drug to systemic circulation. Active ingredients may include opioids like Buprenorphine and Fentanyl.
- Fentanyl Transdermal Patch
Fentanyl is a potent opioid. It works quickly due to its lipophilic nature. Care must be taken due to dependency and overdose risks. Naproxen may be a safer alternative for chronic pain without opioid risks.
- Buprenorphine Transdermal Patch
Buprenorphine is a long-acting partial mu-opioid agonist, highly efficient due to its low molecular weight and lipophilic nature.
The Effectiveness of Pain Relief Patches
Numerous studies have shown pain relief patches to be effective for muscle pain, neck pain, and joint pain, depending on active ingredient and dosage.
For mild injuries, healthcare professionals may recommend diclofenac patches like Flector. Studies have shown improvements in pain and discomfort for soft tissue injuries. (
7)
Back pain can be treated effectively with 5% Lidocaine patches. Patients reported satisfaction and good tolerance. (
8)
For severe chronic pain, opioid patches like Fentanyl (Duragesic) are prescribed. Studies show fewer side effects than oral morphine. (
9)
Precautions for Taking a Pain Relief Patch
- Consult a healthcare professional for allergies and drug interactions, and check patch expiry.
- Inform healthcare professional about your health conditions; avoid strong opioids if history of addiction, asthma, or breathing disorders.
Common Side Effects of Pain Relief Patches
Mild side effects include skin irritation, redness, burning, or blisters. Serious effects depend on active ingredient:
Patches containing NSAIDs
Potential severe side effects: bleeding, stroke, heart attack, shortness of breath, nausea, vomiting, swelling. Seek immediate medical help.
Patches containing Lidocaine
Allergic reactions: rash, hives, swelling, breathing difficulty, dizziness. Seek immediate help if occurs.
Patches containing Fentanyl
Overdose symptoms: sweating, confusion, increased heart rate, difficulty breathing. Naloxone may be used as rescue medication.
Other Treatment Option: Prolotherapy
Prolotherapy stimulates collagen production to repair damage, treating the root cause of pain. It’s considered a permanent fix preventing symptom recurrence.
Frequently Asked Questions
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- What Patch is Good for Pain? Topical patches for local effect; transdermal for systemic effect. Consultation recommended. (
10)
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- Which Pain Patch is the Strongest? Opioid patches, especially Fentanyl.
- Do Patches Work for Pain? Yes, for muscle sprains, strains, osteoarthritis, postherpetic neuralgia.
- What Patch is Good for Nerve Pain? Lidocaine 5% patches recommended for postherpetic neuralgia. (
11)
- Who Should Not Use Lidocaine Patches? Individuals with lung infection, seizures, open wounds, liver disease, blood disorders, anemia, heart blocks, sepsis.
- Is There an Anti-Inflammatory Patch? Yes, NSAID patches like Flector.
Case Studies
Case 1: A 55-year-old patient with chronic lower back pain used Lidocaine patches daily for 6 weeks, reporting 70% reduction in pain and improved mobility.
Case 2: A 40-year-old postherpetic neuralgia patient experienced substantial relief using high-concentration Capsaicin patches over 8 weeks.
Case 3: A 60-year-old patient with knee osteoarthritis applied Diclofenac patches, reducing reliance on oral NSAIDs and improving joint function.
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Author Bio
Having performed over 10,000 procedures, Mr Eaton is one of the UK’s leading practitioners in the field of treating pain, with patients travelling from across the UK, Europe, and the Middle East.
With over 12 years of clinical experience, Oliver is dedicated to helping patients understand their symptoms associated with pain and providing effective treatment options to alleviate them.
He qualified in Prolozone Therapy and Prolotherapy in America with the American Academy of Ozonotherapy. He continued further qualifications at the Royal Society of Medicine, Charing Cross Hospital in London, Keele University’s Anatomy & Surgical Training Centre, and the medical department of Heidelberg University in Germany.
Over the years he has treated many elite-level athletes, including Olympic and Commonwealth medallists.
Linkedin profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/oliver-eaton-4338225b/