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It can be hard to do even the usual activities when you feel pain and want to find a remedy. According to the CDC, 40% of Americans experience chronic pain, making it one of the common reasons why people seek medical treatment.
However, they will try alternative treatments like pain relief cream rather than going to a doctor to seek a prescription. But is pain relief cream an effective treatment method? Let us find out.
How Pain Relief Creams Work?
Pain relief creams work by causing temporary irritation in the skin and stimulation of the nerve endings. They contain active ingredients like salicylate, camphor, zucapsaicin, capsaicin, menthol, eucalyptus, or herbal extracts. These ingredients create a hot or cold sensation in the affected area.
Pain relief creams penetrate the epidermis and prevent the inflammation of the affected area. They are recommended for strains, chronic pains, sprains, and others.
Advantages of Using Pain Relief Cream
Are you like most people who won’t seek treatment from a doctor yet unless they have tried alternative treatments first? If your answer is “yes,” then a pain relief cream may be the first thing you will look for in the drugstore or pharmacy.
A pain relief cream provides patients with a quick remedy for chronic pain. They can be purchased over the counter and are easily accessible. They can be easily carried around wherever you go. Using pain relief cream offers various benefits over pills.
1. It Targets A Specific Area
Oral pain medications like pills are processed via the digestive and circulatory systems, which can affect the entire body. On the other hand, topical creams only affect the painful area. All you java to do is apply the cream to the affected area.
2. Quicker Pain Relief
The skin absorbs pain relief creams to get quick relief. You can take pain relief creams several times during the day compared to tablets or capsules that can only be taken once or twice daily, as prescribed. This means that you can take a second dose much more quickly.
3. It Is Designed To Treat Numerous Types of Pain
Topical creams are designed to treat other types of pain. For example, if you have neuropathy, applying pain relief cream will reduce inflammation and alleviate the pain compared to oral medicines. In addition, topical creams can treat sports injuries, musculoskeletal pain, post-surgical pain, injury-related pain, vulvodynia, proctodynia, and arthritis.
4. Longer Periods of Pain Relief
Oral pain pills last between four to six hours. On the other hand, topical creams offer relief that lasts eight or more hours.
5. Reduced Risk of Drug Tolerance
Over time, oral pain relievers can make the body adjust to their pain-relieving effect. Unfortunately, this could result in pain relievers becoming less effective in the long run. Increased intake of pain relievers can also increase the risks to the body. Topical creams lower the risk of addiction, dependence, and tolerance to a drug.
6. Lesser Side Effects
Taking oral pills is associated with many side effects, such as drowsiness, blurred vision, slowed movements, and stomach problems. When you buy pain relief cream, you do not have to worry about such side effects as it only affects the painful area.
7. Your Internal Organs Are Protected
Unlike oral pills, which pass through the digestive and excretory systems, pain relief creams will not cause gastric or cardiovascular problems. It eliminates the negative effects on these systems caused by the long-term use of oral pills.
8. Does Not Interact With Other Prescription Medicines
Taking oral pills can be risky as they can interact with other over-the-counter or prescription medicines you may be taking. For example, if you are taking an opiate for pain and benzodiazepine for anxiety relief, this may cause problems in your respiratory system.
Get The Right Pain Relief Creams
When it comes to pain relief creams, not all of them are created equal. Just because it worked for another person does not mean it will have the same effect on you. Always consult your pharmacist first. They will first need to get information from you, such as allergies, current medications you are taking, medical history, and others. They can work with your doctor to develop the best pain treatment plan.
