5 Treatments for Hip PainNeurosurgeon Byung Woo Kim

First, NSAIDs (nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs)

Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, called NSAIDs, can have antipyretic, analgesic, and anti-inflammatory effects.

Some of you may be wondering the difference between anti-inflammatories and painkillers. Pain is divided into the area where the pain originates and the area where the pain is felt. Anti-inflammatories act directly on the area where the pain originated, such as spinal stenosis or herniated discs, to eliminate the cause.

In general, NSAIDs are not good to take for a short period of time, but they can cause a number of side effects if taken for a long time. Gastrointestinal problems, such as heartburn or gastritis, are typical. There have even been reports of stomach holes. Other side effects can affect kidney function and the cardiovascular system.

When you take a drug, its efficacy increases in proportion to the dose up to a certain level. In the case of anti-inflammatories, at some point, there is a ceiling effect that does not enhance the efficacy and only increases the side effects. Therefore, it is possible that increasing the dose of the drug will not have a strong anti-inflammatory effect.

Second, painkillers

Unlike anti-inflammatories, analgesics work by acting on the area where you feel pain, reducing pain.

There are two widely known painkillers. First, it's called acetaminophen, Tylenol. It can have antipyretic and analgesic effects, and can be purchased at any time as an over-the-counter drug. Then there's tramadol. Tramadol is well used for musculoskeletal and neuropathy, but it has the disadvantage of making you feel sick or nauseous.

Third, muscle relaxants

Muscle relaxants prescribed for spinal joint disease are spasm inhibitors*. It works on the central nervous system to calm nerves and relax muscles. Muscle relaxants are known to improve stenosis or arthritis when used in conjunction with nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. Side effects include feeling sluggish and drowsy, so you may want to consult your doctor to remove muscle relaxants or prescribe a different type of muscle relaxant.

Fourth, Limafrost

Limaprost is the main drug in the treatment of stenosis. Stenosis is a condition caused by pinched nerves, which reduces blood flow and increases pressure in the spinal canal. When limaprost is administered, blood flow is increased and platelet aggregation is reduced, resulting in the treatment of edema. Limaprost is very effective, especially when you have intermittent claudication, which is a condition in which you are numb in your legs and cannot continue walking for long periods of time.

Fifth, Pregabalin

Pregabalin is a drug that treats neuropathy and suppresses pain, like an analgesic. It is commonly used in patients with herpes zoster, spinal cord injury, or diabetic peripheral neuropathy. If you still have pain more than 3 months after spinal surgery, you may be able to get a prescription for pregabalin through your health insurance. Pregabalin is also used in patients with musculoskeletal pain disorders such as fibromyalgia.