Will Tylenol Help With Back Pain

Why Back Pain Diagnoses Are Evolving

Although its a remarkably common health issue, back pain is tricky to treat. Even with the sophisticated imaging tools at a doctors disposal, such as MRIs, often theres no clear anatomical diagnosis.

Were spending billions of dollars every year on treatment, MRIs, opioids and surgeries for people with back pain, Dr. Hazard says. At the same time, theres a disconnect. People are not feeling better.

A lot of images have false positives. Things will show up that are age-related but are not whats causing the persons trauma, says Dr. Hazard. Confusion and frustration arise from the difficulty of being able to make a specific diagnosis.

To improve treatment outcomes, doctors are beginning to shift their approaches to back pain. Its no longer seen as a symptom, but a disease in and of itself. The spine is complex, and the pain can have a clear cause, such as a pinched nerve or herniated disk.

But it can also be a symptom of other medical conditions going on with the patient. Obesity and sedentary lifestyles, for example, also can set the stage for low back pain.

In the last 10 years or so, a tidal wave of research demonstrates that being sendentary is substantially more impactful than previously thought, says Stephen West, LMT, a massage therapist based in Boulder, Colorado. And the effects of sitting for eight hours a day, on average, are not overcome merely by working out for one to two hours a day.

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How Acetaminophen Is Used For Back Pain

Acetaminophen is sold in varying strengths without a prescription, including regular strength, extra strength, and arthritis pain formulas. While over-the-counter acetaminophen is often recommended to treat mild to moderate pain, a physician may recommend an acetaminophen-opioid combination in some situations, such as for severe pain or pain following back surgery.

Warnings And Interactions For Tylenol #3

Tylenol #3 should be used with caution in certain groups. A specialist may need to decide on a case-by-case basis how appropriate the drug is for people with some conditions.

Some people with epilepsy, for example, may have more seizures when taking Tylenol #3. Elderly people with reduced kidney function may also have seizures. Because there is no way to know who might be affected, doctors should monitor those at risk for seizures. If seizures occur or worsen, treatment should be stopped.

Acetaminophen can stress the liver, so people with chronic liver disease should take no more than 2,000 mg per day. Someone with severe liver disease may need to take even less. Even if you dont have liver disease, you should always use the smallest amount of acetaminophen you need.

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Aleve Is More Likely To Cause Gastrointestinal Side Effects Because It Is Long Acting

Research has discovered that the risk of gastrointestinal side effects such as stomach ulcers and stomach bleeding increases the longer somebody takes NSAIDS. Aleve is more likely than ibuprofen to cause GI side effects because it is longer acting. To reduce the risk of GI side effects, NSAIDS should only be taken at their lowest effective dose, for the shortest possible time. Doubling up on NSAIDs is unnecessary, and to be avoided as it increases the risk of both GI and cardiovascular side effects. If you are prescribed low-dose aspirin to reduce your risk of a heart attack or stroke, then talk to your doctor BEFORE taking NSAIDs, as these may negate the protective effects of aspirin.

Effectiveness Of Aleve And Ibuprofen

Aleve and ibuprofen are called nonselective NSAIDs because they block COX-2 enzymes and also COX-1 enzymes . This makes them effective at relieving pain and reducing inflammation, but there is a risk of stomach-related side effects. As far as effectiveness goes, 440mg Aleve is approximately equivalent to a 400mg ibuprofen.

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Medicines For Back Pain

Acute back pain often goes away on its own over several weeks. In some people, back pain persists. It may not go away completely or it may get more painful at times.

Medicines can also help with your back pain.

OVER-THE-COUNTER PAIN RELIEVERS

Over-the-counter means you can buy them without a prescription.

Most health care providers recommend acetaminophen first because it has fewer side effects than other drugs. Do not take more than 3 grams on any one day, or over 24 hours. Overdosing on acetaminophen can cause severe damage to your liver. If you already have liver disease, ask your doctor if acetaminophen is OK for you to take.

If your pain continues, your provider may suggest nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs . You can buy some NSAIDs, such as ibuprofen and naproxen, without a prescription. NSAIDs help reduce the swelling around the swollen disk or arthritis in the back.

NSAIDs and acetaminophen in high doses, or if taken for a long time, can cause serious side effects. Side effects include stomach pain, ulcers or bleeding, and kidney or liver damage. If side effects occur, stop taking the drug right away and tell your provider.

If you are taking pain relievers for more than a week, tell your provider. You may need to be watched for side effects.

NARCOTIC PAIN RELIEVERS

Examples of narcotics include:

• Fentanyl — available as a patch

Possible side effects of these drugs include:

How Tylenol Arthritis Works

Tylenol Arthritis contains two layersone that releases quickly for fast relief and one that releases slowly to provide lasting relief of up to eight hours. For these layers to work properly, you must swallow the caplets whole with water. There is a total of 650 mg of acetaminophen in each tablet. Regular Strength and Extra Strength Tylenol do not have two layers and contain less acetaminophen per caplet, 325 mg, and 500 mg respectively.

Acetaminophen is an analgesic, meaning it relieves pain. Acetaminophen is not an anti-inflammatory, so it does not ease swelling. For this reason, Tylenol Arthritis is best for osteoarthritis and not inflammatory types of arthritis such as rheumatoid, reactive, or gout.

Acetaminophen is thought to work by interfering with hormones called prostaglandins, reducing pain sensations within the nerve endings, nervous system, and brain.

Tylenol Arthritis can temporarily relieve other types of pain such as general aches, muscle soreness, toothache, menstrual cramps, achiness during cold and flu, and back pain. As with other acetaminophen-containing drugs, Tylenol Arthritis can also help reduce fevers.

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Other Treatments And Activities That Dont Help

Bed rest is not helpful for back pain, and might even slow recovery. However heavy physical work should also be avoided in the first few days after a back pain episode starts.

Other treatment options including acupuncture, ultrasound, electrical nerve simulation, and corsets or foot orthotics are not recommended, since there is no strong evidence supporting their use.

Even if the cause of back pain is unknown, imaging is unlikely to influence management or provide meaningful information.

Best Bets For Back Pain

When your back is bothering you and you don’t want to take prescription drugs, over-the-counter solutions and physical therapies can help relieve symptoms.

At this moment, about 10% of men have a backache, and up to 90% will have a backache at some point in their lives. Most flare-ups of low back pain get better over time, often within a few weeks. Pain control is important because it allows you to stay active, which assists in your recovery. For over-the-counter pain relievers, you have two options: acetaminophen or nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs .

But pain relievers are only one tool to help you recover from, and prevent, low back pain, according to Dr. Jeffrey N. Katz, professor of medicine and surgery at Brigham and Women’s Hospital and editor of the Harvard Special Health Report Low Back Pain: Healing Your Aching Back. Dr. Katz suggests you also include these steps in your back-care plan:

Soothe with cold or heat. In the first few days, when pain is most intense and may be accompanied by inflammation, apply cold compresses for 15-minute periods. After a few days, switch to warm compresses to relax the affected muscles and enhance blood flow to the area. This simple approach can reduce reliance on pain relievers.

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A Move Away From Oral Painkillers

People with back pain are usually told by their health care practitioners to take analgesic medications to relieve their pain.

Out of date Australian guidelines for managing back pain recommend paracetamol as first choice analgesic, NSAIDs as second, and oral opioids as the third line medicines. Paracetamol is still the most purchased over-the-counter painkiller in Australia, but weve shown it to be ineffective for back pain.

The UK 2017 National Institute for Health and Care Excellence guidelines now no longer recommend paracetamol as a stand-alone intervention for back pain. In the UK, NSAIDs are recommended as the analgesic of first choice for back pain, and opioids as second.

However in research published last week, we show NSAIDs like ibuprofen and diclofenac offer only marginal relief from back pain compared to a placebo . Only one in six patients treated with NSAIDs achieved any significant reduction in pain.

We also found people taking NSAIDs are more than twice as likely to experience vomiting, nausea, stomach ulcers or bleeding compared to those taking placebo.

The study raises the question of whether the benefits of NSAIDs outweigh the risk of side effects offered by these drugs.

These results were obtained by reviewing 35 studies of 6,065 people with various types of spinal pain, including lower back pain, neck pain and sciatica .

When Should I Call The Doctor

You should call your healthcare provider if you are taking pain medicine and experience:

• Vision problems, including blurred vision or drooping eyelids.
• Numbness or paralysis in an untreated area.
• Severe stomach upset.

A note from Cleveland Clinic

Pain relievers can bring a welcome break from aches and discomforts. You can find acetaminophen and anti-inflammatory drugs in a lot of OTC products. These include medicines for allergies, colds and flu. Its important to read the labels to make sure you dont get too much of a pain medication. Many nonaddictive pain medicines are available for chronic pain. Your healthcare provider can work with you to find the right medicine to help you enjoy better, pain-free days.

Last reviewed by a Cleveland Clinic medical professional on 04/13/2021.

References

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Acetaminophen May Not Help Against Back Pain Study Contends

The common pain reliever, best known as Tylenol, showed no effect in Australian trial

HealthDay Reporter

WEDNESDAY, July 23, 2014 Even though its use is often advised by doctors, the painkiller acetaminophen best known as Tylenol does not help treat lower back pain, according to a new Australian study.

The researchers found the drug was no more effective than a dummy pill for more than 1,600 people suffering from acute lower back pain.

Besides showing no effect in easing discomfort, the study also found the drug was no help in improving sleep woes tied to back pain, nor did it improve patients overall quality of life.

The research team said the findings call into question the belief that acetaminophen should be the first choice when treating this common form of back pain.

The drug might not be of primary importance in the management of acute lower back pain, study lead author Dr. Christopher Williams from the George Institute for Global Health at the University of Sydney in Australia, said in a news release from the journal The Lancet.

The study was published online in the July 23 issue of the journal.

However, one expert said its probably too early to abandon acetaminophen for lower back pain.

While this is a fascinating study, it is only one study and shouldnt change clinical behavior, said Dr. Houman Danesh, director of Integrative Pain Management and assistant professor of anesthesiology at The Mount Sinai Hospital in New York City.

The Lancet

Why Experts Recommend It

Tylenol is a good alternative for those who have any underlying conditions in which a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug would not be appropriate. It is an effective pain reliever with fewer side effects than NSAIDS.

There are also stronger formulations, such as extra-strength Tylenol specifically designed for arthritis relief. The high-dose form has a greater risk of side effects and serious complications.

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Tylenol Effectiveness For Back Pain

Tylenol has historically been used for back pain. However, Tylenol has very limited benefit in patients with back pain. According to one study:

• Tylenoldoes not produce better outcomes than placebo for people with acute low back pain, and it is uncertain if it has any effect on chronic low back pain.

Tylenol is thus no longer recommended as a first-line treatment for low back pain. It may be worth a try if you cannot take ibuprofen or naproxen due to medical reasons. The dose you can try is this:

• Under 65 years old: Acetaminophen 650 mg orally every six hours as needed
• Over 65 years old: Acetaminophen 500mg orally every six hours as needed

Is Naproxen Or Ibuprofen Better For Migraines

Triptan drugs like are first-choice medications to treat migraines. But people often turn to NSAID drugs for pain relief here as well. So, which is better? Researchers have actually found that using both a triptan and an NSAID is more effective for treating migraine headaches than using either type of drug alone. The best-studied combination is sumatriptan 100 mg with naproxen 500 mg, so naproxen is a good choice for migraine relief.

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Drugs And Medications To Manage Spinal Stenosis Symptoms

Over-the-counter Pain MedicationsOver-the-counter drugs are usually the first line of medication treatment for spinal stenosis. These medications may help alleviate pain and/or inflammation.

Medications that control pain are known as analgesics, and they are available in OTC and prescription forms. Acetaminophen , aspirin, ibuprofen , and naproxen are examples of OTC analgesics that your doctor may recommend for spinal stenosis.

While some analgesics only relieve pain , others reduce pain and inflammation. Analgesics that reduce both pain and inflammation are called non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, or NSAIDs. Aspirin, ibuprofen, and naproxen are examples of NSAIDs.

Prescription Drugs for Spinal StenosisIf your spinal stenosis symptoms are not responding to OTC medication, ask your doctor if a prescription drug may provide better pain management.

Prescription-strength NSAIDs are a common prescription medication used to control spinal stenosis pain. Celecoxib is an example of a prescription NSAID. Like other NSAIDs, these drugs are generally safe when used for a short time and at lower doses. Read, for additional information.

If you have lumbar spinal stenosis and have nerve pain in your legs that is reducing your ability to walk, your doctor may prescribe a neuropathic agent, such as gabapentin . Spinal stenosis in your low back can produce symptoms of numbness, tingling, and burning down your legs. A neuropathic agent may reduce nerve pain and help restore function.

Acetaminophen Wont Ease Your Neck Pain Or Back Pain Helps Slightly With Osteoarthritis

Low back and neck pain affects slightly more than nine percent of the worlds population, while osteoarthritis affects nearly four percent. For years, acetaminophen has been the go-to drug recommended to ease these pains. Now, a group of Australian researchers are saying, Not good enough. Acetaminophen is ineffective when treating low back pain, their new research study finds, and can provide only minimal, short term benefit to sufferers of osteoarthritis.

Drugs cost money, money no one wants to spend, but extreme pain usually outweighs financial considerations. Pain in the lower back can make both standing and sitting impossible, while neck pain sometimes rules out even bed rest. Another type of pain, osteoarthritis, occurs whenever cartilage, the tough but flexible tissue that covers the ends of your bones at a joint, wears down. Any joint in your body may be damaged by osteoarthritis, but the disorder usually affects the hands, knees, hips, and spine. Since this pain generally worsens with each passing year, sufferers wanting relief are highly likely to reach for the nearest drug. But what works?

The researchers found acetaminophen to be ineffective for reducing pain intensity and disability or improving quality of life in the short term in people with low back pain. For hip or knee osteoarthritis acetaminophen provided a small effect on pain and disability in the short term.

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Help Ive Got Back Pain

Back pain is a problem we need to solve. Treatment costs are almost A$5 billion every year in Australia, and it is the main health condition forcing older people to retire prematurely. In the United States, loss of workdays due to back pain cost US$100 billion annually.

So, if the most commonly used medications and interventions for managing back pain do not work, what should people do instead?

First, there needs to be a stronger focus on preventing back pain. We know education and exercise programs can substantially reduce the risk of developing a new episode of back pain. In addition, we also know what can trigger back pain, such as manual tasks involving heavy loads, awkward postures and being fatigued or tired during an activity.

Second, once people have back pain, they should be given tailored advice and information to help them self-manage their condition. Patients should be reminded of the benign nature of back pain. Most of us will have some pain in our lower back but very rare cases will be associated with more serious causes . Reminding people of the importance of keeping active within their own limitations is also crucial. This includes going for a short walk or avoiding prolonged sitting.

Back pain has many causes and presentation scenarios, and a quick fix is not the answer. Although we would all like back pain to be resolved with painkillers, evidence points us to a different direction.

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