So Which Topical Pain Killers Are the Most Effective?

That depends on you. No really. If you use the correct pain relief for the right symptoms then it can be very effective. But using the wrong things can be completely useless and a total waste of money. In fact, using the wrong pain killers can even be harmful. You think you are getting better, so there is a short term placebo effect, which could lead to more damage further down the line.

Muscle Aches and General Sprains

An Oxford University Biochemist, Andrew Moore has shown that applying salicylates to the skin at the point of pain has hardly any effect when he compared them to the application of a placebo cream with no effective ingredients. The active ingredient is just not absorbed in enough quantities to have any use. For something like this, it is better to take oral analgesics and anti-inflammatories.

However, other research has shown that counter-irritants, those medicines which cause other signals to go to the brain which counter the pain signal, are quite effective. These include both menthol-based and capsaicin-based creams and lotions or patches.

Arthritis

Topical pain relief would be needed for the treatment of arthritis if the oral pain relievers had lost their efficacy, for example, if over-exertion was causes the joints to swell up and become more painful than usual. Many over the counter pain remedies have been used by arthritis sufferers and again, how well they work depends on the user.

Prescription gels and patches containing diclofenac have been licensed for use in the United States. These are prescribed under the brand name of Voltaren. This is a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug and can be effective for pain in the joints of the knees, elbows or wrists etc. It is particularly good for pain caused by osteoarthritis.

Lidoderm, which are patches containing lidocaine are also very effective. They can be applied for up to 12 hours at a time and can numb pain from hot, inflamed joints.

Use All Products Safely

• As with all medication, whether it is prescription or self-prescribed, always follow the usage instructions and never go over the recommended dose.
• Do not use more than one product at the same time.
• Always consult with a GP if the pain gets worse or no improvement is seen – there may be an underlying condition which needs to be treated.
• Never use creams on broken or irritated skin.
• Never apply hot or cold packs directly onto skin, use a towel or other barrier.