Transdermal (trans = through, dermal = skin) medications are an excellent alternative for people who might have digestive disorders, trouble swallowing, or for poor blood flow due to diabetes and other conditions. By applying the medication right where you need it you receive quick relief. The cream doesn’t have to be broken down in your stomach before it goes into your blood stream and then throughout your entire body before a small amount finally finds that injury. Topicals treat that injury right away, reducing the pain and inflammation quickly.
Therapies
Transdermal therapies include:
- Anesthetics: Such as lidocaine which produces a numbing effect and takes the edge off of the pain.
- Muscle Relaxants: Such as Flexeril (cyclobenzaprine) when applied topically do not produce the same side effects such as drowsiness as oral medications but they are effective in muscle relaxation. Great for use in the neck shoulder and back area.
- Adjunct Pain Relievers: Such as amitriptyline work to block pain signals to the brain and shut down alternative pain pathways.
- NSAIs (Non Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory): Such as ibuprofen, piroxicam, ketoprofen. Different NSAIs work differently for different types of pain and inflammation by combining them you can achieve superior results.
- Nerve Pain-Neurontin (gabapentium): For people with neuropathy, gabapentium is excellent for calming those nerve pathways. This can be combined with anesthetics and NSAI for optimum results.
- Ketamine: A powerful pain reliever used to treat a severe chronic pain condition called Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy (RSD) also known as Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS),characterized by sensory, autonomic, motor and dystrophic symptoms where pain is continuous and worsens over time.