Topical preparations in the treatment of musculoskeletal pain

Abstract

Musculoskeletal pain is a global health and socioeconomic problem. Chronic musculoskeletal pain (MSC) is a pain that lasts for at least 3 months, becomes a disease itself. Given the constant increase in the frequency of musculoskeletal pain, it is necessary to work on improving prevention, early diagnosis and therapy, in order to improve outcomes and reduce treatment costs. Causes of MSC pain can be degenerative and / or inflammatory changes of joint and extra-articular structures, as well as dynamic vertebral segment. The use of symptomatic therapy for pain and swelling must be based on adequate patient selection, selection of the painful condition, with a balance between the risks of use and benefits. The stepwise approach of the WHO (World Health Organization) analgesic ladder represents an escalation strategy from weak to strong analgesics in pain therapy. Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs are used in the treatment of mild to moderate acute and chronic musculoskeletal pain with an inflammatory component. The choice of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs in the treatment of pain is useful as monotherapy and as a component of multimodal analgesic therapy. The average prescribed daily dose, as well as the length of drug use in the treatment of musculoskeletal pain must be in accordance with the guidelines. Topical application of NSAID-s is the therapy of choice within the pharmacological approach in elderly patients, with acute and chronic musculoskeletal pain in accordance with modern guidelines.