Why Don't Back Pain Creams Numb Hands?

16 September 2016, 14:05 | Updated: 16 September 2016, 14:06

Bad Back

Mystery Hour Question

Paul, Northolt

My wife has got a bad back, and last night I rubbed some analgesic into her back to numb the pain.  But how come my hands didn’t go numb?

Answer

**Definitive**

Name: Hazel, Hammersmith

Qualification: Nurse

Answer: Most of the creams on the market contain diclofenac as an active ingredient, which is a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory.  It doesn’t contain any numbing property.  The diclofenac he rubs in targets the inflammation, so the hand feels no different because there is no pain there.