13 Best Creams for Back Pain in 2023

The Bengay cream is a trusted household name for effective, reliable back pain relief. It’s got three active ingredients: methyl salicylate, menthol, and camphor. Thanks to this triple-action formula, reviewers felt a cooling sensation immediately upon application, followed by deep-penetrating relief for their tense muscles. Another feature they liked about the Bengay cream is the thick yet non-greasy consistency that you can easily rub into your skin for fast-acting relief.

One downside is that the scent is strong enough for other people to smell it on you, but many reviewers didn’t mind since some of them liked the smell. Fortunately, the brand also offers a fragrance-free Bengay cream for those with sensitive noses and even lightly scented ones for those who want a toned-down smell.

If an ice pack isn’t working, this cooling pain relief cream from Biofreeze may be the solution. True to its name, this topical cream produces an instant cooling effect that helps numb the affected area to relieve pain. Since it uses menthol as the active ingredient, it comes with a pleasant menthol smell that some reviewers did not find overpowering, although some people felt it was. Some people complained about the smell lingering for too long, especially when using a lot of the product.

Unlike some other creams, the Biofreeze pain relieving cream has a smooth, easy-to-apply consistency that doesn’t leave a sticky, greasy feel. Lastly, many people liked how it’s infused with grapeseed oil, which acts as a natural moisturizer to prevent the affected area from drying out with repeated use.

If you’re looking for an all-natural muscle rub that provides a soothing, warm feel, check out the Penetrex Joint & Muscle Therapy Cream. This paraben-free topical cream uses a natural mix of vitamin B6, methylsulfonylmethane (MSM), and arnica—a herbaceous plant known for its natural anti-inflammatory and pain-relieving properties. Arnica is known for providing deep-penetrating relief from muscle and joint pain, making Penetrex a popular contender for the best arthritis cream on the market.

It takes a few minutes after application for the warming sensation to set in, but once it does, many reviewers felt instant pain relief. Some creams have strong smells, but the Penetrex cream has a very light menthol scent, so it’s safe for those with sensitive noses. Many people really liked the non-greasy, non-staining formula.

The Icy Hot No Mess Roll-On is the perfect pain relief solution if you prioritize convenience and instant pain relief. If you’re the type of person who doesn’t like getting their hands greasy, you’ll love the travel-friendly size with a roll-on applicator for no-mess application. As you can probably guess from the name, it uses a combination of warming and cooling effects to numb the area and relieve pain. Although it’s more gel-like than a cream, it’s very lightweight and dries quickly. It also doesn’t stain your clothes, so you won’t think twice about applying it as you go about your day. Like many other muscle rubs, the Icy Hot Roll-On also has a menthol scent, but many people found it very light and quite pleasant.

The REMEDIAL PAX Hemp Cream is a botanical-based pain relief cream. It utilizes the pain-relieving and anti-inflammatory properties of hemp extract and hemp seed oil. It’s also formulated with organic ingredients like arnica, turmeric, aloe vera, eucalyptus oil, and other natural oils.

Although it’s marketed to be fast-acting, it took many reviewers about five minutes to feel the pain relief, which wasn’t an issue for some people since it was very effective. The CBD in this cream adds a nice muscle-relaxing effect, perfect to use right before bed. However, having CBD as a main ingredient does make it a bit pricey. As for the smell, it has an herbal-y menthol scent that people really liked, but some may find it a bit too strong.

With a history of providing pain relief for over 100 years, Tiger Balm is a tried-and-tested pain relief solution. Its secret lies in its herbal formulation of camphor and menthol to produce a strong cooling effect that helps relieve minor muscle and joint pain. This makes it one of the best arthritis creams for those on a budget. It’s also formulated with a variety of essential oils that aids in eliminating muscle stiffness and soreness.

One of its main selling points is its affordable price tag, plus the fact that it’s widely available in drug stores and grocery stores. However, it’s also known for its strong scent, which may be off-putting for some. Another thing to note is that it can actually stain your clothes, so be careful when applying it.

Applying pain relief cream to those hard-to-reach areas on your back can be frustrating, especially if you have mobility challenges. Luckily, Aspercreme has the solution. It’s one of the top picks for the best lidocaine cream on the market, as well as one of our top picks for the best cream for nerve pain in the back. One of its main highlights is its easy-use roll-on, which lets you apply the product to hard-to-reach places—minus the mess.

It contains 4 percent lidocaine that helps numb the painful area within a few minutes of application. Many reviewers liked how the formulation dries up quickly and doesn’t leave a sticky feeling afterward. This roll-on is infused with essential oils (you can choose from four scents) instead of the typical menthol scent. One thing to note: lidocaine only numbs the area for pain relief, so if you’re looking for something to address swelling or inflammation, you may want to look at other options.

The Sombra Warm Pain Relief Gel offers a soothing warm-and-cool sensation thanks to its natural blend of menthol, camphor, and witch hazel. It’s formulated to be quickly absorbed into the skin. Many reviewers immediately noticed the quick absorption—it starts off icy cool and gradually gets warmer to help your muscles relax.

Despite having menthol as an active ingredient, it has a subtle citrusy smell that many really loved. The Sombra pain relief gel does a great job of providing quick pain relief that lasts for hours and is specifically made for back pain and arthritis. Be careful not to apply too much at the start since a little goes a long way, and adding too much can cause skin irritation.

Topricin Pain Relief Therapy Cream provides a safe yet effective pain relief solution for all ages, from children to elderly people and those who are pregnant. This topical cream from Topricin is specially formulated for arthritis, carpal tunnel, and muscle and joint pains. It contains natural ingredients (like arnica, belladonna, and more) that not only address pain relief but also other symptoms like swelling, inflammation, soreness, and even muscle spasms.

This muscle rub from Uber Numb is vegan and won’t dry out your skin. It’s formulated with 5 percent lidocaine, vitamin E, and allantoin to help relieve pain, inflammation, soreness, and itching while hydrating and moisturizing your skin. This combo makes it a favorite pain reliever among tattoo enthusiasts.

It’s also hypoallergenic, so it’s a great choice for those with skin allergies and sensitive skin. Since it’s a water-based cream, it gets absorbed into the skin quickly, giving fast-acting pain relief in less than five minutes. A common complaint was that the pain relief doesn’t last as long as other creams.

Whether you’re a pro athlete or just a sports enthusiast, the Voltaren Pain Relief Gel is the ideal match for those with active lifestyles. It’s also one of the best arthritis creams for those suffering from joint pain. This medicated gel contains the active ingredient diclofenac sodium, which helps inhibit the production of pain-inducing chemicals in the body for immediate pain relief.

Diclofenac can also provide sciatica nerve support, making this the best cream for sciatica pain on our list. It comes in a travel-size tube with a secure screw cap, so many people found it very convenient to use on the go. If you’re dealing with chronic pain, though, expect to use Voltaren multiple times a day (up to four times, as recommended). Lastly, many reviewers liked its pleasant yet mild aroma, so we recommend this to people with sensitive noses.

This unscented topical cream utilizes emu oil as a carrier oil for ingredients like aloe vera and methylsulfonylmethane (MSM,) which help with quick absorption and pain relief. The aloe vera gives the cream a cooling effect, but it’s much more subtle compared to other creams with menthol. It’s very moisturizing but doesn’t leave a greasy feel, so we think it’d be a good match for dry, sensitive skin. It’s also safe to reapply multiple times throughout the day for all-day pain relief. Those with seafood or shellfish allergies should steer clear of this product since it contains glucosamine, an active ingredient derived from shellfish.

For an effective, all-natural pain relief cream, Dr. Bronner’s Organic Magic Balm is a popular go-to. It boasts an organic blend of arnica, menthol, camphor, and peppermint oil that does a great job alleviating muscle and joint pain, inflammation, and headaches. This mix gives off a pleasant, cooling feel and a wonderful minty scent that’s gentle on the nose. It also contains moisturizing ingredients like avocado, jojoba, and hemp oil to prevent dry, chapped skin. However, it can leave an oily feel on your skin after use. It’s a bit expensive and only comes in a small container, but fortunately, you only need a small amount to see quick results.