gif4445

At 56 YO, cycling keeps me mostly away from the meds. When work keeps me away from riding, I find the various problem areas become more of a concern. Ice and Advil as needed, but Tylenol/codeine when it gets a little rougher. Winter time is the worst, with fewer opportunities for riding, cold weather and shorter daylight, resulting in increases on the pain-o-meter. I'm most pain free on my annual end of summer tour. Rarely take anything during the 2-3 week period.

NVanHiker

This is an interesting topic - half the ads on TV seem to be for pain killers, typically by some athletic young man or woman grimacing after a workout. I was beginning to wonder how many people really take painkillers for simple muscle soreness. Personally, I keep aspirin close by only in the event of a heart attack! I actually kind of enjoy the muscle soreness after a vigorous workout and use it as an excuse for a good stretch. As I understand it, muscle growth only occurs after you've inflicted micro-tears on the muscles anyway.

jyl

Occasionally I strain my back and then take an EDIT naproxen (Aleve). No pain meds or NSAIDs for cycling.

I used to have some chronic conditions that could flare up without warning. As a result I carried a little container of pain meds with me on trips. Colchicine (gout flares), Vicodin (gallstones), and oxycodone (kidney stones). The oxycodone was impressive stuff, I only ever took one pill during a kidney stone attack and it took me straight from curled over pain to amused languor and dozing. All those conditions have gone away but out of habit I still carry the pain med pack. Sometimes when I'm bored in a hotel on a biz trip I think about popping one of the oxycodones - then I order a drink and go to bed.

longbeachgary

I'm no doctor but Aleve is not amoxicillin (which is an antibiotic).

jyl

Duh - brain fart, thanks for catching. Naproxen = Aleve.

Zinger

No PEDs or painkillers. I might be guilty of stopping for a "safety meeting" with a riding partner now and then.

CandyDarling

In order for the tendinitis to stop and go away you are probably going to have to stop bowling. The tendon will degenerate in about a years time and the pain will stop. If you keep aggravating it, it will never get better.

I have been side-lined with tendon issues on and off for about three years.

Right now I have a boot on my ankle because of peroneal tendon issues, and extensor tendon issues.

The tendons in the arm will heal if you take it easy, but the ones in the ankles have trouble healing unless you get off of them [as in crutches or a wheel chair]. So, I guess you should be happy it's not your ankle. All tendonitis is painful though.

They also make NSAID compounding creams to rub on the area if you don't like messing with oral NSAIDS. But, they are a lot more expensive.

irwin7638

No Drugs. I suspect the beginnings of arthritis in my knees and shoulders, but when I feel either start to ache I have a glass (don't laugh) of tart red cherry juice. I was told it's great natural anti-inflammatory, and it works. If things get worse, I can look forward to medical marijuana. Pharma as a last resort.

Marc

OldsCOOL

OldsCOOL

In my line of work (probate court), not all drugs are meds.

Dudelsack 

I'm on gorillacillin and digitoprotagamycin.

Carbonfiberboy 

Baby aspirin every morning, not for pain. I never take ibuprofen before a ride. Bad idea, IME. Need those prostaglandins to prevent damage and speed healing. I used to when I had knee pain while hiking. I quit taking it and the knee pain went away. But I do take it during a ride if something goes wrong and I start getting a repetitive motion problem, usually something swelling. I never take it after a ride or other workout.

So no, for those of us who still have their cartilage and don't have RA, pain meds shouldn't be necessary. I think targeted exercise is a better response to pain than are meds.

OldsCOOL

It is necessary for me in longer rides where I know my traps/tri's will ache. This is a conditioning issue that gradually fades away. The trapezius stiffness is no doubt a powerlifting leftover where they just arent agreeing with any kind of endurance training. I'll take a reasonable dose at the start along with a big breakfast prior to any ride above 60 miles until all discomfort is chased out with conditioning.

Doohickie

When I first started riding again in 2008, any kind of a longish ride required some medication to get over the aches and pains (or else I'd be pretty sore the next day). As I've ridden more, the need for the meds has decreased. I still feel the aches and pains, but they are normal and tolerable. Ibuprofin is my go-to painkiller, but it makes me drowsy and sluggish (even the next day), so I try not to take it frequently.

My wife, on the other hand, has fibromyalgia. She's recently turned up her game with cycling (doing 30 miles for the first time, typically doing 20+ mile rides), and with her condition she definitely needs to manage her pain. We rode an easy 8 miles last night and today she's dealing with a flair-up of the fibro.

Piratebike

No pain no gain. I don't mind being sore from a ride or activity so I seldom take drugs for that. I am however on lots of prescriptions after my heart attack. Lipitor specifically makes my legs hurt but I deal with it. But Saturday I tore my rotator cuff!!! I have been taking some ibuprofen since that is a little more pain than I can sleep with. Getting old is not for the weak.

dbg

I've had back issues for a long time and have been taking Aleve just about every morning for more than 10 years. On some 36 hole walk-and-carry golf days I take up to 4. On some 100 mile rides I take up to 4. (Aleve IS an NSAID, btw). I also use ICE after exercise and it is VERY effective.

I asked my doctor if he thought it was bad for me to have been taking Aleve every day. His answer was, "any seriously bad effects would probably have shown up, --and anyway --it's kinda too late now."

[age: 61]

dachshund

I have arthritis and something's always flaring up. Ice is my friend. I take Naproxen off and on. I agree that muscle soreness is fine (almost welcome!) and my muscles like the ice treatment. I did resort to an injection to deal with bursitis in my hip. I don't deal with chronic pain well. I recently diagnosed my knee issue and was finally back on the bike. But now I have the wicked shoulder pain from weak neck & shoulders. So I'm back on Naproxen, back to the gym, and off the bike for now. I really want to ride again, but I want the shoulder pain to stop first.
I'm 58 years old. My favorite new product is a cloth wrap that lets me attach ice packs to my knee. :-)
Amazon.com: Brownmed Polar Ice Large Knee Wrap (Color may vary): Health & Personal Care

dbg

I have also dealt with chronic shoulder pain in the past. I have had numerous injections (down through the top of my shoulder) with fantastic success. It usually eliminates the pain for years. It has now been 3+ years since my last instance of shoulder pain.

My orthopedic shoulder guy has offered to scope it to remove offending burs or irritation points, but he also admitted that my approach of occasional injections for chronic pain that won't go away --is a reasonable way to proceed even long term (or rest of life time).

Pamestique 

My best friend, who is 11 years younger than me, takes so many meds that he has that daily/weekly pill box - I am 63 and take nothing other than seasonal allergy medication (Nasocort) and occasionally Aleve/Tylenol (always together) if I tweak something. I think I am lucky - for all the injuries and surgeries I 've had, I am remarkedly pain free or tolerant. When I get up in the morning, ok, yes, takes me alittle while to stretch out the legs and back but after that I am OK. I believe cycling keeps me flexible and limber (key to pain management) and my body younger... the day I stop, I assume my body will freeze up!

downtube42

Cycling causes my body to generate whatever's necessary to reduce most of the aches and pains from a desk job.

When I overdo it, typically monthly since I discovered randonneuring, I resort to Ibuprofin.

gevad 

Coffee in the morning, beer in the evening, and that's it. I'm 63.

goldfinch

Most musicians end up with overuse injuries. I have a bad case right now, I was practicing about three hours a day getting ready for an event. Over did it and now I am off the flute and hoping I'll be ready to play in a few days. I don't play through pain and I don't play after taking an anti-inflammatory as I worry I will injury myself further. Being off the flute is harder for me than being off the bike.