bobwysiwyg

Thought it worth posting. Ibuprofen has been my go to helper for years. 😕

https://www.nytimes.com/2017/07/05/w...g-promo-region

Rollfast

I had really high creatinine levels when I had to be transported by helicopter to a trauma center but they told me it was about lithium carbonate sickness. I have been told I'm supposed to be allergic to NSAIDs. but do you think I'd take dope or something instead?

(not a serious questions at all)

I still occasionally take two 325 mg aspirin once or twice a day when my back or hips get really back. Screaming is not much of an option.

wolfchild

I don't use painkillers...I find that active recovery is more effective and healthier for post-workout DOMS than any drug. Even when I had some painful tendonitis a couple of times in my life from doing too much, I still refused to take any painkillers and eventually the pain just went away without taking any drugs.

mcours2006

If a pain is mild enough to be alleviated by an Advil I probably wouldn't bother. Just rest. If the pain is bad enough that I need relief, I think I'd be well past Advil.

Advil not good for kidneys. Tylenol not good for liver.

canklecat

I've seen the research regarding the effects of NSAIDs on prostaglandins, but some of us don't have much alternative. It's fine in theory for competitive athletes and folks who are already reasonably free of injuries. Not so great in practice for folks who've already had serious injuries and less than successful recoveries.

However I have cut back and try to avoid ibuprofen on workout days.

On good days the workout itself helps relieve pain, up to a point. But beyond 30 continuous miles an old neck injury and permanent C2 damage begins to kick in. On every metric century I've limped home in pain the final 10-15 miles. Last weekend I tried a full standard century but finished with 75 miles, and I could barely hold my head up to see the road the last 10 miles. The next day I needed a small dosage muscle relaxer (5 mg) and ibuprofen, along with alternating between hot and cold packs and soaking in a warm bath with Epsom salts.

My next step will need to be local injections of anti-inflammatories to control the neck pain, since surgery on the C2 isn't feasible.

work4bike

I love the hypocrisy of those that use these NSAIDs, yet are always B*tching about BigPharma

I do wonder how much the big companies make off these drugs, which at best are a waste of money and at worst, all the studies are true....

Carbonfiberboy 

The vast majority of the time, taking Vitamin I is counterproductive because as noted above, it suppresses prostaglandins which are necessary for recovery. The message is: take ibuprofen, keep that injury. Stop taking it, heal that injury. The minority of the time it's an irritated tendon sheath which swells up an can't heal unless the swelling is suppressed. Ibuprofen works for that. The trick is to figure out what's going on and take appropriate action. A simple test is to take 600mg 3 X day for a week and see if the pain goes away and doesn't return. If so, you fixed it. If not, ibuprofen isn't going to fix it.

IME what fixes injuries in almost all cases is carefully targeted weight work. Strong muscles hold things together, keep thing aligned, and prevent pain. Of course building strong muscles will result in muscle pain, but muscle pain is a good thing. It means you're doing the right thing. Fight it with good nutrition, plenty of protein, that sort of thing, not with drugs. If you're experiencing pain from or during exercise, the person to see is your certified personal trainer at your gym. I have yet to see a case where this didn't help.

TGT1

The trick is to figure out what's going on and take appropriate action.

What he said!

Weight work can be viewed ad physical therapy.

work4bike

You may be right, I don't know since I don't use the stuff, but after reading your post I went to the store and read the instructions on a few bottles and that's not what the labels say. But maybe it should or maybe they should actually be a prescription medication...

Carbonfiberboy 

Labels are written by lawyers, not doctors. For the medical view of dosage off the interwebs: https://reference.medscape.com/drug/...uprofen-343289

This link shows an OTC max dosage of 1.2g/day, or 400mg 3 X day or 600mg twice a day. IME inflammation doesn't respond to less than a 600mg dosage, which agrees with the inflammatory dosage shown. It is important not to just keep taking it w/o a doctor's supervision, which is the reason I said no more than a week.

Years ago I tore a knee meniscus, but that was a self-diagnosis which my doctor wouldn't believe because I was still active, riding, walking, etc. He said that was impossible. So I went on our annual 10-day backpack, kind of dragging that leg behind me. I took 600mg in the morning, then 200mg every 2 hours all day, so maybe 1.4g/day total. That worked. When I got back, I kinda got up on the doctor's desk and insisted, so he ordered an MRI and sure enough, I was right, he was wrong. I had the surgery a week later. I have a high pain tolerance.

noglider 

I take ibuprofen for pain after an unusually long ride, the kind I take only three or four times a year. I figure that kind of usage isn't very harmful.

Tabagas_Ru

There is an interesting study by Hauser (2010) that shows that NSAIDS contribute to worsening of arthritis and increase the need for joint replacement.
It is an open access article.
The Acceleration of Articular Cartilage Degeneration in Osteoarthritis by Nonsteroidal Anti-inflammatory Drugs - Journal of Prolotherapy

Personally I will not take NSAIDs, I believe they are detrimental to health in many ways. I will take Tylenol very occasionally. I like to use natural methods or a TENS machine.

Myosmith

People, in general, way overuse OTC painkillers. It's as if we believe we should never have any level of discomfort and will even take NSAIDs prophylactically just in case something might hurt later. Drives me crazy to see teens and young adults popping ibuprofen, acetaminophen, aspirin and naproxen as if they were Skittles.

I find that the vast majority of my pains can be managed through stretching, yoga/pilates, exercise, pressure points, good nutrition and adequate sleep (funny how those nagging aches and pains seem to abate when you are properly nourished and rested). Ice, hot showers/baths and the use of paraffin treatments also help a lot. There are also times when you just have to suck it up when you are achy after a workout, a hard ride or when you have a relatively minor injury.

Tylenol and NSAIDs are valuable aids when used properly, but overuse comes with serious consequences.

wolfchild

The only time I would consider taking NSAIDs is if I had a serious headache, and I haven't had one for many years...I never had any pain from cycling. What type of pain are cyclists experiencing that forces them to take painkillers ??

canklecat

I rarely took analgesics years ago when I was younger and rode a lot. Maybe once or twice a year. We take a lot for granted when we're younger and healthier. Or even older and healthier.



But now my aches and pains are mostly related to injuries from a car wreck several years ago. My compact car was t-boned by a large SUV. Broke six vertebrae, two in each major region, and the C2 is permanently damaged. If it shifts the wrong way the cervical spine nerves get pinched. I get blinding headaches from the neck pain and my blood pressure skyrockets temporarily. The muscles between my neck and shoulder feel like knotted rope.



I had prescriptions for oxycontin, less potent opiates and muscle relaxers, but I rarely use them. A month's prescription for oxycontin back in 2001 lasted me 10 years because I hated the effect -- makes the skin feel creepy crawly -- so I took it only when the pain was excruciating. Haven't needed it in several years.



Exercise for strengthening and flexibility help somewhat but long rides on any bike -- upright hybrid or drop bar road bike -- result in some pretty painful neck aches. I'm good for 20-30 miles. Beyond that I'll be taking a fistful of ibuprofen before bed or the next day. Usually the residual effects of body chemistry, whatever it is -- endorphins, serotonin, oxytocin, dopamine, voodoo -- will stave off pain for a couple of hours after a ride. But it'll come roaring back before the next morning.


I'm planning to tackle a standard century Sunday or Monday, so we'll see how it goes. I turn 60 Monday but I've already ridden a few metric centuries this year, including every weekend the past couple of months to prepare for a solo 100 miles.



The mistake I made on some metric centuries earlier in the summer was trying to tag along with a relatively fast local group. I expended so much energy trying to maintain their 18 mph pace that I was miserable after 50 miles and could barely hold my noggin up to finish the last 10-15 miles. It was good for conditioning, but not for finishing. I'll ride the standard century at my own pace, probably 14-15 mph if all goes well. Today -- Saturday -- is much too windy even for safety, let alone comfort, but Sunday looks goood.



I won't take ibuprofen before the ride but will carry some in a small first aid kit in the saddle bag. I might take a tube of analgesic muscle rub too. Who knows whether the menthol, salicylate, etc., actually penetrates and does any good -- it may just be the massage that does the real work. I plan to stop as often as necessary, at least every 20-25 miles, to stretch.


Ice helps relieve the neck pain too, although that's hard to access on the road even if I carry it with me. During the summer I'd freeze Mylar water pouches and stuff 'em in my jersey pockets. But they usually thawed within an hour. I noticed electrolytes keep water frozen longer so on some longer rides my Polar insulated bottle was still ice cold when the plain water bottles were tepid. To keep ice packs frozen longer I'd need to take the hybrid with rear rack and an insulated bag to hold the ice packs. And I may eventually do that next summer for longer rides.



I may eventually switch to a recumbent but I'm not quite ready to give up on the standard bikes yet.