NSAIDs like aspirin, ibuprofen, and naproxen come with various side effects. Acetaminophen (paracetamol in Europe) is not considered a NSAID on some lists but can cause liver toxicity.
There ARE ways of dealing with pain that don't involve NSAIDs or acetaminophen but they can be cumbersome. NSAIDs are popular because they work and are extremely convenient, allowing us to get on with our lives with minimal changes.
Some alternatives
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| Vibrating massage guns can be a blessing and can help a slightly built person with limited hand-strength to massage your hard-to-reach, aching muscles. |
Massage.
Alternating heat-and-cold.
Stretching.
Compression.
Elevating swollen and inflamed parts.
Longer recovery periods between physical challenges.
Vitamin C mega-dosing
Nutritional supplements like Bromelain, Quercetin, Turmeric, Glucosamine, Chondroitin,
Move the work to a friendlier height or to a location where power-assistance is available.
Prayer.
Meditation.
Bee-stings or nettle stings.
Keeping a journal to noodle-out what triggers pain. Sometimes it is something we ate or the fact that we drank one more cup of coffee than was our habit. Sometimes it is a pair of shoes or a piece of furniture that is crippling us but the pain happens AFTER we use them.
Stoic fortitude.
Physical intimacy with your spouse.
The floor is open to comments for your ideas or things that worked for you.
Disclaimer: I am not a doctor. I am not giving medical advise. Exercise due-diligence before trying any of the practices listed above
I find magnesium oil muscle rub seems to give longer relief than theragesic or Ben-gay or others. I use MG sport gel, from Amazon.
ReplyDeleteA TENS electronic pulse massage unit also seems to help somewhat, with some pain, but not all.
Southern NH
Thank-you for your speedy reply. I was hoping you would chime in.
DeleteAny opinions on Chiropractors?
ReplyDeleteI've found that PT works better. I do enjoy the feeling of going to a chiro.
DeleteChiropractic (which TIL is the noun, I always thought it was Chiropracty) seems to be more about treating pain, not solving it. I see it as similar to a massage. It seems like it would fit the criteria for Joe's list but I don't want to speak for him there.
DeleteAfter a lifetime of abusing my body, all my major joints ache/are inflamed after a workout or in stormy weather. I can't take any NSAIDs or other drugs because of a heart issue, but I have found that the copper infused compression sleeves work surprisingly well. They haven't come up with something for my shoulders yet, but I keep hoping and looking.
ReplyDeleteTurmeric and piperine taken together have an anti-inflammatory effect that's decent. Ginger and cinnamon are spices that also reduce swelling. Peppermint and eucalyptus oil are okay for applying to the skin to reduce pain. These are all less effective than NSAIDS, but are better than nothing.
ReplyDeleteMagnesium (malate or citrate form, NOT Mg Oxide) is helpful with fostering proper muscle/nerve function. Fish oil, at relatively high levels (I take 4 x 1200mg caps daily), is anti-inflammatory - but may have an effect on blood clotting, so discuss with your physician if already on an anticoagulant. Curcumin(turmeric) + piperine is part of our daily regimen, for its anti-inflammatory effect.
ReplyDeleteAs ERJ knows, my wife and I are both retired old-school veterinarians (graduated 40 years ago); she achieved certification in veterinary acupuncture in 1996. Following the acupuncture, we adopted additional adjunct therapies such as cold laser (good for musculoskeletal injuries and skin lesions), ultrasound (musculoskeletal injuries), electrostim (TENS) units, and massage guns. We use all the above on ourselves more than we ever did on animal patients. I have had virtually all of the above-mentioned modalities used on me by physical therapists, chiropractors, etc., following injuries and orthopedic surgeries in the past 10 years. Many of our veterinary colleagues who poo-pooed acupuncture and cold-laser therapy 30 years ago now utiliize those on a daily basis.
Some or all of these instruments are available for purchase and use by the general public.
Many older folks are chronically low on Vitamin D and dietary Vitamin B12 absorption is often diminished as well, so daily supplementation with Vitamins D and B12 can be helpful in overall general health, especially immune system function.
Ibuprofen does wonders for me. But sparingly. One before bed is a real treat for the next day. The good news is the pain is all temporary. I’m on a waiting list (Canadian) for a new shoulder, back, teeth,… I could get my call tomorrow or maybe in 25 years.
ReplyDeleteI have had some good results with chewing willow, birch twigs. The native source of aspirin different feel but effective. Check for the plants in your area. The native salts with it make a different process. ( as with all comments I make do your research)
ReplyDeleteI cannot really speak to non-pharmaceutical remedies. Massage can be helpful (during our recent training in Japan, I saw fellow students go from completely soreness to the opposite after a single shiatsu massage). The massage gun is used by several Heavy Athletes I know, as well as a plastic roller for the legs.
ReplyDeleteStreching can help as well, but it is more of along term solution. Along with that, perhaps warming up appropriately before any activity can be helpful. I am cetainly finding 5 to 10 minutes of simple cutting exercises involving rising and squatting or moving forward and back helps my actual training now that I am gaining mileage.
An occasional knee problem that has bothered me since boyhood responds well to a simple tubular bandage. Arthritis in my thumbs responds well to an old-fashioned hot water bottle.
ReplyDeleteParacetamol helps with some pain but noticeably never does any good for my back. There I have benefited from physiotherapy.
I used to go to an osteopath sometimes for sundry problems - he proved successful. A friend told me that the theory of osteopathy was entirely bogus but the practitioners became expert manipulators so that their treatment often worked well. I suspect there's an interesting general lesson in my friend's opinion.
I had inflammation a few years back. The doc said use ibuprofen. I did and my blood pressure jacked to over 200. The doc didn't warn me and should have. I still can't believe how lax that was.
ReplyDeleteLately, I have a rotator cuff issue and I haven't done anything about it. I have taken ibuprofen on occasion. I have slight numbness in my thumb and forefinger because of it. I will have to mention it when I see the doc about my liver exam on the 28 th.
Stuff is happening now that I didn't figure on. My diet and exercise program needs an upgrade.
Lucas
https://i.pinimg.com/originals/20/e6/f3/20e6f36557334298dbf349ea7a6f97e9.jpg
DeleteMaybe a compressed nerve? The image linked above shows the enervation of the hands.
In the 1960s word began to spread about the efficacy of dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO). It had remarkable pain relieving and injury repair abilities, and was cheap and available without a prescription. When the medical community saw that people were healing themselves with no need for doctors or hospitals they launched a campaign against its use. It became illegal in many states and gradually became less and less used and generally unknown. Today it is generally legal and available, but few are even aware of it. Watch this “60 Minutes” segment from ~1980 and see what you think.
ReplyDeletehttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4XEt0n6LPrk&ab_channel=Clintclinton
Malic acid. It's a major ingredient in some energy drinks but you can buy it in pill form
ReplyDeleteI swear, it really does seem like my joints and tendonitis pains flares up when there’s a storm coming in, or going on. The pain starts to ease as the low moves out. I always thought it was all malarkey when I was young.
ReplyDeleteSouthern NH
Ghost pipes.
ReplyDeletesam
After a five-year layoff, last month I started lifting at the gym again. Daily farm chores just aren't enough to prevent sarcopenia at my age of 68. My squat, deadlift, and press capacity is half of what it was in 2019. But what surprises me is the amount of pain post-workout and how long it lasts. I may have outlived my designed useful lifespan. I now fit the definition of a geezer: everything hurts, and what doesn't hurt doesn't work.
ReplyDeleteLove the geezer definition. I feel every bit of it.
DeleteAm I a geezette? :-)
SNH
I, too, am a citizen of the southern part of the Live Free or Die state.
DeleteI can't take any of the NSAIDs due to blood thinners for AFIB. Tylenol is OK as long as I don't exceed 600 mg/day. Don't quote me on that. I found out last month on a Norwegian cruise that you can't get Tylenol anywhere in Europe due to the liver toxicity issues. Heroin seems to be OK, though. Go figure.
ReplyDeleteThe last time I looked it up, most countries in Europe had restrictions that limited the "pack size" to 8-to-30 grams (16-to-60 500mg tablets).
DeleteMost specifically, the intention was to make suicide-by-paracetamol more difficult. Most suicide attempts were attempts to get attention. The person attempting suicide nearly always got medical care and their stomach pumped out. Higher dosage rates, even with pumping, resulted in more bad-outcomes.
Some alternatives that have worked well in the past (most already listed above):
ReplyDelete1.DO oteopath that does OMM; they help your body help realign itself when it's out of whack more gently than chiropractors
2.Alt. natural NSAIDs- willow bark, prickly ash bark, wild lettuce, Terry Naturally CuraMed acute pain relief has been most effective turmeric. NSAIDs CAN be taken with tylenol-paracetamol so less of each is needed; they are synergistic and tackle pain differently and work better together
3.For some people the peppers biopiperine or capsaicin help but not usually for type A blood or those with nightshade allergies
4. Essential oils peppermint spearmint wintergreen calendula comfrey frankincense-boswellia diluted in carrier oil; DMSO 99% makes these much more effective but may cause some local stinging or garlic body odor
5.Magnesium oil works extremely quickly for cramps
6. Tiger balm white ointment, biofreeze, salon pas patches, nature's willow cream
7. TENS unit with 4 patches applied in an X pattern over the most sore area. One line of the X is one lead with black and red patch cords. The other line of the X has the other lead with black and red cords so the leads cross and the same colors are at top vs bottom ie 2 red at top and 2 black at bottom. Test and change TENS frequency and intensity for your best pain relief since YMMV
8. Heat and cold alternating with massage machine or manual therapy in between both hot and cool cycles. Try massaging your own feet aka reflexology you might be amazed how many sore spots are indicated and relieved by direct pressure on various areas of the soles up to the ankles. Also hands and ears
9. Adequate hydration with essential minerals; most people don't get enough liquid or nutrients especially minerals for their workload
10. Overall adaptogens to strengthen your immune system and help keep you going with less damage or injuries
Bonus: Prayer before, during, after! He created us and Is our Ultimate Healer!
Snowbird
I’m 75 years old. I was once a third dan black belt and practiced various martial arts for maybe a total of twenty years altogether. Now Im just a grumpy old man with a few dirty tricks. In practice I’ve taken several thousand falls on the mat (mostly) and each one took its toll.
ReplyDeleteEvery joint I have hurts. Pain is my constant companion. I don’t take any pain killers. I suck it up. Life hurts so you have to be tough.