Painkillers vs…..?
I remember, before I was a full fledged Hockey Mom, I saw a Tylenol ad that had kids playing hockey and the caption said something like, “don’t let the fever keep them down”. I promptly stood on my soap box and judged, explaining to all who wanted to listen what horrible parenting that is and how is it just another example of drug companies skewing our common sense. If your child is sick, they should be home in bed and the fever (to a point, of course) is there for a purpose, to be a tool for your body to fight the invading virus or bacteria. It is all quite wise and true I know, and I absolutely believe it. Then your child has worked all year to make a certain team and when tryouts start, they come down with something.
Did you notice me in the medicine isle at London Drugs, 5 years ago? I was the one with the low ball cap and dark sunglasses. Sometimes I think the universe works that way to remind us to be careful when we get on a high horse.
So, here I am, 5 years later, ready to call out an Advil ad – but I will do it from a more enlightened and feet-on-the- ground point of view. For example, if you have spent months training for a marathon and by the end of your training your hamstring is not happy with you, but your goal is to cross the finish line next week and to get this bucket list item checked off….I get it. I have been there – but it was my calf – and for the record, I also got help with Massage Therapy, Acupuncture and orthotics. ; ) Goals are awesome and important in life. Sometimes we just have to pick up some pieces when it is accomplished, but it is usually worth it.
But what about day to day exercise and training? That is where we need to slow down and think things through. If we continually medicate a sore area we do a few things: we Band Aid the issue so we don’t need to address it, allowing things to get worse as the injury is reinforced and the body compensates for it and, depending on the medication, continually assault our stomach and/or liver. Take that hamstring for example, if it is just one that is getting sore, it is possible there is a torque in the pelvis. By continuing to train on the twisted pelvis we put more forces through one side of the body and, as our musculoskeletal system obeys the laws of physics, one side will wear out faster than the other; could be your hip or knee or both. (To fully correct for the twisted pelvis there will need to be joint manipulations, specific stretches and targeted muscle strengthening).
More short term, an injured hamstring is not strong so one morning at boot camp when you go to sprint, instead of just re-straining the muscle, the whole muscle tendon tears. Now you are unable to exercise at all while it heals. And we all know how much that sucks.
As we weigh the costs and benefits of managing pain with over the counter medication, it is also important to understand options so you can make an informed decision.
There are many options that work on both pain and inflammation. If you are in Maple Ridge, Roots Natural Organic is an excellent resource. They have very knowledgeable and helpful staff. Alternatively talk to your Naturopathic Dr about options – even including how to eat to reduce inflammation.
I was at a seminar where the Chiropractor for the US Olympic team was presenting. He explained to us that Olympic Athletes do not take Advil (Ibuprofen) for their musculoskeletal injuries and pain due to how it can affect connective tissue repair by how it alters the inflammation response. The tissues heal, according to the research, weaker and less resilient. These athletes would chose Acetominophen (Tylenol) as it works on pain, not inflammation. Ibuprofen also can irritate the lining of the stomach, especially when taken regularly, over time.
So, the take home, to still be able to be active and fit and healthy as we age, it is necessary to take care of musculoskeletal imbalances and weaknesses. Band Aiding it over time to be able to train is not smart and will lead to more injury. That said, sometimes it is a short term tool to be able to triumphantly reach a new goal and have great, empowered memories of the accomplishment.