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CAN I TAKE ANTI-INFLAMMATORY
AGENTS?
Ross Hauser, M.D.
Anti-inflammatory medicine, like Motrin,
Advil, aspirin, Clinoril, Volteran,
prednisone, and
cortisone, all inhibit the
healing process of soft tissues. The long term detrimental effects far outweigh
the temporary positive effect of decreased pain. Aspirin does have a beneficial
effect on the heart, but a detrimental effect on soft tissue healing. When a
ligament or
tendon is injured, prostaglandins are released which initiate vasodilation in non-injured blood vessels. This enables healthy blood vessels
to increase blood flow and immune cell flow to the injured area to begin the
repair process. The use of anti-inflammatories inhibits the release of
prostaglandins thus ultimately decreasing the blood flow to the injured area.
Nonsteroidal
anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) have been shown to produce short-term pain
relief but leave long-term loss of function. NSAIDs also inhibit proteoglycan
synthesis, a component of ligament and
cartilage tissue.
Proteoglycans are
essential for the elasticity and compressive stiffness of
articular cartilage
(see also
Articular
Cartilage Growth)
and suppression of their synthesis has significant adverse effects on the joint.
NSAID prescription for
acute soft tissue injury is considered standard practice. The administration of
NSAIDs, in combination with the
RICE treatment, nearly eliminates the body's
ability to heal. Is it any wonder so many people live with
chronic pain? In our
opinion the current medical treatment for acute soft tissue injuries is
contributing to this epidemic.
NSAIDs are the mainstay
treatment for acute ligament and tendon injuries, yet efficacy in their
usefulness is lacking. Worse yet is the long-term use by people with chronic
pain. Studies in the use of NSAIDs for chronic
hip pain revealed an acceleration
of
arthritis in the people taking NSAlDs.
The end result of taking
NSAIDs for pain relief is an arthritic joint. How many times has Motrin or any
other NSAID cured a person of his or her pain?
Prolotherapy eliminates the cause
of chronic pain and often cures the person's pain. Even long-term aspirin use
has been associated with accelerating
hip damage from arthritis.
NSAIDs are truly
anti-inflammatory in their mechanism of action. Since all issues heal by
inflammation, one can see why long-term use of these medications will have
harmful effects.
Osteoarthritis and other chronic pain disorders are not an
Indomethacin or other NSAID deficiency. This is why the use of these drugs will
never cure any disease. Their chronic long-term use will not cure, and will
actually hamper soft tissue healing and accelerate the arthritic process.
Prolotherapy, because it
stimulates inflammation, helps the body heal. Prolotherapy stops the arthritic
process and helps eliminate the person's chronic pain, often permanently. NSAIDs
should not be taken while undergoing Prolotherapy because they inhibit the
inflammation caused by the treatment. For that matter, anyone with chronic pain
should seriously consider stopping NSAIDs and starting Prolotherapy.
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