James Kuegler Coaching
  • Coaching
    • Training Squad
    • Training Programme
    • Workshops, Webinars & Seminars
    • One-on-One Coaching
    • Papakura Track Session
  • Events
  • Articles
  • Team
    • Matt Wheatcroft
    • Aaron Barclay
    • Tim Leeming
    • James Kuegler
  • Workshops, Webinars & Seminars
  • Papakura Track Session
  • Nutrition Programme
  • Store
  • Contact Me

Blog

Which Painkiller Is Best

5/21/2017

2 Comments

 
We are currently the most medicated people to have walked the earth.  There’s a pill for every ill.  In terms of popularity, painkillers are at the heavy end of the list with hundreds of different pain meds available for all sorts of achy ailments.  It’s true that pain is an industry of its own.  
 
So when you’re out for a run, or you’re playing social hockey, and you roll your ankle causing a nasty swollen sprain, which painkiller is best?
Picture
Funnily enough, your best bet is to avoid them altogether!
 
Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are a group of drugs that provide pain-killing, fever-reducing, and anti-inflammatory effects. Common New Zealand examples include Nurofen, Voltaren, Ibuprofen, and Aspirin. These drugs act to block in inflammation pathway, and in doing so reduce pain. They are used in the treatment of acute and chronic conditions where pain and inflammation is present.
 
As you might have already read in our previous article about why you shouldn’t ice an injury, the whole idea of reducing inflammation in an acute injury is flawed.  Inflammation is the first phase of healing.  The inflammatory process is essential for anyone wanting to heal optimally.  To blunt this in-built healing mechanism is not in your best interests.
 
A study of Australian Army Recruits has shown us that although NSAIDs are effective in reducing pain and allowing an individual to return to activity sooner, the same individual fourteen days later will have more inflammation, instability and decreased range of motion compared with those who had avoided the drugs.  Pain is the body’s way of telling you to lighten your load and rest an injured limb.  When we mask the pain with medication or icing we tend to return to play earlier than is appropriate because although the healing has not happened and full function has not been restored, it “feels better” so we get back out there. Health professionals who assess people with pain are taught to be weary of patients who present to their practice having recently taken pain medication because it can significantly alter the presentation of an injury and hence the diagnosis.  Keep in mind, these are just the direct effects of NSAIDs on injured tissue.  Many other non-injury related side effects of pain medications are well documented (you can read them on the side of the packaging!).
 
If you’ve got an old or new injury, or just a niggle, instead of taking another painkiller, I suggest you try the following:

  • Stop exercising immediately.  Remember that the pain is a signal to stop using something because it can’t function as it should be able to. 
  • In the acute stage of the injury (24-48 hours) immobilise the injured area to prevent any further damage.
  • Slowly introduce light movement to the area either by using your hands to gently move it or the muscles around the injury.  Don’t push for any more range of motion than is comfortable.
  • If you simply can’t deal with the pain, and a health professional has already ruled out severe damage, you can opt for minimal periods of compression and/or icing.  If you do opt for icing, only apply the cold for 10 minutes and then leave it off for 20 minutes.  Repeat a few times if necessary.  By breaking up the cold periods, the blood vessels are able to open up and allow cellular and nutrient flow into the injured area. 
  • Clean up your eating.  Eating hearty, healthy real foods packed with micronutrients in the days following an injury will promote powerful healing.  If you eat and drink rubbish like processed foods and alcohol, you’ll perpetuate pain and prolonged recovery.
  • Functional rehabilitation and joint mobilisation and manipulation are all well supported by scientific evidence, so it’s in your best interests to seek appropriate advice is the injury is of significant severity.
2 Comments
Dion Blundell
5/21/2017 11:12:39 pm

I agree, we shouldn't muck around with our bodies systems, and we should listen to it. And I particularly like your line:

"inflammation is the first phase of healing. The inflammatory process is essential for anyone wanting to heal optimally. ... Pain is the body’s way of telling you to lighten your load and rest an injured limb."

An article on listening the ways to listen to our bodies, and how we don't would be useful :-)

Reply
Andy Kenworthy
5/22/2017 11:38:21 am

I was driving my car the other day and the oil light came on. I put some tape over the warning light and decided it was fixed...

Reply



Leave a Reply.

    Picture
    Events
    Coaching
    Subscribe
    Picture

    Categories

    All
    3100 Mile Race
    Abel Tasman
    Adventure Race
    Air New Zealand
    Alps 2 Ocean Ultra
    Altitude
    Andrius Ramonas
    Andy Kenworthy
    Anna Murphy
    Antarctica
    Anthropology
    Anton Krupicka
    Arthritis
    Arthur Lydiard
    ASICS
    Athletics Track
    Auckland
    Auckland Marathon
    Australia
    Back Pain
    Barefoot
    BarefootInc
    Barefoot Ted
    Berlin Marathon
    Bobux
    Brazil
    Buff
    Chamonix
    China
    Christina McGrath
    Christmas
    Chris Webb
    City2Surf
    Claire Fox
    Coaching
    Coconut
    Compulsory Gear
    Comrades Marathon
    Conservation
    Corey Hinde
    Cycling
    Daniel Jones
    Daniel Lieberman
    Danny Garrett
    David Byrne
    Debbie Hardy
    Dylan Bowman
    Efficiency
    Event Of The Week
    Fast Food
    Fiona Hayvice
    Fire Tonic
    Flexibility
    France
    Garmin
    Gary Reinl
    Gear Review
    Germany
    Goals
    Gratitude
    Great Wall Marathon
    Haile Gebrselassi
    Harry Summers
    Haruki Murakami
    Hawke's Bay
    Hawke's Bay Marathon
    Heart Rate Variability
    Heat
    Hollyford Track
    Hydration
    Ian Corless
    Ice
    Inia Raumati
    Injury
    Ironman
    Italy
    Jake Robertson
    Jamaica
    James Kuegler
    Jennie Nicholson
    John Mering
    Jonathan Wyatt
    Jungle Marathon
    Katie Hogue
    Kauri
    Kauri Run
    Keith Crook
    Kelly Starrett
    Kepler Challenge
    Kilian Jornet
    Kiwi Trail Runner
    Kylie Mulcahy
    Lagardere
    Leadville
    Legend Marathon
    Leonid Shvetsov
    Lizzy Hawker
    Lynda Watson
    Macpac
    Majell Backhausen
    Making Tracks
    Marathon
    Marathon Du Médoc
    Mark Colthart
    Martin Dent
    Matthew Battley
    Matt Rayment
    Max Oliviero
    Milford Track
    Mobility
    MobilityWod
    Mont Blanc
    Motivation
    Mountain Bike
    Navigation
    Nelson
    New Zealand
    Nick Hirschfeld
    Nicola McCloy
    Nicole Smyth
    Northburn
    Nuria Picas
    Nutrition
    NZ Herald
    Oamaru
    Pau Bartolo
    Performance Squad
    Personal Locator Beacon
    Pitch
    Poles
    Proprioception
    Psychology
    Pyrenees
    Queen Charlotte Track
    Queenstown Marathon
    Race Around The World
    Race Report
    Race The Train
    Rachael Kingstone
    Recovery
    Reggae Marathon
    Research
    Rob De Castella
    Rotorua
    Routeburn
    Ruby Muir
    Running Economy
    Run/Walk Series
    Run Wellington
    Ruth Croft
    Safety
    Salomon
    Sam McCutcheon
    Shoes
    Sierre Zinal
    Singapore
    SkyRunning
    Sleep
    South Africa
    Spirited Women
    Sportzhub
    Sri Chinmoy
    Sri Chinmoy Marathon Team
    Steve Moneghetti
    Stevie Kremer
    Sue Hardy
    Sundown Marathon
    Susan O'Brien
    Swell Fit Living
    Switzerland
    Synergy Health
    Tanya Cook
    Tarawera
    Technique
    That Fat Loss Blog
    The DUAL
    The Hillary
    The Man In The Arena
    Theodore Roosevelt
    Thomas Watson
    Tim Leeming
    Timothy Noakes
    Toe Spring
    Total Sport
    Trail Running
    Training
    Training Programme
    Ultra Marathon
    UltrAspire
    Ultra Trail Australia
    Ultra Trail Du Mont Blanc
    Ultra-Trail Du Mont Blanc
    United Kingdom
    USA
    UTMB
    Vajin Armstrong
    Vicki Lees
    Vicki Woolley
    Video
    Vivobarefoot
    Wales
    Water
    Wellington
    Wild Things
    Wings For Life
    WUU2K
    Xterra Trail Run
    Zane Robertson
    Zelah Morrall

© 2015 James Kuegler Coaching. All Rights Reserved. ​181 Great South Road, Drury, New Zealand
Picture
✕