What pain reliever do you reach for? Have you considered the different side effects each one can have? What about the damage you are doing to your body, due to the chemicals in that little pill. Let’s discuss the differences. (And some better choices!)

Acetaminophen, which is packaged as Tylenol, relieves pain and reduces fever. Ibuprofen, packaged as Advil or Motrin, is an anti-inflammatory medication that is used to treat moderate pain from conditions like arthritis and menstrual cramps.

There are more than 1,000 medications have been identified as being potentially toxic to the liver. But did you know acetaminophen is the #1 cause of liver failure? Taking too much acetaminophen (Tylenol) is the most common cause of acute liver failure in the US. Acute liver failure can occur after a very large dose, or after higher than recommended doses every day for several days.

Ibuprofen is a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID). It works by reducing hormones that cause inflammation and pain in the body. Ibuprofen is used to reduce fever and treat pain or inflammation caused by many conditions such as headache, toothache, back pain, arthritis, menstrual cramps, or minor injury.

How much is too much?

Acetaminophen is useful for managing chronic pain and mitigating fevers. It does not reduce inflammation, like aspirin and NSAIDs do. (Ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin) or naproxen (Aleve)). In January 2014, the FDA issued a statement advising doctors to stop prescribing combination prescription pain relievers that contain more than 325 mg of acetaminophen per tablet or capsule, not to exceed 4,000 mg per day.

Ibuprofen can increase your risk of fatal heart attack or stroke, it may also cause stomach or intestinal bleeding, which can be fatal. 

Some other ibuprofen side effects are:

• Vision changes
• Shortness of breath with moderate activity 
• Rapid weight gain 
• Skin rash 
• Liver problems 
• Kidney problems 
• Nausea and vomiting
• Bleeding
• Headaches and dizziness 

Natural Pain Relievers (Just to name a few)

If it is a new injury I always recommend ice, ice is nice! If it is an old injury with a flare up, I tell my patients to alternate heat and ice. Stretching is always good for muscle injuries, but make sure not to push it too hard, slow and steady wins the race.

Essential oils are valued for their analgesic effects. There are many ways to benefit from essential oils some people inhale them (aromatherapy), you can include several drops in massage oil and enjoy as part of a therapeutic massage, you can diffuse them, or you can apply to skin for relief.

Change your diet! Anti-inflammatory foods such as fruits, vegetables, unsaturated fats, whole grains, beans, nuts, and fish high in omega-3 fatty acids help play a role in reducing pain. The Mediterranean diet and DASH diet both contain lots of anti-inflammatory foods and have been linked to reduced disease risk and better heart health. Kicking gluten, dairy and sugar to the curb can help reduce pain, by reducing inflammation in the body.

Tumeric: Curcuma, the active ingredient in the spice turmeric, has pain-relieving qualities. A small-scale 2014 studyTrusted Source found that curcuma extract is as effective as ibuprofen for pain management in the treatment of knee osteoarthritis when a person takes it for 4 weeks. Turmeric is also a common herbal remedy for reducing inflammation. To include turmeric in its natural form in the diet, try adding it to curries, smoothies, or juices.

Ginger is a root that acts as a natural pain reliever. A 2015 systematic review found that ingesting 2 grams of ginger per day modestly reduced muscle pain from resistance exercise and running when people took it for at least 5 days.

Acupuncture is an alternative therapy that can help reduce pain. The National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NCCIH) states that acupuncture can help with certain types of pain, including: low back pain, neck pain, osteoarthritis or knee pain. It may also reduce how frequently people get tension headaches and could help prevent migraine headaches.

Chiropractic!! Chiropractic care is whole body health. No only can it help relieve pain, it can prevent future pain by restoring spinal health. Much like balancing and rotating tires, your spine along with your hips need to be corrected to keep from damaging wear and tear on the joints. If you’re willing to straighten your teeth and brush them everyday, why wouldn’t you be willing to correct and keep your spine healthy as well?

Chiropractic

Chiropractic can help so many ailments from pain, to correction, to digestion, to breastfeeding, to helping shingles, and the list goes on. Your spine is the casing of your wiring (nerves) which controls EVERYTHING in your body. It should be more important to take care of.

If you have any questions on how chiropractic can help you stop grabbing a pain reliever give us or a chiropractor near you a call!

~Dr. Lacey~
Carder Chiropractic Clinic, INC.
El Reno, OK 73036