Painkillers and NSAIDs
(Non-Steroidial Anti-Inflammatory Drugs)
Marc Darrow, M.D.
 

The body's natural healing response is inflammation. Inflammation is the trigger for the cascade of events that follow in wound and injury repair. In my opinion, the moment inflammation became the enemy of healing, is the moment chronic pain started becoming a billion-dollar business for drug companies.

When Ibuprofen was introduced in 1974, it was heralded as one of the great steps in the management of pain. By 1976, two years after its introduction, 1.7 billion tablets had been produced.
 

Today, millions of prescriptions for pain relievers are written annually and tons of aspirin are consumed each day. Yet chronic pain persists. Why?
 

Because these drugs only mask the problem of pain and do not attempt to cure it.
 

Furthermore, these drugs come with their own risks of addiction and unpleasant side effects.
 

If you suffer from myofascial pain, joint pain, arthritis, sprained or strained ligaments, almost any kind of pain, most likely your doctor will prescribe one of the non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, or NSAIDs. These drugs will reduce the inflammation, which in the short-term reduces the pain. However, in the long-term they set you up for more pain and long-term chronic injury and worse.
 

In our practice, many alarmed patients have had to stop the use of NSAIDs because of stomach discomfort, nausea, and dizziness.
 

Why You May Win the Battle, BUT Lose the War

Understandably, people do not like to feel pain and would like to prevent it at all costs. They want immediate relief and getting rid of the inflammation often provides that relief.

The basic truth is that immediate relief does not equal long-lasting relief. Interfering with the body's healing process by stopping inflammation to reduce pain causes long-term suffering down the road.

Inflammation does cause pain, but, pain can be your friend. It is the body's siren alerting you that you have injured yourself. Getting rid of inflammation with NSAIDs provides some immediate relief from pain. It sets you up to win the battle, but lose the war.

By stopping inflammation we shut down the body's natural healing which inhibits the growth of new tissue.

Inflammation, and the accompanying pain, are actually your allies in healing.