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Alternatives to NSAIDS: 6 Options Instead of Ibuprofen
Blog > Alternatives to NSAIDS
It’s very common to reach for the ibuprofen when you feel joint or musculoskeletal pain as a way to feel relief. But you want to be very careful not to overuse nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs — better known as NSAIDs; because there are some concerning health risks with regular use.
According to a published report from Harvard Medical School, those risks include stomach ulcers, kidney damage, and increased risk of heart issues like high blood pressure, heart attack, stroke, heart failure, or cardiovascular disease. The products involved are over-the-counter ibuprofen. You may be familiar with the brand names Advil and Motrin. Additionally, there are concerns with naproxen, also known as Aleve, and prescription-only NSAIDs — although some studies show naproxen to have the smallest risk.
Here’s what you should be aware of with NSAID risk:
- The higher the dosage and the longer you take it, the risk for heart issues increases.
- Non-aspirin NSAIDs appear to be associated with higher risk of heart problems.
- The risk is greatest in those with known heart disease or multiple risk factors.
6 Alternatives to NSAIDs
So, what do you do if you’re experiencing acute or chronic pain and need relief without NSAIDs? If you need to get quick pain relief, you can take acetaminophen. It may be a short-term aid, and it is not an anti-inflammatory. But there are other natural alternatives to NSAIDs.
Here are six concepts that you may want to consider:
Massage
Routine massage can help relax stiff muscles that are overworked and tight due to overuse or pain from joint discomfort.
Supplements
There are some supplements that are believed to help as anti-inflammatories. For example, curcumin, which is taken from turmeric, part of the ginger family, has been used in ancient medicine to reduce inflammation.
Weight Loss
Maintaining a healthy weight will also minimize the pounding on joints like knees and hips.
3 Alternatives to NSAIDs
So, what do you do if you’re experiencing acute or chronic pain and need relief without NSAIDs? If you need to get quick pain relief, you can take acetaminophen. It may be a short-term aid, and it is not an anti-inflammatory. But there are other natural alternatives to NSAIDs.
Here are six concepts that you may want to consider:
Exercise/Yoga
Starting a regular exercise routine can strengthen muscles, taking the work away from aching joints. Yoga is considered a good idea because it involves controlled movements and stretching and is not hard on the joints. It strengthens muscles without high impact on sore joints.
Physical Therapy
To guide you in a safe way, physical therapy is something to consider. You will learn the proper stretches and movements designed to alleviate pain and strengthen.
The physical therapist may incorporate warming compresses to warm up muscles and post-exercise icing to relieve inflammation. P.T. can be challenging. It’s not a quick fix; it’s intended to be a long-term treatment.
Diet
Having a well-balanced diet and exercise plan can assist with your overall health as well as lead to weight loss, which helps your bones and joints.
However, experts also encourage those with chronic pain due to joint discomfort or arthritis to follow the Mediterranean diet. It’s believed the foods eaten with this diet can reduce levels of inflammation, leading to less pain. This diet includes fruits, vegetables, nuts, whole grains, fish, and healthy oils.
Specifically, some of the anti-inflammatory foods are tomatoes, olive oil, spinach, kale, collards, almonds, walnuts, salmon, tuna, strawberries, blueberries, and cherries, to name a few. If you are a coffee drinker —here’s some good news. Studies show coffee may have anti-inflammatory properties.
QC Kinetix Therapies and Supplements
At QC Kinetix, curcumin is one of the main ingredients in our Joint & Bone supplement in addition to Boswellia and collagen type II. These natural anti-inflammatory ingredients serve to improve joint and musculoskeletal tissue health. This supplement is designed using a scientific formula with ingredients specifically tailored to help promote overall joint health, joint mobility, and support joint comfort and can be the alternative to NSAIDs you’ve been looking for.
Our physician-designed supplements complement our clinical therapies. QC Kinetix is a non-surgical regenerative medicine practice dedicated to helping you minimize pain associated with musculoskeletal conditions or injuries. Our goal is to get you back to enjoying your quality of life by utilizing natural restorative biologics.
If you’d like to learn more about our clinical therapies and supplements, request an appointment for a free consultation. We will take time to get to know you and your medical history so that we can provide the best, customized treatment options to get you back to enjoying life without having to take NSAIDs to reduce pain.
Joint & Bone Health Quickstart Program
QC Kinetix Joint & Bone Health supplements help your body to repair and renew injured joint tissues, including cartilage, ligaments, and tendons, while reducing inflammation of the bursae. Unlike steroids or pharmaceuticals, our supplements for joints work with your body to promote healing.
Supplements can boost your overall joint health as part of a general fitness program. However, they are particularly valuable for treating damaged or inflamed and painful joints. The Arthritis Foundation finds that joint health supplements show promise for relieving pain, stiffness, and other symptoms of arthritis.
