Many patients come to WWSPT for inflammatory issues of tendons, joints, and the spine. Frequently, when discussing issues with their doctors, patients are asked, “Have you taken anything for your pain?” At WWSPT, our Staff also asks patients “What medications have you taken or have been prescribed for you?”  Quite often, the response is “yes, I took _ _ _ _ _ but that medication didn’t help.”

In our world of Over the Counter medications, there can be a mistake in the use of medicine for relief of pain versus reducing inflammation. I try to make certain that I ask patients how they are using their OTC medications, such as “How long?” “How Much?” And “How often did you take IT?”

The answer I often hear tells me that patients need to be counseled on the use of Non Steroidal Anti inflammatory (NSAIDs) such as Motrin, Advil, or Aleve. For these NSAIDs to act as headache relief or pain relief they can be taken as needed; 1-2 pills depending on the severity. But for use as NSAIDs, the dose of 2-3 pills needs to be taken consistently for 7-10 days and 3 times daily.

It is important to adhere to the dose prescribed on the bottle of medication that you select because it more consistently allows your body to reach the therapeutic dose in the blood stream to be effective as NSAIDs. Many patients (even when instructed by their doctor) frequently use medication for 3 days expecting quick results but see no relief — it  takes this longer to achieve therapeutic dose so it is important to continue for the longer period of time.

Stay the course so that NSAIDs provide effective  results for you.