Be careful when taking an anti-inflammatory medication
Dr. David Geier is an orthopedic surgeon and sports medicine specialist in Charleston, South Carolina and Charlotte, North Carolina. He helps athletes and active people feel and perform their best, regardless of age, injuries and medical history. He has been featured in major media publications and shows over 2,500 times throughout his career.
I had a patient come see me in my office a few days ago. He had been taking 2400 mg of ibuprofen every day for months to try to get over an ankle injury. That amount of anti-inflammatory medication might be high for most of us, but we often use these medicines to try to decrease pain and swelling after an injury.
When can taking an anti-inflammatory medication actually be harmful? And what should we do instead?
Since we can buy medications like ibuprofen or naproxen over the counter, we might assume that they’re completely safe. Generally athletic people don’t have problems taking them occasionally for minor injuries, but they should take some simple precautions.
In this video, I explain some of the side effects these medications can have, what medical problems can make these medications dangerous and much more.
Quick tips for a variety of sports- and exercise-related bone and joint injuries - Learn when those injuries could be serious and what you should do about them.
Through the stories of a dozen athletes whose injuries and recovery advanced the field (including Joan Benoit, Michael Jordan, Brandi Chastain, and Tommy John), Dr. Geier explains how sports medicine makes sports safer for the pros, amateurs, student-athletes, and weekend warriors alike.
