Naproxen and Exercise: How to Use Packet Pain Relief Safely
Everyone gets muscle soreness after a long run or tough session of gym work. This usually lasts for 2-3 days and you can go back to training as normal within a day or two. However, there is a point where normal post-workout soreness turns into pain that stops you from doing physical activity and at this point people tend to reach for anti-inflammatory pain relief. One of the most common anti-inflammatory pain relief drugs available in the UK is a called naproxen, sold under brand names such as Naprosyn. It is best to learn about this before you reach for the packet.
Naproxen is a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) that stops production of certain enzymes by the body called prostaglandins. These enzymes are responsible for production of pain-causing chemicals in the body as well as inflammation and a high temperature. For this reason Naproxen is better for treating of inflammatory types of pain, such as knee joint pain, painful shin splints or other types of deep pain in muscles and tendons after exercise, for example after heavy weightlifting, than for a simple headache for example.
Why Athletes and Gym-Goers Reach For It
Why use Naproxen? Well firstly, a lot of inflammatory pain feels worse than normal pain. So for instance, if you’ve got a knee problem then taking an anti-inflammatory will reduce the swelling and also the pain. So it’s often better for things like this than taking something to mask the pain. It’s also used for soreness that lasts for a long time rather than a short amount of time. For example, if you’ve been doing overhead press on Tuesday and your shoulder is aching, then Naproxen would be better for you than Ibuprofen because it lasts longer.
While it is true that taking anti-inflammatory aids like naprosyn pain relief can work against your body while it’s trying to adapt after exercise (soreness caused by exercise is known as delayed onset muscle soreness or DOMS and is a perfectly normal byproduct of exercise in the body’s adaptation to greater demands), the level of interference that Naproxen, etc. can cause is not fully known yet and thus is generally best avoided for normal exercise induced muscle soreness. If you have an injury or are experiencing inflammation-based pain then anti-inflammatory pain relief is certainly recommended but for simple soreness caused by your last bout of exercise then it’s generally best to let it heal by itself.
Getting the Dosing Right
Naproxen is available over the counter (OTC) from pharmacies across the UK, including a lower strength version of the medication (Naprosyn) and higher strength versions which are available on prescription from your GP only. The standard dose for pain relief of Naproxen for adults is 250mg, taken with food to reduce the risk of irritation to the stomach and digestive system. Taking Naproxen on an empty stomach can increase the risk of irritating the gut lining. If you have ever suffered from stomach ulcers or any other digestive problems, speak with your GP before taking Naproxen regularly for pain relief.
Combining Naproxen with Ibuprofen can increase the risk of potential side effects while not providing any additional benefit for pain relief. Therefore, aspirin, another NSAID, must also be used with caution and only under the guidance of your pharmacist or doctor if you are taking it for cardiovascular reasons.
Timing It Around Training
Whether to take Naproxen before or after exercise is a question that has been considered by many. Clearly, if someone has chronic joint pain or an inflammatory condition then their GP will have provided them with guidance on the best course of action but for most people using pain relief after an injury will be most appropriate. Taking after exercise and with food for example is best practice. If you’re training while suffering with painful inflammation then do not expect the pain to disappear while you’re training and that Naproxen will act as some kind of protective shield – it won’t.
Recovery from activity at rest is far more important than using pain relief tablets. Sleep, protein after exercise, reducing the intensity of work on the muscles and so on are all far more important than naproxen for example. The tablets are for specific occasions and not a means to continue exercising when the body needs time to recover from activity. Using pain relief on a regular basis in order to complete sessions of work on the muscles is an indication that aspects of training and/or recovery need to be addressed and not a reason to increase the dose.
Used within the correct dosage for the appropriate period of time and with due recognition of the limits of use of the drug for pain relief, Naproxen can be of great assistance to individuals with inflammatory-type pain preventing participation in sport and activity. It is not a ‘shortcut’ to allowing increased frequency of physical activity.