What you should know about topical anti-inflammatories…
Most of my athletic patients want to avoid taking medicine like the plague unless it’s a natural supplement. So instead of telling them to take prescription anti-inflammatories in a pill form such as Aleve, Motrin, Ibuprofen, I have started stressing the use of topical anti-inflammatories for athletic patients seeking foot pain relief.
So what’s the difference between taking a pill versus using an ointment?
- Well first and foremost, there are less adverse effects using a topical anti-inflammatory compared to pills. Taking an anti-inflammatory pill can cause systemic problems such as kidney disease, hypertension, and stomach ulcers with long term usage. Topical anti-inflammatory gels allow the patient to avoid these issues because the medicine is applied directly to the area of injury or pain.
- Topical anti-inflammatories may not be as effective as the anti-inflammatory pills. This statement is partially true. Current research is being conducted on the effectiveness of both forms of anti-inflammatories. It has been found that topical anti-inflammatory gels have been just as effective at pain reduction as the pill-form but no definitive evidence has been found just yet.
If you’re planning on using anti-inflammatories on a daily basis for a long period of time, consider use of a topical form prior to taking an anti-inflammatory pill everyday. Talk with the doctors at Advanced Podiatry at Advanced Podiatry about why you’re experiencing pain and get the treatment you deserve today!
