Alternatives to Ibuprofen

**polishillusion** · Posted On: 3/11/2007 8:02pm

dissolve an aspirin in water and drink it with two glasses right after.

**Judah Maccabee** · Posted On: 3/12/2007 12:36am

For dealing with shin splints, you want to strengthen up those muscles.

You know calf raises? Now it's time to do toe raises. Suspend your toes over the edge of a step while holding the bannister for balance. Slowly let your toes point towards the ground through a full range of motion. Now flex your ankle up so your toes point upwards. Repeat.

People who haven't done this before might have a hard time doing reps. Also, it'll be hard at first determining just how far off the step you put your feet.

If these are too hard for you, take off your shoes and socks (barefoot), sit in a chair, and put a towel on the ground completely rolled out and flat. You should be positioned on the edge of the towel. Using your toes, bunch up the towel like you were grabbing it with your toes. Then, push the towel back with your toes.

This is on top of the other advice of stretching your calves, achilles, gastrocnemius, and so on. Icing after a run/workout is also recommended.

**mutex8** · Posted On: 3/12/2007 11:24am

Echoing what Judah Macabee said. I found this program on teh Intarweb that may be helpful as well http://smiweb.org/massage/downloads/achilles.pdf

**lechuza** · Posted On: 3/15/2007 1:06pm

My wife was recently prescribed Lodine (Etodolac) for tendonitis. It's an anti-inflamatory drug that's supposedly easier on your liver...i don't know much else about it.

**Donkey_Fizzle** · Posted On: 3/15/2007 1:32pm

If your a regular Ibuprofen user then you'll have a tolerence to it. Try switching to Naproxen Sodium for a while. I alternated doses myself.

**Judah Maccabee** · Posted On: 3/15/2007 7:46pm

I'm personally on two tabs of Diclofenac Sodium a day to deal with my herniated disc in my neck. I've been on it for about 7 months now, no tolerance, and there's a notable difference on days when I don't take it.

**Poo-Jitsu** · Posted On: 3/16/2007 1:48pm

Originally Posted by tabwyo

If your a regular Ibuprofen user then you'll have a tolerence to it. Try switching to Naproxen Sodium for a while. I alternated doses myself.

there are some studies that suggest (at least in lab rats) that alleve (naproxen sodium) can slow down the healing process in tendons and ligaments. probably meaningless but you may want to consider it before using alleve after an injury.

i like omega 3, ice, and reducing intensity after minor injuries.

**Donkey_Fizzle** · Posted On: 3/16/2007 2:01pm

Those same studies also show that healing alone takes longer than with Naproxen. Naproxen isn't the best thing but it's an alternative. Especially for somebody who regularly uses Ibuprofen and has built up a tolerence to it.

**Donkey_Fizzle** · Posted On: 3/16/2007 2:08pm

Originally Posted by Judah Maccabee

I'm personally on two tabs of Diclofenac Sodium a day to deal with my herniated disc in my neck. I've been on it for about 7 months now, no tolerance, and there's a notable difference on days when I don't take it.

Sodium based medications are next to imposible to build an imunity to because of how fast they flush out of the system.

**Luan** · Posted On: 3/17/2007 10:50am

Very informative thread. Just want to give an update. Took a few days off and been taking omega-3 fish oil supplements daily. After a week or so I noticed that my shin splints basically went away (very faint now). Started up some jump rope and light jogging, and haven't noticed any increased soreness or pain. I'll build up gradually with the running and see what happens.