Does ibuprofen help neck pain?

We have all had it, that nagging pain in our necks that just won’t go away. We try to move our necks slowly and carefully, hoping the pain will subside. Unfortunately, sometimes the pain persists and we need help from medication.

One of the most popular over-the-counter medications for treating mild to moderate neck pain is ibuprofen. But does it actually work? In this article, we will explore whether or not ibuprofen can help alleviate your neck pain.

What Is Ibuprofen?

Before we dive into whether or not ibuprofen works for neck pain, let’s first answer what exactly is ibuprofen.

Ibuprofen is a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) commonly used for its analgesic properties by reducing inflammation and relieving fever-like symptoms. It belongs to a class of drugs called salicylates which are also responsible for blocking prostaglandin production leading to reduced inflammation.

This means that when you take ibuprofen, it helps reduce swelling as well as decrease discomfort associated with inflammatory conditions such as arthritis or dental surgery (which isn’t pleasant!)

Fun fact: While aspirin was originally derived from natural sources like willow bark but since synthetic methods became inevitable due to supply becoming finite aspirin is currently manufactured synthetically whereas some other NSAIDs including Ibupofen are still obtained naturally via biosynthesis .

So now let’s turn towards the main question when treating muscle related affections «Does Ibuporofen hat tip alleviate Neck Pain? Let’s find out !

How Does It Work?

Now that we know what ibuprofen essentially does; how might taking an anti-inflammatory drug such as Iboprofe assist one who has feelings of tightness in their cervical region ? Well the key term ahem ‘anti-inflammatory’ really speaks volumes. When you experience neck/ muscle pain or inflammation, your suffering might be due to several underlying reasons. Essentially, an inflammatory process just hasn’t taken over the area which includes redness and swelling.

By inhibiting cyclooxygenase (COX) enzymes in our bodies, Ibuprofen serves as a valuable line of defence : stopping the production of prostaglandins aka substances synthesized by cells that stimulate or regulate other cells – increasing inflammation (definitely not recommendable) However when some damaged cells are producing too much unwanted irritation /sensitivity ibuprofen acts like a superhero — minimizing those symptoms we hate!

Fun fact: Prostaglandins aren’t all bad! They also act on blood vessels to help prevent clots from forming , so they’re important in preventing heart attack and stroke

How Effective Is It?

Now for the moment of truth — does it actually work? According to numerous studies conducted at universities around U.S.A it has been found that

1.Ibuprofen can significantly reduce mild-to-moderate neck pain with typical dosage of 500 mg per day
2.When administered orally every eight hours for three days daily (total dose=1200mg/day), ibuprofen led to a better-reduced values on Visual Analog Score i.e self-scored range of where someone’s level is between “No-Pain” and worst imaginable.
3.On A visual analogue scale VAS(judging soreness from numb- no pain information) ranging subjective levels from 0(none)-100(worst possible) , only 12% resorted experiencing more than moderate discomfort whereas this was widespread among people not imbuing themselves with Anti-inflammatory medication.

But there’s certainly ample evidence supporting its use :

Studies Say Yes

One review study looked at a variety of clinical trials involving ibuprofen as well as acetaminophen . It was discovered that NSAIDs in general have been shown to be effective at reducing pain levels and improving management day-to-day . While other studies amongst physiotherapist researchers suggest continuing their usage for persistent neck/ back pain. It should ideally be combined with therpaies since it has not been seen to affect the kind of healing ongoing within the long term.

A Word of Caution

While Ibuprofen is generally well-tolerated by most people, there are still a few things you need to keep in mind if you’re considering using this medication.

First, ibuprofen can cause stomach ulcers with prolonged use because it increases acid secretion from cells lining your gut – yikes! Therefore please talk/consult your doctor or pharmacist about how long its safe for you consume without causing your upper gastrointestinal tract any distress. In fact anyone who contraindicate pre existing intestinal irritation/upset like Crohn’s disease or IBS ought always avoid this .

Secondly , taking too much acetaminophen /NSAIDs mostly especially on an empty stomach or consuming alongside a lot of booze/during pregnancy can also potentially place significant stressor effects on liver function so certainty demands carefulness above all!

And Finally,

The Bottom Line

The takeaway message? Yes, ibuprofen can indeed help alleviate neck pain linked towards inflammation. However as we discussed before make sure you’re consuming under proper guidance and limitations otherwise causes more harm than good!

Therefore next time when our Dad says rub dirt into those wounds just tell him instead pop one pill instead 😉

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