I stumbled upon an interesting article in Health magazine on pain relief medications. And with ski season upon us, I thought it might be worthwhile to sum it up here (please note that this is not a recommendation on what you should take; you should see your doctor -- or use your own judgement -- for that):
Workout aches: acetaminophen. For relieving delayed-onset muscle soreness from working out, mild arthritis pain and stiffness, headaches, and mild to moderate joint and back pain.
Painful periods: ibuprofren. It’s also good for pain caused by acute inflammation from muscle sprains, tendonitis, and bursitis, and for irritation and redness from cuts and bruises. Experts say it’s a good choice for injuries where there’s swelling.
Killer headaches: caffeine combos such as Excedrin and Anacin.
Long lasting relief: Naproxen sodium.
Arthritis: Etodolac (by prescription)
There's a lot more in the article: who shouldn't take what, what to look out for, etc. But if you want to read it in full, go here.
Workout aches: acetaminophen. For relieving delayed-onset muscle soreness from working out, mild arthritis pain and stiffness, headaches, and mild to moderate joint and back pain.
Painful periods: ibuprofren. It’s also good for pain caused by acute inflammation from muscle sprains, tendonitis, and bursitis, and for irritation and redness from cuts and bruises. Experts say it’s a good choice for injuries where there’s swelling.
Killer headaches: caffeine combos such as Excedrin and Anacin.
Long lasting relief: Naproxen sodium.
Arthritis: Etodolac (by prescription)
There's a lot more in the article: who shouldn't take what, what to look out for, etc. But if you want to read it in full, go here.