Worse Than Expected....

Frequent readers to this blog (or those with the ability to scroll down the page) will know that I had a milestone last night- my first training injury! While I was excited (well, maybe excited is the wrong word) about my scrape/fall, the severity of it didn't really occur to me until this morning. I spent the rest of last night walking around normally, my leg slightly sore, but not thinking much of it. I woke up this morning and was not prepared for the amount of pain that had somehow managed to manifest itself overnight. I could barely swing my leg out of bed. I stood up and was a little wobbly, and the trip downstairs to the bathroom took what seemed like 5 minutes. It was a struggle to even lift my leg over the side of the tub so i could get in the shower.

After the painful ascension back upstairs to my room, I called my mom, somewhat frantic, to ask what to do. She told me that since I could put weight on it, it probably wasn't broken, just bruised. She told me to take some Advil or Ibuprofen and take it easy. I told that I didn't have either of those, but I did have Tylenol...which got me thinking (and thus the reason for this posting), what, exactly is the difference between the various types of over the counter pain relievers? Again, I turned to my trusty friend Google (god, where would I (and the rest of the world, for that matter) be without Google? seriously?!) to investigate and find out what the difference was, once and for all. Google directed me to a WikiAnswer site, and they were able to shed some light on my inquiry:

Pain Reliever: Aspirin
Over-the-counter brands: Bayer, Bufferin
Ah, good old aspirin, or acetylsalicylic acid, as the science-savvy call it. The first over-the-counter pain reliever to see mass production, aspirin gets absorbed into the bloodstream and essentially “looks” for prostaglandins, substances that are concentrated where we feel pain. In short, aspirin reacts with our blood chemistry to inhibit the enzyme cyclooxygenase, which in turns limits the volume of prostaglandins. As you undoubtedly know, aspirin is used to treat headaches of all sizes, to quell minor body aches and pains, and to reduce inflammation when we’re sore. But what are the problems with aspirin as an over-the-counter pain reliever? Among other things, it’s rough on the upper digestive tract (can cause upset stomach, heartburn, and even dyspepsia), it’s bad for hemophiliacs (because it’s an anticoagulant), and it’s not always safe for kids (because it’s linked to Reye’s syndrome). That said, aspirin is still the most common over-the-counter pain reliever, available in both brand names and generic versions. And now it’s also playing a role in the treatment of heart disease.

Pain Reliever: Ibuprofen
Over-the-counter brands: Motrin, Advil
Ibuprofen is chemically similar to regular aspirin and functions in an analogous way, minimizing the production of prostaglandins, though it accomplishes this with slightly different chemical reactions. So how is ibuprofen different from aspirin? In lower doses, ibuprofen seems to irritate the esophagus and stomach lining less than its close cousins, aspirin and naproxen. If you have ulcers or acid reflux disease, ibuprofen may be the best product for pain clearly resulting from inflammation (arthritis, sprains, sunburns, etc.).

Pain Reliever: Naproxen
Over-the-counter brands: Aleve
Although it is used for headaches, naproxen is especially effective as an anti-inflammatory agent. For arthritis, sprains, sunburns, and other inflammation-based pain, naproxen seems to edge its competition. Many women suffering from menstrual cramps also report that naproxen is more effective than standard aspirin (but as a man, I can’t really confirm that!). The other difference between naproxen and its chemical kin? Similar doses of this over-the-counter pain reliever tend to last longer—often for 8-12 hours instead of 4-8 hours.

Pain Reliever: Acetaminophen (sometimes called paracetamol)

Over-the-counter brands: Tylenol
As they used to sing on Sesame Street: “One of these things is not like the other!” And such is the case for acetaminophen. This pain reliever lowers fevers and soothes headaches effectively, but it is NOT an anti-inflammatory substance. As a result, it won’t do much for arthritis or sprains. Of course, acetaminophen has some key trade-off benefits, including a milder effect on the upper digestive tract than other over-the-counter pain relievers. It is less irritating to the lining of the stomach, making it the best headache treatment for people with acid reflux disease, ulcers, and the like. Acetaminophen is also safer for hemophiliacs and children than aspirin and its friends. There are various permutations of acetaminophen on the market, so be sure to see what else it’s partnered with and whether drowsiness may result from the combo. And alas, because its usual dosage for pain relief and its overdose amount are not incredibly different, some doctors consider acetaminophen to be more dangerous than aspirin, arguing that it is easier to overdose unintentionally.

Interesting...I for one didn't know that it was possible to over-dose on Tylenol. So, for the rest of the day/duration of my pain, I will become best friends with a bottle of Bayer, and make sure that I drink an entire glass of water with each dose. I remember in 9th grade health class Mrs. Kiriu saying that if you take aspirin, there is a good chance they can burn a hole in your stomach. Being only in the 9th grade, the thought of something burning a hole in my stomach scared the hell out of me, and since then I've always been somewhat afraid of aspirin. I'm glad my research today has debunked that myth!...sort of...

Sadly, this puts my training schedule on hold until at least Saturday, but I should still be able to do the 5k on Sunday. I hope....