Inflammation is essential for proper muscle repair (1). Maybe don’t reach for the anti inflammatories too quickly if you think you have a soft tissue issue! Such as ligament sprain, muscle strain, tendon pull and/or fascial restriction.
NSAIDS inhibit prostaglandins that stimulate the process of corrective inflammation in soft tissue injury(1). The interruption occurs when satellite cells are not proliferated by prostaglandins because you’ve taken an NSAID drug – probably seeking pain relief. Ibuprofens, diclofenacs and naproxens may impact a painful experience but can also interfere with collagen synthesis and remodelling at a cellular level. Essential processes in the healing of muscles tendons ligaments and fascia.
These findings have been put forward as good reasoning not to routinely prescribe NSAIDS, where soft tissue injury is suspected. Advice given by Doctors for Doctors (2).
NSAIDs can also affect bowel hydration, arguably the root of the immune system. If your bowel isn’t working correctly and your pain and discomfort (healing) is affecting your sleep then you could become susceptible to an infection.
If a hands on approach to helping your strains and sprains repair efficiently, whilst getting advice on how you might help your pain and hopefully not fall foul of an infection, is interesting to you then…
References
1. Camacho EM et al (2024). Estimating the harm associated with prescribing of oral non steroidal anti inflammatory drugs in England. BMJ;386.e077880
2. Cervoni E (Sept, 2024) Non Steroidal anti inflammatory drugs may disrupt muscle and tissue repair. BMJ 2024;386:q2030