This article has been archived. We will no longer be updating it. For our most up-to-date information, please visit our pain management information here. Show As we move merrily along into our so-called midlife, it's not uncommon to feel pesky, everyday aches and pains from things like headaches, back pain, arthritis, sciatica … the list goes on. Because I exercise pretty frequently, it's not unusual for me to feel pain from time to time (yes, I'll admit pushing myself beyond my reasonable limits every once in a while!). Granted, I can't always blame exercise—although I hate to use the age card to start complaining … so I won't. One of my most recent and pleasant discoveries for pain management has been self-massage for various aches and pains; my favorite thing to use is a hand-held massager. But that's not always the only remedy. My medicine cabinet is filled with different over-the-counter pain relievers, among them Tylenol and Advil. And I usually reach for one or the other with no thought given as to why I'm taking that particular one, other than the fact I can no longer stand the pain I'm feeling, or I've run out of one or the other. Which is why a recent article in the Wall Street Journal caught my eye: It's about how all over-the-counter pain relievers do not work interchangeably; apparently they work differently in your body, and they can have different side effects. What's good for a headache is not necessarily good for achy knees. The article says: "Got a headache? Tylenol, or its generic version acetaminophen, might be your best bet since it comes with fewer side effects, many experts say. Inflamed elbow? Advil, whose active ingredient is ibuprofen, is likely to bring greater relief. And if you're trying to bring down a fever, either medication will probably work, although some studies have found Advil to have a slight edge." Who knew? Curious, I scoured the Internet for more info. And sure enough, you need to be selective when choosing which to take for what ailment. The Cleveland Clinic pitted acetaminophen (Tylenol) against ibuprofen (Advil). They reported that Tylenol works better for things like headaches and arthritis, while you're better off with Advil for things like fever, pain and inflammation. Although both medications are considered to be safe, the word "safe" has some caveats:
And it's important to know a few other facts:
If you need an analgesic often (like for treating a high fever or chronic pain), experts advise alternating doses of Tylenol and Advil, which can minimize side effects while providing greater relief. And of course, if you experience any type of allergic reaction, stop taking the medication and seek immediate help. An interesting aside: Two recent studies found that along with dulling your physical pain, acetaminophen might also dull your responses to emotional pain. If all this information is deterring you, there are also other things you can do to treat pain. The American Pain Foundation lists some herbs for pain management:
And don't forget some other, more or less obvious remedies for pain:
This post originally appeared on mysocalledmidlife.net. Which is better to take for back pain ibuprofen or Tylenol?As you may have guessed from the descriptions above, acetaminophen is best used for fever, aches and pains, but will not be very helpful if the pain is due to inflammation. Ibuprofen is more helpful for these symptoms when inflammation is the cause.
What painkiller should I take for lower back pain?Medicines. Ibuprofen (such as Advil or Motrin), available over-the-counter, is an excellent medication for the short-term treatment of low back pain. ... . Acetaminophen (such as Tylenol) and naproxen sodium (Aleve) are also effective in relieving pain.. What antiinflammatory is best for lower back pain?NSAIDs work by lowering inflammation, which in turn decreases back pain.. Best for fast back pain relief: Ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin) ... . Best for all day/night back pain relief: Naproxen (Aleve) ... . Best for back pain relief if you can't use NSAIDs: Acetaminophen (Tylenol). What is the best medicine for back pain?Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), such as ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin IB, others) or naproxen sodium (Aleve), might help. Take these medications only as directed.
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