When knee pain starts, many people reach for an over-the-counter (OTC) pain reliever. These treatments can temporarily help reduce pain and are best used for mild-to-moderate pain from an injury or fatigue. They may not be as effective for chronic pain like arthritis, and they do not treat the physical cause of the pain.
Some OTC treatments often used for knee pain are ibuprofen and aspirin. The information below may help you choose an OTC treatment. You should also talk with your GP about the best OTC treatment for your specific situation.
Ibuprofen
Ibuprofen belongs to a category of medicines called Nonsteroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs (NSAIDs). They can reduce inflammation, which may help relieve pain.
Many people find ibuprofen to be very effective as a short-term treatment. The effects last for between two and eight hours. The most common short-term side effects of ibuprofen are stomach upset, heartburn, nausea, hypertension and fluid retention. Most people find that taking the medicine with food helps these symptoms.
There are health risks associated with long-term use. It may cause problems such as ulcers and changes in kidney and liver function. It can also reduce your blood’s ability to clot, so if you are taking ibuprofen and need surgery, you will have to stop taking it several days beforehand.
Consultation with your GP should be considered for any treatment option.
Aspirin
Aspirin is an NSAID that has been used for many years to treat all kinds of pain. Like ibuprofen, it can be very good at relieving mild-to-moderate pain for short periods of time.
Anyone younger than 20 years old should not take aspirin because there is a risk of developing a condition called Reye’s Syndrome.1 Like ibuprofen, aspirin can be hard on the gastrointestinal system and may cause stomach pain and upset. It also reduces the blood’s clotting ability and must be stopped several days before any surgery.
Consultation with your GP should be considered for any treatment option.
