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Ibuprofen and Acetaminophen (Tylenol) are common pain
relievers for athletes recovering from an injury or surgery.
Ibuprofen and Acetaminophen (Tylenol) are common pain relievers for athletes recovering from an injury or surgery.
Gianna Liu

Pop, play and pay

As high school athletes face pressure to perform, over-the-counter medication often becomes a quick solution for managing injury and strain; however, what begins as a way to suppress discomfort can eventually lead to dependency, putting both athletic careers and overall health at risk.

Brands like Advil and Aleve are commonly found in retail pharmacies or on grocery store shelves — but they’re also discreetly stashed in backpacks. Buried beneath the textbooks and papers of overwhelmed teenagers, many student-athletes rely on pain relievers to push through the discomfort of their demanding lives.

Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are widely used because they are cheap, available without a prescription and effectively relieve inflammation, fever and pain. Despite their benefits, taking NSAIDs also poses lesser-known risks, such as stomach ulcers, high blood pressure and kidney damage.

The WSS surveyed 25 West athletes on their NSAIDs experiences. (Gianna Liu)

In a survey of 25 West athletes, 76% reported using NSAIDs to alleviate pain or inflammation from their sport and 60% reported not knowing about the risks associated with taking NSAIDs. Varsity track and cross country runner Sam Showers ’25 is one of these student-athletes. With year-round training, Showers is constantly running, which has led to chronic injuries.

“Generally, in running, they are overuse injuries — either you ran too much, or you weren’t ready to run — and that’s likely how I got the stress fracture and tendinitis in my knees,” Showers said.

Because of these injuries, Showers takes NSAIDs to relieve his injuries like tendinitis. Tendinitis is the inflammation of tendons commonly found near knees and heels. It’s typically caused by repeated motions that stress the tendons, which is why it’s a common injury for runners. Symptoms can include dull aches, tenderness and mild swelling —  making NSAIDs a simple choice for Showers. Similar to tendinitis, stress fractures — small cracks in the bone — are also caused by repetitive force, creating tenderness and swelling. However, distance runners aren’t the only athletes prone to chronic injuries; Sophie Bodin ’25, a varsity volleyball, basketball and golf player, has also developed stress fractures in addition to kneecap dislocations

“I dislocated my kneecap twice, then had knee surgery to fix it. Now, during basketball season, I have shin splints, which are leading to stress fractures in my shins,” Bodin said.

Bodin also takes NSAIDs to relieve her symptoms. Although Bodin and Showers have dealt with similar injuries, their use of NSAIDs differs; Showers consistently uses NSAIDs to continue training with his injury in pursuit of athletic goals.

“When [the pain] is bad, [I use] 12-hour painkillers to reduce the inflammation and pain of the injury so I can keep running,” Showers said. “I’m trying to do everything I can to relieve the injury to keep practicing.”

On the contrary, Bodin used them to mitigate the pain from her knee surgery. Regardless, both Showers and Bodin use NSAIDs for one reason that many athletes face: to alleviate pain and inflammation while competing.

“After surgery, I used a lot of pain relievers because surgery is invasive. But after that, I never had to rely on painkillers while playing. I never had to take something and think, ‘Oh, I need to get through this game, I’d better take something.’ It was more like, ‘Maybe I want this game to be easier,’” Bodin said.

Dr. Deanna McDanel, a clinical associate professor at the University of Iowa College of Pharmacy and a clinical pharmacy specialist in ambulatory care, explains that NSAIDs are a good method of relieving inflammation and pain, but shouldn’t be utilized as a permanent solution. 

“NSAIDs can decrease inflammation and relieve pain, allowing athletes to work through training. If there is a more severe injury, the use of NSAIDs can be a ‘Band-Aid’ and could allow pushing through the pain. Thus, if the injury is not appropriately evaluated by a trainer or medical provider, it could get worse over time,” McDanel said.

In addition to worsening the original injury, McDanel notes that chronic use of NSAIDs can develop more issues.

“Chronic use or overuse could lead to stomach ulcers, high blood pressure, kidney damage and an increased tendency for bleeding, especially in the gastrointestinal tract,” McDanel said. “There are some people who are at a higher risk for these things, and students with underlying stomach, intestinal, kidney, heart or blood disorders should use caution and consult with a medical provider prior to taking an NSAID.”

Although Showers consistently uses NSAIDs, he also employs other non-pharmacologic interventions for relieving pain.

“I ice multiple times a day, and rolling and massage guns are a big [help] too. Stretching — if you can get the area not to be tight against the bone [is] helpful as well,” Showers said.

Many other West athletes find non-pharmacologic interventions targeting muscle tension, inflammation and tissue recovery more effective than NSAIDs. On a scale of 1-10 on NSAIDs and non-pharmacologic interventions effectiveness in relieving pain and inflammation, with one being the least effective and 10 being the most effective, athletes reported an average of 5.9/10 for NSAIDs’ effectiveness and 7/10 for non-pharmacologic interventions’ effectiveness.

McDanel affirms that both non-pharmacologic interventions and NSAIDs can help treat strain and inflammation if used correctly.

“Non-pharmacologic treatments such as massage, stretching, rolling and RICE — rest, ice, compression, elevation — are a great way to treat minor injuries or muscle pain and strain. However, when used appropriately, NSAIDs can relieve underlying inflammation that may worsen or not be remedied without such treatment. [NSAIDs] should never be used beyond the maximum daily limit or recommended intervals,” McDanel said. “If the pain or inflammation is not getting better, athletes should seek evaluation by a physical trainer, coach or medical provider to ensure there is not an underlying severe injury.”

Showers believes NSAIDs shouldn’t be used frequently, but he feels it’s necessary to remain competitive.

“I don’t think they’re a bad thing — unless you’re overusing them. I don’t want to be using painkillers, but I want to be running, so it’s a trade-off,” Showers said.

Bodin feels pressure from external sources to perform well, even when injured, driving her use of NSAIDs.

“I know my coaches want what’s best for me and want me to be healthy, but they also want their team to win,” Bodin said. “They don’t want me to do something when I’m not physically able; they want me to heal correctly, but I feel the pressure to push through.”

 

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About the Contributors
Colin Wehrle
Colin Wehrle, Print Photo Editor
Colin is a sophomore at West High and is excited for his first year on staff. This year, he serves as the Photo Editor for the print edition of the West Side Story. When he's not fidgeting with a camera, you can find him running cross country or track, playing saxophone in West High's numerous ensembles or relaxing at the Java House.
Gianna Liu
Gianna Liu, Print Co-Editor-in-Chief
Gianna Liu is a senior at West High. This is her third year on staff and she is the Print Co-Editor-in-Chief. When Gianna isn't busy taking photos or writing the next big story, you can find her bouncing a volleyball on the 10-foot line, watching the newest kdrama, walking 10,000 steps and volunteering.
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