I read somewhere (possibly the internet?!) that NSAIDs tend to inhibit tendon recovery. I started climbing 2-3 days a week in addition to barbell training 3 days a week, and stuff in and around my elbows gets pretty mad sometimes - sometimes it seems muscular, sometimes it seems tendon related. Is there any truth to NSAIDs inhibiting tendon recovery/adaptation? If so, if I can get through the pain without taking them, would it be better for me, long-term adaptation-wise, to stay off of them when possible?
I would have to see the evidence behind these claims. NSAIDs can be very useful for analgesia, of course, and as we discussed in our NSAID podcast, concerns over their effects on adaptation have been overblown. In other words, if intermittent/occasional use lets you train more, that seems like a good tradeoff as long as you don’t have any adverse effects from them.
With that said, if you have developed a true tendinopathy, then NSAIDs tend to transiently reduce pain, but don’t really do anything for improvement in the underlying pathology – which may require training modification to rehabilitate.
Thanks Austin - I’ll take them when it gets bad, and try to get my overuse under control. My lifting coach is doing a good job at managing the stress he’s prescribing, but damn if climbing with friends isn’t too much fun!