How do antiinflammatories work?!
Question: If I have injred a tendon or muscle during excersize and start taking antiinflammotories - will they be healing the damage or just masking the pain?
Answers: If I have injred a tendon or muscle during excersize and start taking antiinflammotories - will they be healing the damage or just masking the pain?
Yes. They actually work. Not masking the pain but working. Look up NSAID on Wikipedia.
Here;
Most NSAIDs act as non-selective inhibitors of the enzyme cyclooxygenase, inhibiting both the cyclooxygenase-1 (COX-1) and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) isoenzymes. Cyclooxygenase catalyzes the formation of prostaglandins and thromboxane from arachidonic acid (itself derived from the cellular phospholipid bilayer by phospholipase A2). Prostaglandins act (among other things) as messenger molecules in the process of inflammation. This mechanism of action was elucidated by John Vane, who later received a Nobel Prize for his work. A newly discovered COX-3 may also have some role.
[edit] Examples
NSAIDs can be broadly classified based on their chemical structure. NSAIDs within a group will tend to have similar characteristics and tolerability. There is little difference in clinical efficacy between the NSAIDs when used at equivalent doses. Rather, differences between compounds tended to be with regards to dosing regimens (related to the compound's elimination half-life), route of administration, and tolerability profile. Some more common examples are given below.
Paracetamol (acetaminophen) is sometimes grouped together with the NSAIDs, however, it does not have any significant anti-inflammatory properties and is not a true NSAID. Though the mechanism of action is unclear, it is suspected that the lack of anti-inflammatory action may be due to inhibition of cyclooxygenase predominantly in the central nervous system.[citation needed] There is also some speculation that paracetamol acts through the inhibition of the recently discovered COX-3 isoform (see below). It is also believed that NSAIDs act centrally, possibly within the spinal cord.[citation needed] However, the mechanism of action in this case is not well-characterised.
They lessen swelling and inflammation. So it doesn't mask the pain, it lessens the nerve irritation
http://pdrhealth.com
They take down the swelling round the muscle giving it a chance to heal.