Q: I just started working out and taking ibuprofen for muscle aches. Could that be giving me headaches? –Robyn Aurnou, 46 Dublin, OH A: Possibly. You may be experiencing what are known as rebound or medication overuse headaches. I know it seems ironic that the very thing you’re using to relieve pain can cause it, but it’s not uncommon. Using too much of any of a class of OTC painkillers called nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs, which also include aspirin and naproxen) can cause these headaches. Doctors aren’t sure why this happens, but research suggests that overusing NSAIDs may alter pain receptors in the brain so that if you go too long between doses, you experience a kind of withdrawal. How much is too much? The right dose varies from person to person, and I’m a big believer in using as little as you can, but never take more than the amount recommended for you on the label within a 24-hour period. To see if ibuprofen may be contributing to your headaches, try cutting out the painkillers for a week. If the headaches don’t ease up within a few days, check in with your doctor, who may look for other possible causes of your pain. Your question also raises an interesting point about exercise. Your muscles actually should feel tender for 2 to 3 days after you start a new workout routine. That’s the natural result of their being damaged by the exertion and then repaired by your body, which is what makes them stronger-and it doesn’t mean you should immediately reach for painkillers! Try treating postexercise aches naturally first. I love to roll out tight muscles using a foam roller. (The OPTP Pro-Roller is a great one; it’s available on amazon.com for less than $40.) Icing sore muscles or using a mixture of heat and ice—think a nice warm shower followed by a quick ice bath—can also offer relief. And drinking 8 to 12 ounces of tart cherry juice (check your health food store) for several days before and after a hard workout may reduce muscle pain, according to research from the University of Vermont’s Human Performance Lab. More from Prevention: Your Top 6 Workout Aches, Solved TRAVIS STORK, MD, is an ER physician, cohost of TV’s The Doctors, and the author of The Lean Belly Prescription. Send your questions for Dr. Stork to askdrstork@prevention.com.
