A WARNING has been issued to those suffering with a painful condition over a surprising 'side effect'.
Medics have found that taking ibuprofen to help soothe the pain of osteoarthritis, could actually make the condition worse.
Experts at the University of California, San Francisco found that ibuprofen, naproxen and diclofenac, which are prescribed to relieve aching joints, could aggravate inflammation of the knee over time.
Those who suffer with osteoarthritis will usually experience swelling of the joints as well and pain and stiffness in the affected areas, the NHS says.
In most cases, treatment consists of regular exercise, losing weight if you're overweight and wearing suitable footwear.
But the NHS says you may also be prescribed additional treatments such as painkillers, if you have more severe symptoms.
Read more on osteoarthritis
Common form of arthritis increases risk of killer diseases, experts warn
From healthy weight to reducing stress – how to treat arthritis
It's a condition that affects 500 million people worldwide, 8.5million in the UK and 32million in the US.
However, after analysing data from over 1,000 patients, medics in the US found 'no benefit' in 277 patients with moderate to severe osteoarthritis and sustained NSAID (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs) use.
Joint inflammation and cartilage quality got worse over the next four years compared to a group of 793 people who did not take the drugs, the medics stated.
All participants underwent an MRI of the knee at the start and end of the study period.
Most read in Health
Couple die within 4 weeks of each other leaving their two kids as orphans
I'm stuck in wheelchair because of my 600 canister a week laughing gas habit
Urgent warning over little-known symptoms of 'silent killer' that affects 40k men
Urgent warning over 'silent killer' that can appear as irregular periods
They had 3T MRIs, which generate a magnetic field twice as strong as normal magnetic resonance imaging.
Scans were scored for cartilage thickness, composition and other measurements that served as non-invasive biomarkers of inflammation and arthritis progression.
Dr Johanna Luitjens, of the University of California said: "In this large group of participants, we were able to show there were no protective mechanisms from NSAIDs in reducing inflammation or slowing down progression of osteoarthritis of the knee joint.
"The use of NSAIDs for their anti-inflammatory function has been frequently propagated in patients with osteoarthritis in recent years and should be revisited, since a positive impact on joint inflammation could not be demonstrated."
The experts explained that there are several reasons as to why NSAIDs increase inflammation of the joints, also known as synovitis.
What are the symptoms of osteoarthritis you need to know?
Guidance from the NHS states that the main signs of osteoarthritis are joint pain and stiffness, and problems moving the joint.
Medics states that some people also have symptoms such as:
- swelling
- tenderness
- grating or crackling sound when moving the affected joints
Any joint can be affected, but in most cases it's the knees, hips and small joints on the hands.
You should see your GP if you have persistent symptoms of osteoarthritis.
In the event of an emergency, always call 999 or go to your nearest A&E.
"On the one hand, the anti-inflammatory effect that normally comes from NSAIDs may not effectively prevent synovitis, with progressive degenerative change resulting in worsening of synovitis over time.
"On the other hand, patients who have synovitis and are taking pain-relieving medications may be physically more active due to pain relief, which could potentially lead to worsening of synovitis, although we adjusted for physical activity in our model," the expert said.
Now, the medics are calling for randomised studies to provide conclusive evidence of the anti-inflammatory impact of NSAIDs.
The study was presented at a meeting of the Radiological Society of North America.
A study published in 2019 by experts at the Leeds Institute of Rheumatic and Musculoskeletal Medicine also found that some painkillers might not work for the condition.
Experts there said: "Although paracetamol remains safer than some alternative therapies, such as non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, paracetamol should be used carefully, particularly for chronic pain management."
Another study, by experts at Harvard-affiliated Brigham and Women’s Hospital found that pain treatment with less powerful opioids, such as tramadol, were more effective than more potent ones.
Source: Read Full Article