Dr. Thomas Dandrea DC of Monmouth Pain and Rehabilitation in Red Bank NJ offers tips and techniques on Physical Therapy, Rehabilitation, Chiropractic, Acupuncture, Massage, Medical and Pain Relief, and More.

Monmouth County pain management office continues its mission to educate patients on the dangers of misusing painkilling medications.

If you’re any type of athlete (professional or otherwise), you need to read the following information. A number of studies show that many of you are relying on over-the-counter pain medication as an ergogenic aid to enhance performance and/or relieve pain—and that this action can have serious health consequences.

Naturally, when it comes to activities that require endurance, athletes are always looking for new ways to become better competitors.

In particular, NSAIDs (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs), such as Advil or Aleve, are well- known for having anti-inflammatory and analgesic effects. It’s become apparent that many athletes are using these drugs before, during, and after competition.

At Monmouth Pain and Rehabilitation, we’ve spoken a lot on our blog about the dangers of over-the-counter medications. NSAIDs function by blocking prostaglandins—substances produced by the body that are responsible for protecting the lining of the stomach; regulating blood pressure; and mediating pain and inflammation.

Masking pain is never a good idea—it reduces the sensation of muscle soreness but does nothing to prevent injury to the muscles. Worse, one study* showed that long-distance runners who had taken ibuprofen before and while running showed more inflammation and other signs of immune system response than those who had not.

Those runners using the ibuprofen also had mild kidney impairment, dehydration, and something known as exertional hyponatremia, in which the delicate yet extremely important balance of blood/sodium concentration is disrupted to a dangerous degree. Some of the runners also suffered from minor endotoxemia, in which bacteria leaks from the colon into the bloodstream.

We told you the news was disturbing.

Athletic activities aside, the long-term use of NSAIDs can cause ulcers, gastrointestinal bleeding, and kidney damage.

Let’s talk about safe over-the-counter drug use. Those of you who do not have a history of ulcers, gastrointestinal bleeding, or kidney issues can safely use NSAIDs as a short-term method of relieving muscle soreness or minor injury.

If you’ve suffered any type of sports injury or you’ve been in pain for quite some time, it’s important to seek help. The longer pain continues, the more you are at risk for further injury or chronic pain. There’s never been a better time to visit our office; we are now offering a complimentary examination/consultation process ** as well as free, 30-minute massage for all new patients. We are a fully staffed multi-disciplinary pain management and rehabilitation office that provides:

• Medical Pain Management
• Physical Therapy
• Chiropractors
• Acupuncture

Contact our Red Bank rehabilitation office to learn more.

*Study completed by the Human Performance Laboratory at the North Carolina Research Campus.
** Valued at $245.00
***Valued at $60.00

At Monmouth Pain, we treat a lot of patients suffering from knee pain. As the premiere center for knee pain rehabilitation and pain management in Monmouth County, we offer the very best and latest treatment options for patients of all ages and in a variety of physical conditions.

Did you know that women are more prone to knee pain and injury than men? I thought we’d take a moment here to discuss the issues affecting women’s knees and why, if you’re a woman, you might be more likely to have knee issues than men.

You don’t have to be an athlete to incur the changes that cause runner’s knee or jumper’s knee. This injury—also called anterior knee pain—is caused by biomechanical issues.  You see, the width of the pelvis in women is such that it creates a particular type of angle where the leg and thigh bones meet. This angle, which is often sharper in women than men, may lead to alignment issues for the kneecap. The ligaments in a woman’s knee are also looser, which means that the muscles supporting the knee are not as strong.

Naturally, female athletes are particularly at risk, especially those who participate in sports or activities that require a lot of jumping or other movements that place stress on the knees.

Pregnancy is another reason that women experience knee pain. During pregnancy, a hormone known as relaxin softens the joints in order to prepare the body for delivery. A pregnant woman’s center of gravity also shifts. These two factors, combined with weight gain, create a perfect storm for knee pain—knee pain that may continue long after the pregnancy itself.

At Monmouth Pain, we’re really proud of the type of care we offer. With multi-disciplinary rehabilitation, we know that we’re providing the very best in every type of care necessary for the non-surgical treatment of knee pain. In fact, it is our goal to help all of our patients avoid surgery whenever possible.

What’s even better is that all of our treatment options are offered conveniently in one location in our Red Bank pain management/rehabilitation office. For knee pain, these might include:

• Medical Pain Management for Knee Pain
• Joint Injections
• Viscosupplementation
• Physical Therapy for Knee Pain
• Chiropractic
• Acupuncture (for faster healing and drug-free pain relief)

To learn more about Monmouth County knee pain options, contact us today. We’re currently offering a complimentary exam/consultation for new patients in our Red Bank pain management, physical therapy, acupuncture, and chiropractic office.