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Ibuprofen - treating the cause or the symptoms? 7-May-2009 At 3:32:06 PM prb

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On 27/04/09 Richard wrote:
>Question is; why is the bodies response to a sore joint to cause inflamation?

Components of the innate, ancient immune system are involved in the inflammatory response to
injury. I suspect the body is marshalling its forces just in case the tissue damage is due to infection,
as it commonly would have been back in the primordial swamp. If the joint gets infected as well, like
lacto's knee, elements of the (more recently evolved) acquired immune system kick in such as
antibodies and T lymphocytes. If you do have an infection, you usually wouldn't want to compromise
the immune response with antiinflammatories (particularly steroids) until the infection is under control.

>So what do we do? Take anti-inflamatries.
>Why? to speed the "recovery" ? - so when its not longer inflammed its "better"?

Taking some of the inflammation out of a non-infected site of injury has got to be a good thing,
depending on the severity of any side-effects. The tissue should recover more quickly, but pain will tell
you if that torn muscle or slipped disc is not ready to rock (seek professional advice). I should add that
I haven't taken an antiinflammatory in my life and I stay away from as many pharmaceuticals as
possible. I prefer to listen to what the old body is telling me!