Should You Take Pain Relievers for Muscle Soreness?

 Published: Feb 13, 2025
 Edited by: Team TB

Editor's Note: This article contains sponsored content.

Athlete weightlifting

© Image by Unsplash

It is common for athletes and gym trainers who have active lifestyles to experience pain, muscle soreness, or sprains. These individuals benefit greatly from NSAIDs like aspirin or ibuprofen, which are extremely effective in improving their mobility and performance.

Can you regularly take painkillers for muscle soreness after a workout? Answering this question requires understanding the limitations of different painkillers. In this article, learn about them and some effective natural alternatives to quickly treat muscle soreness or injury.

Possible Limitations of Painkillers

The following are the possible limitations that question the reliability of painkillers for muscle stiffness:

Harm to Physical Health

When we get pain signals, we understand that our body needs rest or a break for healing. When we take painkillers, they numb these pain receptors, resulting in no discomfort. The issue is still there, but the brain cannot understand this reality. This situation elevates the damage when we continue our workouts instead of resting.

Over-Reliance

Medications are only recommended when you are facing severe pain or tissue injury. People find them effective as these painkillers numb their tissues, thus blocking the pain signals going toward the brain. They feel an instant relief that may cause over-reliance on them and addiction ultimately.

High-Risk Factors

Drowsiness, nausea, and constipation are some of the minor side effects people face with pain-relieving medication. However, different studies highlight the significant side effects of these painkillers in the long run. They can cause damage to the heart, liver, and stomach, resulting in other serious issues.

How to Relieve Sore Muscles Fast

Medications, no doubt, give instant relief from pain or discomfort but come with limitations. This situation results in a search for how to recover sore muscles faster naturally. Here, we are sharing some science-backed natural remedies for physical health:

1.   Proper Hydration

Dehydration often occurs during extensive workouts with sweating, which triggers muscle inflexibility and spasms. With enough liquids before and after a workout, you can maintain the flexibility of tissues. Proper hydration softens our tight muscles, resulting in painless mobility. So, focus on your liquid intake when you are facing physical issues.

2.   Natural Supplements

Another effective way to treat muscle soreness without medicine is by using natural supplements with anti-inflammatory properties. Such products often contain herbal ingredients like cannabidiol for better stamina and are suitable for trainers and athletes. Multiple studies support the role of cannabidiol oil for pain relief and recommend it as a natural treatment for muscle health.

Moreover, it is effective in reducing symptoms of both chronic and acute pain issues. Notably, for muscle injury, its topical products, like ointments, lotions, etc., are also found effective in relaxing stiff muscles, providing instant relief.

3.   Sleep Quality

Sleep is a healing session for our body and eliminates pain by repairing skin tissue and muscles. It acts as a recovery strategy for muscle inflammation or tissue injury, speeding up the recovery without medication. On the contrary, inadequate sleep hours slow recovery, worsening the condition. Ensure you have proper sleep hours without interruptions especially when suffering from muscle soreness.

4.   Stretch Exercises

Simple stretches, like knee-to-chest pulls, kneeling quad stretches, and shoulder rotation, work effectively to relieve muscular pain. Such simple activities improve blood flow and provide enough nutrients to the affected areas. So, they are highly recommended to enhance the body’s mobility and overall performance.

Bottom Line

Painkillers work effectively for muscle soreness, but they are not suitable for the long term. Without a medical health prescription, refrain from excessive usage and consider all the above-mentioned muscle soreness recovery strategies as an alternative. A consistent approach gives you optimal muscle fitness and endurance, resulting in healthy muscle growth.


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