POST OP! Do NOT take Ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin) while healing

Message

#1 Post by **Lirpa** » Wed Jul 23, 2008 1:26 pm

Hi,

I am just posting this message to help other people who are post op like me and didn't know any better, like me. There have been hundreds of studies on the effects of Ibuprofen on bone healing.

Ibuprofen is a NSAID (Non Steroidal Anti Inflammatory Drug). The Anti-Inflammatory part is the problem. To ease inflammation, the drug blocks the prostaglandin from being developed in your body through an enzyme. Prostaglandin is CRUCIAL to bone healing. Taking a NSAID with a broken bone is the worst possbible thing you can do. Your healing will take longer, or you may never heal right at all. It can actually r e t a r d the healing process!!

But don't take my word for it. Just google :NSAID bone healing" and read all the articles and reports yourself. I did a lot of research and the dread started to sink in. Of course I was having problems and lagging behind others at 2 weeks post op, I had taken nothing but ADVIL for two weeks!! I was so angry when I found out because my doctor specifically mentioned Advil for pain.

I didn't find this out until last Friday. I had been having problems here and there that I should not have been having at 2.5 weeks post-op. For one, eating from a baby spoon hurt my jaw terribly and gave me a bruise. I also could literally feel my upper jaw sliding around after a long day of talking. I feel certain this is because of the Advil.

For pain, take Tylenol, or other Acetominophen product. There is no anti-inflammatory component so it is perfectly safe to use.

I hope I can help a few people heal faster and better. =)

April

#2 Post by **Thathrill** » Wed Jul 23, 2008 9:26 pm

its true that some NSAIDs can inhibit bone growth/healing. But its known to have adverse affects when taken long term. what is considered long term is the tricky part. the problem is there are so many factors involved in healing that you can't always blame just one thing for complications one might receive. Also have to remember that everyone heals differently and also responds to surgery differently. With surgery there are no guarantees regardless of what you took for pain relief. Im not trying to be a spokesperson for Advil or ibuprofen but I look at things at a broader spectrum

#3 Post by **StephCanuck** » Thu Jul 24, 2008 10:49 am

Iv read articles that mention only long term use at the maximum dose/day can upset healing processes. But if your taking that much ibuprofen, I would think you'd have some serious problems that Advil alone couldn't help. As far as I'm concerned no one here should worry about reversing the healing process because your taking ibuprofen, mostly if your surgeon told you to take it.

#4 Post by **Lirpa** » Thu Jul 24, 2008 8:10 pm

I read the report and it seems to say that NSAIDs do have the possibility for a negative effect on bone healing. That's enough for me. I'd certainly rather be safe than sorry!

#5 Post by **loulou123** » Thu Jul 31, 2008 3:16 am

Strange, im allergic to Ibuprofen and NSAIDS and i had problems because i couldnt take them.

#6 Post by **monarch** » Wed Sep 17, 2008 11:41 am

A few years ago one of my daughters had surgery on her forearm to put in a plate where she shattered it sledding into a tree...the dr. told her not to take ibuprofen, because it could interfere with bone healing, so there must be something to it.

#7 Post by **Brandyleigh35** » Wed Sep 17, 2008 12:23 pm

Yes it can also cause bruising. If you want to see first hand how much difference it can make check out my blog. Go to March 2006 and look at my SARPE recovery pics. I looked like I got mugged! I had no idea I was not supposed to use Advil and even took some before I went.

Then check out May-June 07 at my post upper, lower, and genio pics. NO bruising at all, and I had twice as much stuff done to me!

Definitely don't want to take it.

Brandy

#8 Post by **Cheffy** » Mon Sep 22, 2008 11:38 am

MY OS AND THE HOSPITAL WHERE I WAS TREATED BOTH RECOMMENDED THAT I STOP TAKING IBUPROPHEN 2WKS PRIOR TO SURGERY.

#9 Post by **Brandyleigh35** » Mon Sep 22, 2008 10:18 pm

Oh Meryten, I took it post op for pain with no issues either. It was just pre-op that I was recommended not to take it.

Brandy

#10 Post by **monarch** » Tue Sep 23, 2008 12:05 pm

This is good to know the distinction between pre- and post- op, at least for oral surgery. Not to muddy the waters, but if my memory serves me correctly, I quite certain that my DD (steel plate put in shattered arm) was told not to take it both pre- and post op.

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