Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (also called NSAIDs) are used to relieve some symptoms caused by arthritis, such as inflammation, swelling, stiffness, and joint pain. However, NSAIDs do not cure arthritis and will help relieve pain only as long as you continue to take them. NSAIDs may possibly interfere with healing of joints after an injury.

NSAID relief of pain
NSAIDs are used to relieve other kinds of pain or to treat other painful conditions, such as: gout attacks; bursitis; tendinitis; sprains, strains, or other injuries; or menstrual cramps. Ibuprofen and naproxen are also used to reduce fever. Meclofenamate is also used to reduce the amount of bleeding in some women who have very heavy menstrual periods.

NSAID Side Effects
Many side effects are caused by NSAIDs including toxicity to the kidneys, ears, and stomach. NSAIDs can also interfere with proper healing. NSAIDs reduce the flow of blood to the kidneys and impair function of the kidneys. The impairment is most likely to occur in patients with preexisting impairment of kidney function or congestive heart failure, and use of NSAIDs in these patients should be done cautiously. People who are allergic to other NSAIDs, including aspirin, should not use ibuprofen. Individuals with asthma are more likely to experience allergic reactions to ibuprofen and other NSAIDs.

Taking more than one NSAID is risky
People who use two or more non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs NSAIDs to help control pain have a worse health-related quality of life than their peers who use only one. Arthritis and Rheumatism, February 2008.

Types of NSAIDs
Diclofenac
Ibuprofen (Motrin, Advil)
indomethacin (Indocin)
Naproxen (Naprosyn)
Meloxicam (Mobic) - In July, 2006,  Boehringer Ingelheim’s Mobic was approved as a generic NSAID for the treatment of osteoarthritis.
Nabumetone (Relafen)
 

NSAIDs and Heart Disease
High doses of some traditional non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDS) such as Motrin are associated with similar cardiovascular risks and heart attack as the new generation of anti-inflammatory drugs known as cyclooxigenase 2 (COX 2) inhibitors (like Vioxx, Celebrex, Bextra). Researchers from the UK and Italy performed a combined analysis (known as a "meta-analysis") of all the available randomised trials that compared a COX 2 inhibitor with placebo, or a COX 2 inhibitor with a traditional NSAID, and had recorded serious cardiovascular events. The study showed, as expected, that, COX 2 inhibitors were associated with an increased risk of vascular events, mainly heart attack. Unfortunately, there were insufficient data to reliably assess whether these risks were dose dependent, or whether the risks might differ among aspirin and non-aspirin users. But the study also showed that high doses of two of the NSAIDs studied, diclofenac and ibuprofen, were associated with a similar increase in the risk of vascular events to COX 2 inhibitors, although the risks of high doses of another NSAID, naproxen, were smaller. However, the average increased risk of vascular events was modest among the people studied in the trials: For every 1,000 people taking an NSAID or COX 2 inhibitor, around three extra people per year would have a vascular event, most likely a heart attack.

NSAIDs and Knee injury
Treatment with low-intensity pulsed ultrasound can hasten the healing of torn ligaments in the knee, while the use of NSAID drugs, such as Celebrex (celecoxib) and Motrin (ibuprofen), has the opposite effect, findings from an animal study suggest. Ligaments are strong fibrous bands that connect bones and help control their range of motion. They are closely related to tendons, which connect muscles to bone.

NSAIDs for heavy exercise
Taking non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs NSAIDs like ibuprofen during endurance events does not help prevent muscle damage or next-day muscle soreness

NSAID drugs and prostate gland
Common NSAID painkillers like ibuprofen and naproxen may lower the risk of developing an enlarged prostate and worsen urinary symptoms in men who already have the condition.

NSAID References:
Do cyclo-oxygenase-2 inhibitors and traditional non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs increase the risk of atherothrombosis? Meta-analysis of randomised trials. BMJ Volume 332, pp 1302-5.
Editorial: Life without COX-2 inhibitors BMJ Volume 332, pp 1287-8.

NSAIDs questions
Q. When I take aspirin or ibuprofen, I notice a reduction in urination for a number of days, accompanied by edema and weight gain, followed by fewer days of diuresis and weight loss. Because NSAIDS can be nephrotoxic and appear to affect me, I no longer take them. But I could use a natural anti-inflammatory of some kind. Do you have suggestions?
   A. We can't make specific suggestions, but you could read the info on the antiinflammatory page.