When getting treatment for a work injury, the last thing you expect is to suffer from a secondary issue, but that is what is happening more and more these days as doctors seek to use a variety of non-opioid pain medications.
The move away from opioid medications is to help reduce the dependency and addiction issues associated with these drugs. However, the alternatives are often hard on the stomach and lead to gastrological issues.
Concerning medications
HealthDay explains aspirin and other nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs can cause serious stomach issues under certain usage conditions. Regular usage of NSAIDs has a link to bleeding, holes and ulcers in the stomach. There have also been reports of deaths associated with long-term use. Naproxen, specifically, may also have a link with heart problems.
The stomach issues from NSAIDs is a result of the medication interfering with the stomach’s ability to produce the chemical to neutralize stomach acid, hinders the mucus covering of the stomach and slow blood flow for repair in the stomach. This allows for stomach acid to do excessive damage.
These issues will generally fix themselves once you stop taking the medication, but regular use will prevent the body from reversing the problem. The extended stomach acid exposure will begin to produce troubling issues.
Information to note
You will likely only have minor side effects from using NSAIDs, but these side effects may require additional medical treatment. Since your NSAID use is due to your work injury, any issues will be a secondary condition for which you can make a claim to workers compensation. You should discuss any concerns with your doctor.