NSAIDS and UC again

I know that a number of sources(CCFA,MAYO etc) suggest that NSAIDS and UC are a no no. Has anyone run into what the reason is besides bleeding? Is there any actual research or trials that prove this to be true? I am kind of wondering if the warning isn't just "probably not a good idea given that.." morphing into "you absolutely shouldn't".

Reason that I am asking is that I woke up with what I thought was a bad tooth. It turned out that I had somehow tweaked my TMJ(jaw joint) in my sleep. It got really swollen and painful over the next two days. I tried just advil before sleep which reduced pain but it wasn't getting better. I finally just loaded up on aleve(naproxen) for two days then reduced the dosage to 2 pills a day for a week. It got rid of all the swelling and pain not just in my TMJ but in my back(which has hurt for 18 months constantly) and plus my feet .... Sort of like a miracle drug.

I didn't flare but my digestion was off a bit. Not sure if it was the NSAID or not. As soon as I stopped my back, knees, ankles etc started feeling sore again. I am back to limiting hikes to 5 miles instead of 10 and it hurts after.

Should I just take aleve anyway?

I found this on why NSAIDS should not be taken if you have UC-

NSAIDs dampen the cycle of inflammation and pain, they also cause the digestive system to lose some of its normal protective substances. This could create more problems for people who already have inflammation, or the potential for inflammation, in their digestive tract.

It does appear there is conflicting information about the effect of NSAIDS on UC. Some research indicates there is no effect and others say it adversly effects the colon. Personally, I would not take NSAIDS and just stick with Tylenol when I have minor aches and pain. I don't want to risk going into a flare.

There have been studies. I found 2 references in journals like American Journal of Gastroenterology associating NSAIDS and the occurrence of IBD/colitis and one reference about NSAIDS making IBD worse. Likely there are others. The text I was reading also said the exact way NSAIDS caused problems was not fully understood, but the current hypothesises where focused on them messing with an enzyme called COX-2, which is involved in mucosa inflammation and healing in the GI tract.

I only used them in past for common muscle/joint aches and pains. I pretty much stopped since UC diagnosis, and only make some occasional use. For example, if I have a bad head cold I will use an Advil product with decongestant to relieve severe cold symptoms and body ache and allow me to get a good night's sleep. But this is only once or twice a year.

For other pain and aches I try to use mostly Tylenol. For soreness and cramps in the colon, my GI gave me some Tylenol 3 (with codeine) that I try to use sparingly.

Post Edited (DBwithUC) : 11/29/2011 9:15:56 AM (GMT-7)

I think that it boils down to a good juggling act regarding UC treatment/maintenance and having to use certain meds that might spell trouble.

Look at the whole picture. You have TMJ, you'll need meds probably every so often to help with the pain. What are your options.

Are you treating your UC with meds? What are you on at this point. Did your other body pain increase before the TJM or during or was it coincidental.

Are you on probiotics, fibre supplements? What other things have you changed?

You could have tried something like Tylenol Back relief which has methocarbamol...that can help relax muscles in the face and jaw to possibly help with TMJ pain.

If you can take Tylenol with codeine, that might have helped rather than the advil. Even Aspirin might have been better than the Advil or naproxen.
Maybe alternating between Tylenol and naproxen or the Advil would have been better.

Could the pain of the TMJ have set off some IBS....any emotional distress with pain can increase gastro stuff.

Could a chiropractor help with TMJ?

I can take aspirin with the OK from my doctor, but I try to alternate it with Tylenol so that I'm not taking many dosages in a row of the aspirin. He's forbidden me to take ibuprophen at all....I'm grateful I had a hysterectomy since it was the only thing that helped during periods.

Hope you feel better soon! Continual pain is so distressing.

Oh, forgot to ask if you might be fighting a cold which could be affecting that area as well...I find Sudafed helpful too.

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