Pain Killers in Sport

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Paulie

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OK, so I've been wondering, and done a bit of a Google search, just what the actual effects of pain killers in sport are. My past 2 basketball games I took Ibuprofen to try and help with my sprained ankle. However, in both games, I died out way earlier than I ever normally would. Not my muscles, they felt OK, but I got really short on breath and started feeling a little brain dead, like the pain killers were constricting blood vessels so that they couldn't carry as much oxygen around my body. So I did a search, and they say that top athletes using pain killers is a real problem, since it can enhance their performance by allowing them to ignore pain. Are they using a different pain killer, or have I just had 2 really bad games, perhaps affected by the cooler air and temperatures recently, or the fact I was the only big man on our team the last 2 games with the other out on injury, and perhaps didn't realise I was just trying to do more and work more to compensate.
Please note, I have no intention of using pain killers to my advantage, since my ankle feels a lot better now I won't be using them next game anyway. Since they seem to possibly affect my aerobic fitness, I won't be taking them at all. I guess I just want to know, is there any truth to my thinking the pain killers killed my aerobic fitness in those games, or am I getting even more unfit if that was humanly possible.......:scared:
 
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Paulie
I got really short on breath and started feeling a little brain dead, like the pain killers were constricting blood vessels so that they couldn't carry as much oxygen around my body.
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I can't remember exactly, but I think that is kind of what they do - constricting blood vessels.
But yeah, any time I have used Ibuprofen I get a bit light headed if I am doing sports. Most recent example is when I was in a lot of pain with my back during a big tennis match. The ibuprofen helped me through the match to win it but it had some dodgy effects which can only be a bad thing.
You should try some Ibuprofen gel next time which you just rub into the affected area and it acts the same as the pill but without the side effects for me.
👍
 
One of the aspects of Ibuprofen is blood thinning. This contributes to your lack of oxygen and your tired feeling.
 
Right-o then, that's actually good to hear, it means I should be able to play well again this Wednesday!:dopey: Thanks for the help guys.👍
 
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