Pain medication is available over-the-counter today and it is easy to get. It is commonly stocked in the medicine cabinets of most homes, as well as tucked away in purses, office desks, car glove compartments, and anywhere else that a person can easily access it when necessary. These drugs are designed to take away the discomfort of pain, regardless of the source of the pain. There are three main types of pain relieving medication, which are acetaminophen, salicylates, and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). Of these it is the salicylates and the NSAIDs that have anti-inflammatory properties that many people require in order to treat an injury or inflammation due to an illness. Acetaminophen does not take care of inflammation, but is good at diminishing or removing pain.
Pain acts like a warning for our bodies. It lets us know when something is not right, when we are in danger of being hurt either by outside forces or by illness or internal injury. For this reason, pain is our friend, but once we know there is a problem, where it is, and what it is we want nothing more than for the pain to go away. Acetaminophen might be the most popular all around pain medication, Tylenol being the most popular brand name. Any pain that is not associated with inflammation can be treated with this medication. Acetaminophen works by inhibiting the production of prostaglandins, a substance that is produced by the body when an injury occurs. This is also the case with the anti-inflammatories described below, but acetaminophen isn't as good as an anti-inflammatory drug.
Anti-inflammatories work in the same way that acetaminophen works, but is better at reducing inflammation. This prostaglandin acts as a mediator between the inflammation and the pain. Remember that pain is a physiological response of the body that acts as a protective mechanism when the body is experiencing illness or injury. The salicylates and NSAIDs work to reduce the inflammation and pain that are the result of injury or illness. However, there are potential side effects of these drugs. These side effects include nausea and gastrointestinal ulceration. Aspirin, probably the most common salicylate can cause tinnitus, which is a ringing in the ears, and acts as a blood thinner, which means that it can cause problems with bleeding. Ibuprofen has been reported to cause drowsiness, but it is uncommon.
When it comes to pain medication and diving, often times it is the reason for the pain that would cause a diver to stay on dry land. If the injury or illness affects your movement or range of motion, then you should avoid diving especially if you have a chronic condition, such as arthritis or osteoarthritis. Even if the pain is gone, if there is an injury or illness behind the pain this may be reason enough to stop diving. However, there are other reasons, such as headaches, that would warrant pain medication and that would not interfere with diving. If acetaminophen is taken, this medication will in no way affect or interfere with diving and a diver can safely dive after taking a dose. However, the anti-inflammatories are somewhat different.
The potential side effects of anti-inflammatories could be reason enough to avoid diving. If you experience any stomach upset as a result of taking anti-inflammatories, then you should avoid diving until your condition improves. Vomiting while underwater and using a regulator is dangerous. The use of anti-inflammatories while diving might bring an added risk as the medication might mask the symptoms of decompression illness, which could have life threatening consequences. The blood thinning effect of the salicylates can also increase the risk of hemorrhaging and excessive bleeding when injured.
If your injury or illness does not in and of itself rule out diving, then taking acetaminophen is perfectly safe when diving. If anti-inflammatories are required it might be wise for you to consider the other potential issues related to taking anti-inflammatories while diving. If you experience no side effects, then it might be safe for you to proceed, but if you are unsure, then you should consult with a doctor who is familiar with diving. Above all, you want to be sure that your dive trip is safe and fun and that you are able to enjoy it to the fullest extent possible. While an injury or illness might get in the way of your fun, it is better to be safe than sorry, so it is best to avoid diving until you are fully healed. After all, if something happens underwater it can bring about disaster and even death, even if it wouldn't be disastrous on land. Once you feel better you can go back to doing the sport you love.