We get this question a lot in clinic. And this is a tricky question, and one that really depends on the circumstances and the pathology.
Inflammation is the first part of healing and is required for the complete resolution of an injury. Without inflammation, the response of the body is not as good and the end result may not be complete. Inflammation occurs normally in the first 48-72 hours after an injury. The whole aim of inflammation is to bring a fighting team to the site of injury to clear away all the damaged cells and prepare the body for healing - almost like a demolition team. After the inflammatory phase has done it's work, the body sends cells to the area to help rebuild the injured part - like builders. This creates scar tissue that gets remodelled into normal tissue (with the assistance of physiotherapy, exercise and normal movement). This phase is characterised by swelling, heat in the area, redness and of course - pain. Without this inflammatory phase, the body misses vital steps and this leads to a poorer healing outcome.
When inflammation continues ongoing this can be due to a number of factors. This ongoing response could be due to continued aggravation and re-injury or an abnormal inflammatory response. In these instances, it is best to figure out why the inflammation is occurring. If you have injured your hamstring, and you keep running on it, and it keeps getting sore, the inflammatory clock is reset with every aggravation. There are some conditions where the inflammation continues - like frozen shoulder - and this may need some additional help.
Anti-inflammatory medications like voltaren or neurofen only work when inflammation is present. They won't be effective if there is no inflammation. Also, they have side effects such as stomach ulcers and don't actually address the underlying cause of the problem. But, despite this, when used correctly, they can certainly help to reduce the pain and make life easier. The question is really, can we still have inflammation to promote good healing and reduce pain, instead of with anti-inflammatory medications.
The general (again - this is best assessed in the context of the injury, the person's goals and current level of dysfunction) rule is to avoid anti-inflammatory medications in the early stages. Despite what those TV ads suggest, there are other means of redcing pain in a safer way that will be better in your longer term health.
If in doubt, it is best to speak to us in a FREE Initial Assessment. We can help to discuss in more detail the pros and cons of these medications and what other options you have.