Hiking pain and pill popping

[chumley]

Catchy thread title, huh?
(The poll is anonymous ... replies to this thread are not anonymous).

I'm genuinely interested in the opinions or habits of others on this because I've seen a wide range of drugs that people use before, during, and after hiking.

I think the most common is ibuprofen (Advil/Motrin) and whatever Aleve is, or old-skool aspirin (Bayer) which are all NSAID (anti-inflammatory) drugs.

Then there are OTC pain killers like acetaminophen (Tylenol).

Prescription pain-killers I've seen on the trail include Vicodin (acetaminophen plus hydrocodone) and Percocet (acetaminophen plus oxycodone) and oxycontin.

Some people medicate with marijuana.

Plenty of hikers drink alcohol, but I'm not sure that is ever to relieve physical pain on or after a hike.

As for me, I generally try to avoid drugs unless it is absolutely necessary. I carry Advil, Aleve, and some old Vicodin in my med kit, but even on a multi-day backpack trip in the Grand Canyon I generally don't take even one Advil. I was prescribed the Vicodin for an injury years ago but never took one. But I figure if I ever need to self-rescue from something it might be good to have on hand. I personally consider alcohol and weed to be purely social, not medicinal (though I totally accept that marijuana has medicinal uses for many people).

I've seen some people eat Advil like candy -- it's just part of the hiking routine. I wonder how typical this is.

I know everybody is different (and every body is different) so what one person needs, another person does not so these opinions and experiences can't necessarily be applied from one to another. But I think it's an interesting topic nonetheless.

[JasonCleghorn]

I take almost nothing, ever, only drink water while on the hike, I do drink coffee in the AM before a hike 90% of the time.

I don't like taking ANY medicine of any kind, including tylenol, advil, ibuprofen, etc.

Occasionally, I will take a couple ibuprofen if I have a headache on the hike but that's it.

I'm not a tee-totaler and I don't care about CAG SHOTS and those that enjoy them or can't summit a meaningful mountain without them, etc. but for whatever reason, when I am hiking or even at a summit, drinking a beer is the last thing on my mind. I have never drank an energy drink whether 5 hour energy or Rockstar or Monster in my life and won't.

I am lucky that I don't have any foot, knee, or ankle pains, ever. I have had some piriformis (read groin) pain in the last few months.

[Alston_Neal]

I seldom take drugs for pain, but when I do, I hike Vekol Valley and hope for the best.

[ALMAL]

I only take a small 3" X 2" Ziploc with a few doses of each of the Big 4. If persistent symptoms occur I may take;
Headache: Excedrin
Nasal/Sinus Pressure/Congestion: Sudafed (yes you have to sign for it at Walgreen's) , if no sneezes or runny nose.
Allergic Rhinitis: Antihistamine. Wal-Act ( contains the old Actifed formula). This is the only thing that works for me, I can hike through the drowsiness. Also contains the same active ingredient in Sudafed, so I would not take both.
Diarrhea: Imodium.
Sore muscles and bones you just have to deal with.

[RowdyandMe]

I have no problem taking painkillers versus enjoying the pain. I take some Gabapentin every morning. And before a hike I make sure I have some extra Gabapentin with me plus some Oxycodone and sometimes some Norco.
I hike alone 99.9% of the time so I need to be ready for anything.
I have a new doctor and am getting a custom brace hopefully before the end of this month. I am hoping it will work better than any of the others that I have tried. If not she will get me some different painkillers.

[chumley]

@Widowmaker
I have never heard of any of that stuff. But if your doctor says it's ok and you can put 2000 miles on an ankle that doesn't pivot and looks like this , more power to you!

[RowdyandMe]

@chumley
Well I have high hopes for the new brace. If it works like it suppose to then less painkillers.

[BrettVet]

My joints gave out years ago from thousands of miles hiking and backpacking. Drugs and weight loss could not overcome the pain, so rather than living vicariously through the pages and pictures of hike az.com I became a Mule rider. Now I can reach the back country with no problem with minimal amounts of Aleve mostly for a sore butt.

https://hikearizona.com/photo.php?ZIP=157639

[uphill_junkie]

I'm with Jason (except for the beer part ) I think the problem with pill popping is that you could end up injuring yourself MORE if you don't know were the pain is coming from, or if there is pain. I've twisted my ankle so hard so many times that I involuntarily cry it hurts so badly, but I just curse like a sailor and limp for about 5-10 minutes, and then it subsides. I have had people try to push vitamin I on me, but I won't take it. I want to know what's going on with it so I can treat it properly, or not treat it at all and just wait for it to go away. As for sore joints, a day or two rest, or a soak in a hot tub or epsom salt will take care of that. Too much vitamin I will take a toll on the liver and kidneys, and the rest of the stuff, you run the risk of becoming addicted. But as you said Chumley, everyone and every body is different. I prefer to only take stuff for migraines - and even then only as a last resort.

[Tough_Boots]

If a couple ibuprofen or Aleve can numb a pain enough to render it unnoticeable, then you're probably not injured enough to really worry about it.

[Al_HikesAZ]

If a couple ibuprofen or Aleve can numb a pain enough to render it unnoticeable, then you're probably not injured enough to really worry about it.

I respect your opinion and would have agreed with you in my younger days. But now if an ibuprofen helps me get a good nights sleep on the ground, it is worth it. And if an M&M gets me going in the morning, I will take them.

[SuperstitionGuy]

And if an M&M gets me going in the morning, I will take them.

And there is no limit restrictions on M&M's....

[Hippy]

Mmmmm Vicodin.

Gimpy Hippy use to be a Vitamin I kinda gal after every hike...

Nowadays I "walk it off" until I can't anymore (usually day 4 or after 45 miles whichever comes first)

...then I dig into my safety supplies for some relief along with one Ibuprofen to allow comfortable sleep.

But only if it's necessary. On our 76 mile hayduke trip there were 2 nights where I popped Vitamin I before tent time. 2/8 nights isn't bad at all!

[Jim]

Milligrams matters, as does frequency.

[autumnstars]

Never thought much about the pain meds I carry in my first aid kit. But I guess they're more for other people than for myself, since I have only taken any once that I recall. Have given plenty out to others.

Discovering the joys of a spiky foot massage ball has eliminated the only recuring cause I ever had to consider pain meds.

[nonot]

Pain is weakness leaving the body. Other than mosquito bite stuff to stop itching I've never really carried any pain relievers.

[SuperstitionGuy]

Everybody is missing the one important pill that so many HAZ'ers carry and consume when they reach the peaks.
I give you....
https://hikearizona.com/photo.php?ZIP=592127

[RowdyandMe]

@SuperstitionGuy
That's the stuff I she to wash down my oxycodone and gabapentin

[SuperstitionGuy]

Here is another pain reliever not yet mentioned in this thread and it is specifically for feet.
https://hikearizona.com/photo.php?ZIP=540123

[KwaiChang]

Legalize everything! No seriously - no need for anything here - 53 turning 54 and I have yet to pop anything while hiking - SCARY about the Cliff bars tho - they are a guilty pleasure from time to time as are some of the energy blocks.

I do imbibe but DEF not while hiking - that is an after event thing for me - to each his own I say tho. Can't imagine toking up while hiking - seems like a sure quick way into the Death in the Grand Canyon book - after the hike in limited quantities would be acceptable at least to me it would.

All in all - nothing for me while hiking cept water, salty foods and more water......I know boring.....

[joebartels]

NSAIDS are actually some of the worst things people can do to their body long term, and they have short term affects, too. I had a patient one time who was on dialysis from long term Ibuprofen use.

Since I've heard the 81mg aspirin a day thing and thought aspirin was an NSAID I was curious. According to webmd

- aspirin prevents platelets from clumping together, which prevents the formation of dangerous clots that can block a vessel and cause a heart attack or stroke

- non-aspirin NSAIDs work on that enzyme, too, but also affect another enzyme that promotes clotting. That can lead to heart attacks and strokes.


See pain reliever alternatives and whip up a White Willow Bark Capsaicin shake with Pumpkin seeds after your next hike!