A ligament is a thick, fibrous band of tissue that holds one or more bones together in a joint. Ligaments give a joint stability, as in the ligaments in the knee joint when standing or walking. A patient may injure a ligament during a fall or as a result of a blow to a particular joint. This can cause pain, swelling, stiffness and bruising states MayoClinic.com. Conservative over-the-counter treatments are beneficial in treating sore ligaments, particularly nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs).
Aleve
Aleve, or naproxen sodium, is an NSAID that is commonly used to treat sore ligaments. Drugs.com states that Aleve works by reducing hormones that cause inflammation and pain in the body. Thus, taking this medication as directed may help improve symptoms associated with a sore ligament. Patients with a history of heart, stomach, liver or kidney problems should consult a doctor before taking this medication. Serious side effects associated with Aleve include chest pain, shortness of breath, black stools, coughing or vomiting up blood, swelling, nausea, stomach pain, fever and headache. A patient should seek immediate medical treatment if any of these side effects.
Advil
If one particular type of NSAID is ineffective, a patient can try a different type of NSAID. Drugs.com states that Advil, or ibuprofen also is an NSAID that is recommended to treat sore ligament. A sore ligament will release hormones that cause pain and inflammation in the affected area. Advil, along with other NSAIDs, reduces these hormones to relieve soreness. Those with lupus, nasal polyps, asthma, stomach ulcer, high blood pressure or have a history of a stroke should not take Advil. Furthermore, Advil may cause chest pain, slurred speech, black stools, bloody vomit, rapid weight gain, clay-colored stools, jaundice or seizure. A patient with these symptoms should seek immediate medical treatment. Less serious side effects include upset stomach, gas, dizziness, skin itching, rash or ringing in the ears.
Aspirin
Aspirin is an NSAID that is also recommended to reduce soreness related to sore ligaments. Aspirin, like other NSAIDs, reduces hormones that cause pain and inflammation. Aspirin, however, is also a blood-thinning medication that prevents blood clots. Furthermore, the blood-thinning properties of aspirin can be used to prevent heart attacks and strokes. Because of the blood-thinning properties of aspirin, patients that are prone to injury or trauma should not take aspirin. For example, football players with a sore knee ligament should not take aspirin because a direct blow to the body can damage blood vessels and cause excessive bleeding. Blood will take longer to clot than normal because of the blood-thinning properties of aspirin. Furthermore, patient with a history of a bleeding, or hemorrhagic stroke should consult a doctor before taking aspirin.
