New research suggests common anti-inflammatory drugs offer short-term relief—but may raise the risk of chronic pain by disrupting the body’s natural healing process.
For anyone juggling work, family, and long hours on their feet, back pain is often treated fast and quietly. A couple of ibuprofen, maybe naproxen, and the day moves on. But a growing body of scientific evidence is challenging that routine—and raising uncomfortable questions about what happens after the pain fades.
A study published in Science Translational Medicine and highlighted by the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) suggests that commonly used nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs)—including ibuprofen, naproxen, and aspirin—may actually increase the risk of developing chronic back pain when used during the early, acute phase of injury.
The finding runs counter to decades of medical instinct.
When inflammation is part of healing
NSAIDs work by blocking inflammation, which is why they’re so effective at easing pain quickly. But researchers found that inflammation in the early stage of back pain isn’t just collateral damage—it appears to play a critical role in recovery.
According to AAAS, suppressing this inflammatory response too aggressively may interrupt the biological processes that help resolve pain. In animal studies cited in the research, mice whose inflammation was blocked experienced pain that lasted up to ten times longer than normal.
“It suggests inflammation isn’t simply something to eliminate,” researchers told AAAS. “It’s part of how the body repairs itself.”
What the human data shows
Reporting on the study, The New York Times noted that patients with acute low back pain who relied on NSAIDs were more likely to report persistent pain months later compared with those who avoided anti-inflammatory drugs.
Not all pain relievers showed the same pattern. Acetaminophen (Tylenol)—which reduces pain without targeting inflammation—was associated with a lower risk of pain becoming chronic, according to the findings.
Experts quoted by Fortune and Risk & Insurance cautioned that the research does not mean NSAIDs should be abandoned altogether. Short-term, occasional use may still be appropriate, particularly for severe pain. But habitual or prolonged use as a default response deserves reconsideration.
For many Latino workers—especially those in construction, caregiving, cleaning, agriculture, and warehouse jobs—back pain is a daily reality, not a clinical abstraction. Over-the-counter medications often fill gaps left by limited healthcare access, lack of paid sick time, or delayed medical care.
The research points toward a broader shift: managing pain by supporting healing, not just suppressing symptoms. Movement-based care, physical therapy, rest, and medical guidance may help prevent acute pain from becoming a long-term burden.
As AAAS emphasized, the study doesn’t call for fear—it calls for rethinking how we treat pain early on. Sometimes, letting the body do part of the work may be the most effective medicine of all.
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