In electronics, bipolar transistors can exhibit a phenomenon called thermal runaway. Increases in temperature cause increases in current, which cause further increases in temperature and further increases in current. The excessive power can destroy the device if the process is unchecked.
Is there a similar phenomenon in inflammation where, once the inflammation gets going, it can escalate itself, or runaway, unless it’s stopped by ice, NSAIDs or rest?
I try not to take NSAIDs unless I really need them, figuring there’s got to be a disadvantage from a recovery or health standpoint (is there? maybe liver loading?). Usually I can use ice to “shut-down” the inflammation but I am always amazed how one ibuprofen tablet shuts down inflammation and the resulting pain.
Maybe twice in the last three years I have had hip flexor area inflammation so bad that it was difficult to get out of a car. One ibuprofen works like magic and shuts down the inflammation and pain immediately.
I can’t speak to electronics or the “runaway phenomenon” applied to inflammation of the body, but years ago I had the same thing you’re describing where inflammation seemed to ‘spread’ across various joints in the body. This was before I got into any kind of athletic training, so I went to the doctor who diagnosed it as “reactive” arthritis - a condition where arthritis is triggered by a viral infection. They didn’t have a lot of information about what triggered it. For a while, I treated it with a low dose of anti-inflammatories, but weened myself off of them when the ones I was on (Vioxx, then Bextra) got recalled. What I noticed during the arthritis outbreaks is how much one joint hurting would mess up other things, either because you alter your movement to ease using the painful joint or because they were relatively close to each other, so this might also account for what you’re experiencing.
If you’re having hip flexor pain that bad, you should definitely see a doctor about it…
I’m in a cycle with my knee right now that is really frustrating. I partically dislocated my kneecap a couple months ago and that spiraled into a Baker Cyst recurring and now the whole knee is inflamed. It was bothering me so much I went in for an MRI. Luckily nothing torn but I can’t stop the cycle until I get rid of that cyst. Unfortunately I can’t get it drained, too deep in the knee.
The results of this is that I’m having a really tought time dropping 4 lbs I put on back in Feb. I swear it is the inflammation that is screwing me up. All other things that have worked in the past aren’t working anymore.
So, yes, I think once your body is in a state of inflammation in one area of the body everything else reacts. My other knee is achy without any indications of problems and I’m feeling really sluggish. I can’t get enough sleep these days and I’m convinced it is the knee causing all of this.
No scientific evidence of this, only personal experience. YMMV.
I asked a similar question here not too long ago. I, too, was skeptical of NSAIDS (motrin) thinking my body knew what was best. It turns out my body does know what’s best, but I still needed the motrin/ice.
The body reacts as if whatever you are doing to cause the damage is going to continue happening - even though you are done for the day. So it inflames the area and prevents healing/blood flow in favor of preventing further damage to the tissue.
The motrin/ice over-rides this decision and says ‘the damaging activity has stopped (or will stop soon), so go ahead and start healing.’
If I can remember, I will go ahead and dose a motrin prior to and during a race knowing that night and the next day I will be taking it really easy rather than, as my body suspects, getting up at the crack of dawn to again run away from that sabre tooth tiger (which is the only explanation it can come up with me for going 26.2 or 140.6 or whatever the previous day - why else would I do something so stupid?, it wonders.)
Anyway, I could be wrong, but that’s my take. Not really worried about the liver stuff. Not like you do this every day.