Hi,
To clarify, we don't provide advice to individuals, we provide information that comes from the scientific evidence.
Normal NSAIDs can be helpful in the short term, but after about 4 days the way the body responds to the medication alters at the level of gene transcription. This results in an increase in inflammation, rather than a decrease. This is called failure to proceed to COX switching, where the body's pro-(inflammation)-resolving mechanisms fail to start. It's thought that this is why long term NSAIDs (other than aspirin) cause organ fibrosis, including heart and kidney disease.
Aspirin works differently and increases the body's natural pro-resolving mechanisms, especially when taken with omega 3 fatty acids. Aspirin is used to treat organ fibrosis, so for those able to take it, it should also help treat joint fibrosis (arthrofibrosis).
There are no definite time cut-offs for the 3 stages of arthrofibrosis, but at 3 weeks you would normally be expected to be in the first stage. This stage involves high levels of inflammation and highly activated myofibroblasts, the cells that cause fibrosis. At this stage the feedbacks that create the ongoing pathology have not set in, and if you're extremely careful with how you use the affected limb and do not try to exercise it, just do regular gentle passive stretching, the inflammation should begin to settle. Somewhere between 6 months and a year the feedbacks become established.
Please be aware that you will need to be very careful with the affected limb, especially if it's a knee, for around a year regardless of recovery. It's very easy to re-activate fibrosis by over-doing it.
All the best,
Kayley
