I think woman in general just take more ibuprofen than men. Most females start taking it for menstrual cramps when teenagers and then just continue to use it. I don't know any guys that are in the habit of taking as much ibuprofen as myself or my female friends.

Shooting star, I take ibuprofen for various aches and pains. I either get tendonitis or trigger thumb or carpal tunnel or some combination of all of those in my wrists. Most of the time I can control it, but if I'm on a multi-day long cycling or kayaking trip - my wrists swell. Probably everything else on me does, but 12 hours a day of paddling daily or cycling takes a toll, no matter what pace I'm at. Carrying a kayak loaded with gear is heavy. Once I irritate my wrists on a multi day trip, it just spirals worse unless I take ibuprofen. I take wrist braces, sleep with those on, and take ibuprofen to try to keep the inflammation down.

I guess the alternative is to give up stuff I love doing at the level I like doing it. I already have a special paddle, handlebar tape, blah blah blah blah.

One thing that i do use is topical ibuprofen cream that has arnica in it. I pretend it works and that applying it directly to my wrists will possibly lead to a lower dose.