Rafael Nadal reveals shocking health damage caused by years of painkiller use

Rafael Nadal has revealed the long-term physical consequences of competing through pain during his tennis career, stating that years of anti-inflammatory medication caused lasting intestinal damage. The 22-time Grand Slam champion made the comments during an interview with Spanish sports newspaper AS.

During the interview, Nadal reflected on the sacrifices required to continue competing at the highest level despite repeated injuries affecting multiple parts of his body over nearly two decades on the ATP Tour. The former world number one said he had taken “many more anti-inflammatories than I would have liked” throughout his career and revealed the medication caused serious health complications.

Nadal describes long-term health complications linked to medication

Nadal stated that he has “two perforations” in his intestines as a result of prolonged anti-inflammatory use, describing the physical cost of continuing to compete despite chronic pain issues. Much of Nadal’s career was affected by injuries, particularly the chronic foot condition Müller-Weiss syndrome, which repeatedly threatened his ability to continue playing professionally.

The condition causes degeneration of a bone in the foot and forced Nadal to adapt both his movement and training methods throughout his career. In the interview, Nadal explained that customised insoles designed to reduce pressure on his foot altered the way he moved on court and contributed to further physical strain elsewhere in his body.

He said attempts to protect one injury often created new problems in other areas, while recurring knee injuries, abdominal muscle tears, hip issues and back problems added to the physical demands of his career.

Injuries became a defining part of Nadal’s career

Throughout his career, Nadal became known for his physical intensity on court, regularly playing long matches that placed heavy strain on his body. His dominance on clay earned him the nickname “King of Clay”, with the Spaniard winning a record 14 French Open titles between 2005 and 2022.

Nadal also completed the career Grand Slam twice and won Olympic gold medals in both singles and doubles, cementing his place among the most successful players in tennis history.

However, injuries repeatedly interrupted his career. He missed multiple Grand Slam tournaments because of foot, knee, wrist and abdominal problems, while lengthy recovery periods became increasingly common during the latter stages of his time on the ATP Tour. Despite these setbacks, Nadal continued returning to competition and remained one of the sport’s leading players well into his late thirties.

Medical experts have long warned about prolonged NSAID use

Medical experts have repeatedly warned about the risks associated with prolonged use of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, commonly known as NSAIDs.

Research published in the medical journal Gastroenterología y Hepatología states that long-term NSAID use can damage both the upper and lower digestive tract, potentially causing ulcers, bleeding and intestinal injury.

Clinical guidance published by UpToDate also notes that prolonged use can contribute to intestinal perforations in some patients. Nadal’s comments provide further insight into the physical strain experienced by elite athletes competing through chronic injuries over long periods of time, particularly in sports involving repetitive stress and extensive travel schedules.

Despite the long-term health issues he discussed, Nadal said he remains grateful for his career and everything he achieved in professional tennis.