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Could that be because swelling is an inflammation and ibuprofen is an anti-inflammatory drug ("AID" part of "NSAID"), whereas acetaminophen is not an NSAID?

[IANAD]

Of course, but as parent comment suggests, not everyone knows this.

My personal experience is that ibuprofen has no effect whatsoever in any situation, and acetaminophen quickly brings me back from near death when I have a fever.

Interesting. My experience is the opposite. Aspirin and Tylenol never seemed to do anything for me, but Ibuprofen will rid me of a headache usually withing about 45 minutes. I still remember thinking the first time I tried it, "holy shit! This actually does something!"

I usually just take both, and even then, I sometimes wonder if they actually do anything or if it's just a mass scale placebo conspiracy.