Would GP give me better painkillers?

[Chelsea26]

So I managed to fall down the stairs and I have broken at least two ribs and my clavicle. It hurts a lot!

I did it on Tuesday night, went to a&e on Wednesday morning, waited 7 hours until I got seen and X-rayed and have a collar/cuff contraption and an appointment with the fracture clinic next Friday.

The nurse said to take paracetamol and ibruprofen every two hours for the pain and I have been but it’s barely touching the sides and sleeping is proving impossible, as soon as I move I can feel my collarbone grinding and snap awake.

Don’t really want to go to the GP and waste their time but I would like stronger painkillers, at least for overnight - what are my chances do you reckon?

I never go to the DR so have no experience/history to refer to…

Go to a pharmacy. You can get stronger over the counter medication if you speak to them for advice.

Paramol is the best over the counter painkiller imo, generic name co-dydramol.

I hope you're taking paracetamol every 4 hours maximum?

You need to take codeine at night (of you can take that safely) as it will help you sleep deeper.

Oh I didn’t think of that - will try pharmacy tomorrow.

I’m currently taking 2 paracetamol every four hours and 2 ibuprofen every four hours so I’m not taking too many of either but I’m alternating then so I am taking two pills every two hours throughout the day and I’m coping just about but night time it’s not enough.

Contact your GP. You are not time-wasting.

I broke ribs last year. I tried a few options suggested by the pharmacist, but ended up with a phone consultation with the GP, whi prescribed stronger cocodamol and naproxen. It definitely helped. I'd go to the GP. Broken ribs are sore!

The pharmacist can sell you a stronger combo, or nhs 111 can send a prescription through if still not enough. You might find topical medication works too

Ummmm - about ibuprofen. Every 6 hours not every 4, so that only 3 doses are taken per 24 hours. (Unless under doctors supervision)

I second asking the pharmacist for advice about which codeine based med is best.

Take care.

Are you taking the paracetamol to a max of 4* 2 tabs per day?

It ends up as every 6 hours not 4 if you take through the night too. If you are taking over 8 tablets in a 24 hour period you may be accidentally overdosing.

You can try the pharmacy - Solphadeine Max I think is the strongest OTC, but it contains paracetamol as well as codeine so don't double up.

If that doesn't do anything, which it may not, seeing the GP would be totally reasonable.

If you have a spare room or anything I would consider if you can sleep propped up on a cocoon of pillows - I find I don't move in my sleep that way as much.

Thanks all - I guess I maybe slightly overdosing then all though I’m not taking them all through the night.

Will speak to the pharmacy tomorrow and see if they can give me something otherwise try and call my GP on Monday.

And yes @Gladioli23 I’m kicking DP out to a spare room tonight - I couldn’t reach over to nudge him when he snored last night and that certainly didn’t help!

You poor thing! Get dh to go the pharmacy and at least swap the paracetamol for cocodamol. I bet your Dr will prescribe something stronger if you can speak to them.

Please do take care with paracetamol - the harmful dose and the permitted dose can be pretty close if you're fairly light.

Good idea to have the bed to yourself!