AIBU to ask about Ibuprofen for a bad back?

[Antwerpxoxo]

I have tried taking Ibuprofen as have a bad back at the moment. I can't say that it has made much difference to the soreness.

Do you need to take several days of Ibuprofen for it to build up in your body to be effective?

I don't believe so.
Speak to a local pharmacist, they'll be able to recommend something better (gels or pads etc..)

Is it muscular or nerve pain?

GP gave me naproxen for unbelievable muscular back spasms a few weeks ago. They'll only give anything stronger for nerve pain (diazepam, amitryptiline etc). I was already taking OTC Paramol which had been completely ineffective so took the naproxen with it. I actually slept that night for the first time in three days.

Longer term, I started pilates again the week after it eased at my local physiotherapy clinic. Hopefully I won't do whatever that was again.

I'm sorry you're in pain, I totally empathise.

Thanks both. It is low level soreness rather than intense pain. Had it about 6 months now. Have got a GP appointment booked for two days time.

Ibuprofen is a good anti inflammatory and will help with muscular pain. Maybe ask the pharmacist for codine as well to help with the pain in the short term until is eases

Voltarol (Voldemort) gel is good, especially the 2.1% one.

TENS machines are brilliant though.

Are you taking tablets or gel? I found gel slightly better for back pain, but naproxen was slightly better again. Mine was more than low level though, and nothing really took it away until it got better in time.

Not true, they give Diazepam for bad backs , short term course usually a week at a time.

Can you see a physio OP?

It might be worth putting some orthotics in your shoes to see if that would make a difference. Our feet tend to go flat as we get older and this can cause a slight misalignment that gives back pain.

Sounds like an interesting idea. I will look into this.

I am going to wait to see what GP says, but happy to go to a physio if Doctor recommends it.

When I've consulted a doctor about muscle pain they've always said to take ibuprofen 4 x daily for a few days - it's an anti inflammatory so I assume you need a bit of time for the inflammation to go down.

It is true - the GP specifically stated she wouldn't prescribe me diazepam for muscle spasm. I was literally screaming out loud when a spasm caught me - not an exaggeration - and couldn't stand or sit for more than a few minutes at a time and lying was the worst of all. It was horrific for a full 5 days before it dissipated.

You might have a more amenable GP than me, but they are REALLY tight on prescribing serous pain relief here.

Sorry you're suffering. I'd really recommend the curable app for helping with chronic pain, especially back pain. Also Alan Gordon's new book "the way out". I've pretty much eliminated my chronic pain symptoms that were awful for years (lower back, SI joint, upper back - all horrible and really limited me). This work and the neuroscience around pain is finally filtering through to pain clinics in the NHS etc, but most GPs are woefully bad at treating back issues. I wish you all the best, and understand if this approach isn't on your radar currently, but it's honestly changed my life, so I wanted to share

Same here. Can't get diazepam from my GP but I can get as much amitriptyline as I like on repeat.

I take Boots' own brand ibuprofen with codeine. It's the only over the counter product that works for me.

I honestly would not waste your time waiting to see the doctor and would be goung straight to a physio instead (a qualified physio not any random 'massage/sports therapy' person

Ice will do more good than ibuprofen.

Only reason I am keen to see Doctor is just to know medically what is going on with my back. I wondered if some scan might show if there is a structural problem.

I will look into this. Didn't know you could get Codiene over the counter!

Thank you for this. Will definitely look into this xxx

Good idea. I will try this. Thank you x

Thank you! Good suggestion x

Thank you everyone for all your helpful suggestions. I appreciate each and every one of them.

I absolutely love my TENS nachine. Used to get Diclofenac for back pain years ago