Possibly a stupid question.

[saltire]

Can I use Ibuprofen gel and Iburprofen painkillers together?

No.

Well you can but you need to adjust the dose because they both end up in your blood stream and it's difficult to judge. So don't use the gel and take a full dose of tablets at the same time.

Oh I was hoping the answer would be yes because of this.

Oh gosh - I'd say keep taking the tablets. The anti-inflammatory effect of ibubrofen(rather than the painkilling bit) can take a while to kick in IME. Or you could try codeine but they can make you feel a bit sick (and bung you up).

dd has taken codeine, paracetamol and voltarol (under medical supervision) for orthopeadic pain but I would speak to the pharmacist before you take them all together.

It started yesterday and has got worse. I don't know how I'm going to cope at work! Haven't had time to get teh doctors, adn if I did phone the appointment would be 3 weeks on Tuesday!

Do you have an NHS walk-in centre nearby saltire?

Saltire - I have just got over the most excruciating neck/shoulder pain. It was so bad that I had to get dp to help me in and out of bed etc...in fact there were a few nights that I did not sleep.

I went to the docs and he presribed codeine. I kept taking the ibuprofen tablets but not as well as the gel too. He told me to use one or the other. I used the tablets and bought Ralgex which helped.

You really should get it checked out just in case you have slipped a disc.

I don't think there is a walk in NHS place - maybe through in portsmouth.
I work for a well known high street chemist and will ask the pharmacists advice - if I get there, ahve got a bus ride and walk through the centre to get through first!