ibuprofen gel or tablets?

iammumtoone

I know know one can give medical advise so I will refrain from stating what the problem is.

I hope I can ask, what people opinions are on whether they find gel or tablets work better for them?

I am also confused about the strength of gels, does it make a difference buying the stronger one? as you are only allowed a maximum amount of ibuprofen anyway it seems to me that it doesn't matter, you could just use more of the weaker version than the stronger one? much like the tablets where you can buy stronger ones but can only take one rather than two of the lower strength.

Thanks

gardner1

never been sure of gel.....as half of it ends up getting washed off you hands

prosaver

ifound heat pads work better

theoretica

I use both tablets and gel for different things. With the gel I don't worry about stomach side effects and if the pain really needs treating. Strength - whatever the pound shop has.

prosaver

would be better to say what's causing the pain .. i had knee pain and found building the muscles around my knee stopped the pain , same with my back pain,now I'm pain-free.

iammumtoone

prosaver wrote: »

ifound heat pads work better

I looked at deep heat but need something I can use during the day and that stinks! I didn't think of heat pads, I have one of those microwave wheat pads, I will use that in the evenings.

theoretica wrote: »

I use both tablets and gel for different things. With the gel I don't worry about stomach side effects and if the pain really needs treating. Strength - whatever the pound shop has.

I was thinking gel as its more direct than tablets therfore I wouldn't need to use so much overall. I didn't know it was available in poundshops, thanks, for that price I will give it a go.

prosaver wrote: »

would be better to say what's causing the pain .. i had knee pain and found building the muscles around my knee stopped the pain , same with my back pain,now I'm pain-free.

Shoulder, I fell over and landed on it :(

oldandhappy

A product called Flector GEL 1% I swear by this...not sure if available in the UK though. No side effects noticed unlike tablets when taken regularly often upset the stomach. BW Dianne

jewlls

prosaver wrote: »

would be better to say what's causing the pain .. i had knee pain and found building the muscles around my knee stopped the pain , same with my back pain,now I'm pain-free.

Can I ask what sort of exercise you did as I also suffer with back pain
And knee pain

jenniewb

OP I was told by a GP that these creams do not work- at best they may help inflamed skin but even if they were able to get deep enough into the skin to bypass all 5 skin barriers, it would simply end up in the blood stream and any idea on applying to specific locations would be lost as everyone has a flowing blood supply (if it stood still you're heart would have to have stopped beating).


If you wanted suggestions on exercises for back pain and knee pain (I have the same as I was diagnosed with early stages of osteoarthritis after visiting my GP (who then referred me to an orthopaedic Doctor) I would suggest Pilates BUT to go to a decent class first as it can be very easy to take the class, look as though you are working really hard but end up having not exercised at all. What you'd be looking for is a teacher who had a clue what she was talking about and corrected postures and techniques. It takes a little time to get things to a level where you've developed enough to notice a real difference in back pain but get the basics right and the rest will follow faster than before.

jewlls

Thank you for the suggestion of doing Pilates, but I don't think there are any classes by me, except the gym down the road where I'm not a member,

KxMx

If ibuprofen creams didn't work they would not be on sale with claims they did. They would also not be available on prescription if the NHS felt they didn't work. Advertising claims & packaging wording is highly regulated & has to be backed with evidence. As Nurofen have found to their cost recently.

If you have a headache & take paracetamol I don't see it as any different to rubbing ibuprofen gel into a sore area. No it doesn't stay there (like paracetamol doesn't remain in the stomach) but it goes into the body and the pain relieving properties of the medication then get to work. I myself find the act of
rubbing in soothing.

Creams are ideal for me because I can't take the tablets with any regularity.