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Good for bumps bruises/muscle pain or snake oil?
Good for damage to connective tissue that's just under the skin. Tennis elbow is a great example. I wouldn't bother with it for deeper injuries.
APF
I used it as recently as Sunday for a knotted trapezius which plagues me when riding. Last for about an hour on the bike, a morning off the bike.
It works as local relief for a brief while.
Got a bruised back that is keeping me awake at night. I can only sleep flat on my back which causes me to snore. Then all of a sudden I'm awake again with the odd sensation that I've just been punched or kicked.
Never really understood how it could work as it has to pass through the epidermis and would get diluted / spread all over the body via your blood?
I read somewhere that there is no proof that it works any better than taking ibuprofen pills
The pills upset my stomach.
Try 'Lloyds Cream' the only one I find that actually works for that sort of thing, rub on area 2 or 3 times a day
the gel is useless - as is most of the topical creams, etc.
Gel isn't useless, a friend of mine has severe asthma and can't use the pills but his doc says the creams are ok. Works great on his Achilles which he has niggles with. I've used it on my Achilles too with good results.
I did have to ask for the 10% version over the counter though.
Just got some of the 10% stuff and rubbed it into my lumps.
My hands have gone numb.
It works well just as well as the pills really but without it rotting your stomach. Good for asthma sufferers or those with renal problems but if you have those speak to your GP first.
Placebo
I've never felt a benefit from it for bruises or muscle strains.
Placebo
Whatever you say Doctor, it seems to be working.
I had a good go at fracturing a few ribs and knackering my knee a couple of weeks ago by falling between some joists...fair enough really, it's not like I'm used to flooring scenarios...anyway, I've been using Voltarol and have found it quite good at relieving the rib and knee pain. That and co-codamol has been helpful. A bit spacey like, but it's helped.
The 10% stuff works for some injuries / muscle pulls etc..
Some people respond better to brufoen than others so if its working then crack on
Harry_the_Spider - Member
The pills upset my stomach.POSTED 2 HOURS AGO # REPORT-POST
Give the suppository option a go, you might like it!
I find the voltarol the best of the creams
A Cochrane review from 2010 is equally positive about the treatment of acute pain conditions. Forty-seven trials were included in their analysis that considered topical NSAIDs for strains, sprains, and overuse-type injuries. Compared to placebo, topical NSAIDs were evaluated to be effective, with few side effects, with a number needed to treat (NNT) of 4.5. About 6 or 7 out of 10 users can expect to achieve pain control with a topical NSAID, compared to 4 with a placebo. Side effects are comparable to placebo. And given systemic absorption is lower, the serious toxicity we associate with NSAIDs should be lessened, too. Not bad.
Just get completely ****ered and let the wife get on with it.
Repeat until the papers arrive in the post.
I can't tell if it works or not tbh but then I'm also not a good judge of what's a really suitable injury. My GP suggested it for my wonky busted tailbone and it did bugger all, but then that doesn't really seem that surprising. (I was cynical at the time; maybe it would have worked better if I was convinced...)
teef - MemberPlacebo
It's an NSAID; is it good for reducing pristine bruises?
My hands have gone numb.
Interesting 😉
I got some Voltarol for my thigh pain but it did nothing but neither did any of the usual oral painkillers.Turned out it was a nerve problem,pressure on the nerve in my neck/spine for which I was offerred anti psychotic medication which also works on some types of pain.I declined, I didn't want to suppress my psychotic tendencies:)
My wife used the Voltarol for a neck/shoulder sprain/pain and swears by it's efficacy. She got fluid, pain free movement back within hours.
I thought that Ibuprofen wasn't particularly well absorbed topically. Unless I've misremembered, anyway.
voltarol +1 for me. back/glute/shoulder pain - no stomach issues with
and if you did happen to want a tipple... 🙂
The only reason I tried Voltarol was as a result of having tried some of mrs deadly's Diclofenac - as prescribed for wimminz stuff after a tough labour. It's quite the painkiller!
teef - Member
Placebo
Like to show us proof of your medical training...
FWIW I have continual nagging discomfort from a damaged left knee, plus occasional pain from an old lower back injury, and while I find ibuprofen tablets work ok, the gel is a bit less effective.
Voltarol, on the other hand, I find to be very effective. At a price, though.
Worked a treat on MissStripes' broken finger. Thin skin there, though.
Aye, I did a sharp intake when I went to buy some last week. I guess because Voltarol is the only brand available in the UK (or is it...?) they slap a premium price on it. Hopefully, it'll become generic at some stage.
I can only sleep flat on my back which causes me to snore. Then all of a sudden I'm awake again with the odd sensation that I've just been punched or kicked.
The same happens to me - either earplugs or restraints for the other person in the bed seems to cure it.
It seems to work on some injuries but I suspect it's the massage releasing endorphins as much as the drug working through the skin.
You can get spray too. No massage effect then and works for me
Powerful things those 20 second massages.
If using Ibuprofen gel on one's back, and someone else is rubbing it in, I can recommend making sure it's properly rubbed in before putting one's t-shirt back on. Cotton/wet-gel/skin makes for quite a powerful bond. 😆
Doesn't do anything for me, then again Ibuprofen tablets don't do much for me either.
Someone on here mentioned a while ago about how he helps his pain by going to sleep with a tubigrip filled with the gel round his knees once in a while. Might give it a try!
The few times I've tried Voltarol it's not done anything as far as I could tell but the GF treats it as some sort of magic lotion that instantly cures any muscle/joint pain she gets.
Voltarol is Diclofenac - cna help if your stomach can't handle the drug internally.
Llyods pharmacy do their own versions of the brufen and diclofenac gels/creams.
You'll have to ask for them though.
Again though - they work mostly because of the mind set.
Neither do sod all for me. But then I've had years of level 7-9 pain and seriously strong meds that have ruined my digestive system.
Even the Doc in the pain clinic said "don't waste your money" when asked about them. I get free prescriptions!
A lot will depend on your pain threshold and resistance to neuralgics.
Reasons for NOT taking ibuprofen instead:
Fruitflow side effects, improved recovery, tastes a bit tomatoey
For this reason, take lowest possible dose of ibuprofen for the shortest possible time needed to control your symptoms.
Common side effects of ibuprofen include:
•nausea (feeling sick)
•vomiting (being sick)
•diarrhoea (passing loose, watery stools)
•indigestion (dyspepsia)
•abdominal (tummy) pain
Less common side effects include:
•headache
•dizziness
•fluid retention (bloating)
•raised blood pressure
•gastritis (inflammation of the stomach)
•duodenal or gastric ulcers (open sores in the digestive system, see Peptic ulcer)
•allergic reactions, such as a rash
•worsening of asthma symptoms by causing bronchospasm (narrowing of airways)
Increased risks
Taking ibuprofen, particularly at high doses over long periods of time, can increase your risk of:
•stroke, when the blood supply to the brain is disturbed
•heart attacks, when the blood supply to the heart is blocked
In females, long-term use of ibuprofen can sometimes be associated with reduced fertility. This is usually reversible when you stop taking ibuprofen.
Ability to drive
Ibuprofen is unlikely to affect your ability to drive safely, although some people may feel dizzy after taking ibuprofen. If you experience dizziness, do not drive.
So i know which id rather take!!!