Aches and pains can come from illness or injury, but can also come from normal wear and tear as we age. DAMHIK. I have participated in active sports and exercise all my life and have had lower back pain for the past 15 years which has been diagnosed following scans and X-rays as degeneration of bones in the spine. I keep it at bay, but cannot completely cure it, by regular exercise including walking, cycling and back exercises.
Sometimes waking up after a heavy ride or particularly strenuous walk the day before can be very painful but an occasionaI ibuprofen or two before or after the exercise can alleviate it.
If it works for the op, his GP is fine with it, and it does not become habitual on every ride, there is absolutely no problem with the use of Ibuprofen or painkillers (edit: although personally I find codeine unnecessarily strong for the level of pain I get). Of course this is not saying that trying to find a cause of or cure for the pain should not be the first course of action.