Popping a pain killer

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PaulSB

Squire
Well obviously you wouldn't take them if you don't experience aches + pains.

The role is pain killers is to keep you mobile whilst experiencing a flare up. So you can do the PT for example.

I stretch for 20 minutes every morning. I have a routine for the whole body but which also focuses on cycling muscles. You might find something like this very worthwhile.

I have friends in theor 80s who do similar and swear by it.
 

Jameshow

Veteran
Sort of getting used of aches pains - especially in the winter months. A find a ride more enjoyable if I pop a cocadamol as I start the ride.

GP reckons at my age (61) the benefits of regular cycling outweigh the downsides of codeine.

Anyone else in senior years do this ?

Disclaimer:-
Bike fit done - regular gym & pilates attendee .

I have taken paracetamol and ibuprofen during a marathon before.

Alleviates the soreness you feel when running that distance, but on a bike you shouldn't have such discomfort if your contact points are good!

I tend to get generally fatigued rather than specific pains on the bike.
 
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kingrollo

kingrollo

Guru
I stretch for 20 minutes every morning. I have a routine for the whole body but which also focuses on cycling muscles. You might find something like this very worthwhile.

I have friends in theor 80s who do similar and swear by it.


Please read the original post. I am a regular pilates and gym goer.

I do also stretch daily and have warm up and cool down routines.

You get to pain management...injections , opioids when the first line and second line etc methods have failed. It's a choice between popping a pill or avoiding the activity altogether. I prefer to remain active

I can't believe the free ride ibuprofen and NSAID drugs get. I have a colleague who almost died from bleeding caused by taking naproxen for less than a week
 

Marchrider

Über Member
Sort of getting used of aches pains - especially in the winter months. A find a ride more enjoyable if I pop a cocadamol as I start the ride.

GP reckons at my age (61) the benefits of regular cycling outweigh the downsides of codeine.

Anyone else in senior years do this ?

Disclaimer:-
Bike fit done - regular gym & pilates attendee .

I would listen to your GP

luckily (touch wood) I don't need to now but about 15 years ago I needed to do that sort of thing (tramadol) to get moving, and as the doc said to me it is the moving and doing things that will get you better (double slipped disc nightmare). probably did that for a year and a bit, and then the need became less (it was big miss when my wife flushed all the tramadol and I had to go cold turkey)

what is your pain?
 
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kingrollo

kingrollo

Guru
I would listen to your GP

luckily (touch wood) I don't need to now but about 15 years ago I needed to do that sort of thing (tramadol) to get moving, and as the doc said to me it is the moving and doing things that will get you better (double slipped disc nightmare). probably did that for a year and a bit, and then the need became less (it was big miss when my wife flushed all the tramadol and I had to go cold turkey)

what is your pain?

Erm is the GP who prescribed the medication.

Take the least amount of medication for the shortest amount of time was the advice.

Yeah it's ongoing spine back issues. As you say the pain relief let's you move pain free. Without it your body compensates leading to muscle spasms and stiffness.
 

Sharky

Guru
Location
Kent
I recall what my dad told me some 50 years ago. When he was racing, before the war, a popular concoction before a time trial was an Aspirin+Coka Cola
 

Jody

Stubborn git
I don't see an issue for you with Codeine depending on frequency and strength. They can be a little moreish, slow your reactions and slow down the passage of waste but aren't harmful unless you become dependent and it spirals into higher doses.

There are plenty of times I take it but my rule is no more than 2 days at a time. Mainly when my back has gone or i've been in pain from heavy work.

I really like the feeling of it so have to be mindful at all times.
 

Marchrider

Über Member
all these things need a bit of context - if someone is taking them so as they can do 10 gentle miles like I used to then thats probably good, but if someone is taking them to help knock 10 seconds off some mad uphill strava time trial section then that would probably be stupid.
 
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kingrollo

kingrollo

Guru
all these things need a bit of context - if someone is taking them so as they can do 10 gentle miles like I used to then thats probably good, but if someone is taking them to help knock 10 seconds off some mad uphill strava time trial section then that would probably be stupid.

Yep that's me. It's keeping mobile. I'm an asthmatic with a heart condition. Hence getting my quota of exercise in outweighs the downsides of codeine.
Not looking for any performance gain - other than working out when otherwise I wouldn't.

I wish I didn't have to take any medication. But the conservative measures have been exhausted.

Very much like blood pressure medication. For years I kept by BP low by a healthy diet and of course cycling - but in the end those measures weren't enough.

We often hear how saddles are a personal thing. Sadly so is our anatomy. A daily bit of yoga may well keep you on your bike until your late 70s and beyond. But that doesn't work for everyone - no two of us are built the same.
 

Jameshow

Veteran
all these things need a bit of context - if someone is taking them so as they can do 10 gentle miles like I used to then thats probably good, but if someone is taking them to help knock 10 seconds off some mad uphill strava time trial section then that would probably be stupid.

I'm taking them before I hit crag vale again Colin!
15mins here I come!!!
 
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.
 
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