Question
I have arthritis in my lower back, from the arthritis I have developed sciatica pain in both of my thighs.  The sciatica pain is worse in the morning or if I do much walking it flares up again.  Often it is severe bringing tears to my eyes.  Right now the only relief I get from the sciatica pain is if I lay down almost in a fetal position and then the pain stops in about 5 or 10 minutes.

I am wondering if Naproxin (aleeve) would be of help and if I could take it for my sciatica pain?  It stopped my arthritis pain right away.  There is a problem with my kidneys as they are functioning in the low range but have been stable for a little more than 3 years.  Thank you for your advice.


Answer
Hi Bart, Naproxin won't do anything to stop or slow down the arthritis. Glucosamine sulfate has proven to. It is an OTC supplement that is inexpensive, it usually has MSM in it which you shoud have. Taking 3000mg.day is the proven therapeutic dose to stop OA and reverse it in most cases. Naproxin actually destroys kidney and connective tiisue while it masks the symptoms. It is like shutting off the fire alarm without putting out the fire, sounds crazy and it is. I also recommend you seek flexion/distraction therapy since this will further slow any back problems.

Here is a link with doctors:

http://www.coxtechnic.com/homepage.asp

Here is what it is:

Flexion-Distraction Therapy - What is it?


Flexion-Distraction, (F/D) is a gentle, chiropractic treatment procedure utilized for back and neck pain. Flexion-Distraction is a safe alternative to back surgery for those 95% of patients whose conditions do not demand surgical intervention. The doctor is in control of the treatment movements at all times.

Flexion-Distraction is utilized for many conditions such as:

Failed Back surgical Syndromes
Disc Herniation/Ruptured Disc / Bulging Disc / Herniated Disc
Sciatica / Leg pain
"Whiplash" injuries
Stenosis
Arm Pain
Neck Pain
Failed course of Steroid Injections
Chemical Radiculitis
Spondylolisthesis
Headache
Transitional segment
Many more conditions?
How does Flexion-Distraction Work?

For Disc related conditions:

Increases the intervertebral disc height to remove annular tension on the annular fibers and nerve by making more room and improving circulation.
Allows the nucleus pulposus, the center of the disc, to assume its central position within the annular fibers and relieves irritation of the spinal nerve.
Restores vertebral joints to their physiological relationships of motion.
Improves posture and locomotion while relieving pain, improving body functions, and creating a state of well-being.
For Non-Disc related conditions:

Patients with other conditions causing back pain (facet syndrome, spondylolisthesis, sprain/strain, scoliosis, transitional vertebra, sacroiliac restrictions and misalignment, certain types of spinal stenosis), Flexion/Distraction provides all of the above benefits plus the ability to place the spinal joints into normal, painless movements so as to restore spinal motion without pain:

The posterior disc space increases in height.
F/D decreases disc protrusion and reduces stenosis.
Flexion stretches the ligamentum flavum to reduce stenosis.
Flexion opens the vertebral canal by 2 mm (16%) or 3.5 to 6mm more than extension.
Flexion increases metabolite transport into the disc.
Flexion opens the apophyseal joints and reduces posterior disc stress
The nucleus pulposus does not move on flexion. Intradiscal pressure drops under distraction to below 100mm Hg. On extension the nucleus or annulus is seen to protrude posterior into the vertebral canal.
Intervertebral foraminal openings enlarge giving patency to the nerve.

Reference: Cox JM, Feller JA, Cox-Cid JA: Topics in clinical Chiropractic 1996; 3(3):45-59

You can call around the local area and ask if the DC has F/D tables. These are usually reduced in a few weeks. No way surgery is the first option, besides, scar tissue grows rapidly after surgery necessitating more surgeries. They usually fail anyway, get the F/D!

Massage won't hurt but it won't solve the problem either.


Thank you for your question and Bart good Luck!

Dr. Timothy Durnin
drs.chiroweb.com