Aleve or Advil (or Tylenol)

[indysteel]

Beth, from what I know, Advil and Aleve are both NSAIDs. The difference, at least according to the friendly pharmacist, is that Aleve is really strong while Advil/Neurofen is a lower dose. He also suggested taking Aleve with antacids and on a full stomach because it can cause irritation to the stomach lining.

Friendly or not, I'm not sure your pharmacist is correct. While both NSAIDs, Aleve and Advil use two different active ingredients--naproxin and ibuprofen, respectively. My understanding is that a standard OTC dose of Aleve controls pain longer than a standard OTC dose of Advil--at least according to Aleve's marketing. Each can irritate your stomach, as can aspirin, another NSAID. One should also be aware that NSAIDs can impact your kidneys. Especially if you're using it during exercise, it's important to up your fluid intake. Tylenol uses yet another active ingredient. In my experience, Tylenol makes a great fever reducer but is less effective when it comes to pain relief. In fact, I'm not even sure it's classified as an NSAID. If it's the only thing your stomach can tolerate, however, I suppose it's an option. Do not, however, use it with alcohol.

I've had a variety of aches and pains--including SI joint irritation over the last year. I have become FAR more relunctant to use NSAIDs to control the pain. The tendency with OTC drugs is to treat that as wholly benign. Unfortunately, they're not benign. I reach for the ice instead and religiously do the exercises my physical therapist gave me. I'm not saying you shouldn't use them, but use them as spraringly if you can. Take them with food if necessary, drink lots of water, and avoid alcohol.

[Dogmama]

I'd see a specialist & get some good exercises. NSAIDs are not without risks. I've taken meloxicam for 15 years (a prescribed NSAID) because I have arthritis in my hands, spine, etc. Now I have a constant ringing in my ears when things are very quiet. That's just one of the side effects that "they" don't tell you about.

[jessmarimba]

I use...nothing, usually. For the last year Tylenol has been the "recommended" pain reliever b/c the others can inhibit bone growth. Unfortunately, it doesn't really do much for pain. I take Excedrin for migraines when absolutely necessary and will occasionally take tylenol PM if I'm in too much pain to sleep, but there isn't a pill that really has helped my back pain (not even percocet).

For me, laying over a pilates ball on my stomach and then my back is the best thing I can do to let it relax and decompress. Once that feels good, I have a little while before it starts to bother me again. Obviously I'm having different issues than you are but I wonder if there is something similar that might help you, even temporarily.

[grey]

I'd see a good physical therapist. I used to have SI pain - couldn't even put a leg down sometimes. One visit to a good PT, he saw the problem, taught me some stretches & exercises, and no more SI pain May you be just as lucky.

BTW, Aleve is banned in Canada because it causes heart problems. My Dad was taking Aleve every day for his back pain. He started having heart issues he thought were unrelated - forgot to pack Aleve when they went to Nova Scotia, and was surprised not to find it on the shelves there, and a pharmacist explained why - it causes heart attacks. After some research online, they discovered this was true. His heart issues disappeared, we think forgetting to pack that bottle maybe saved his life.

[ny biker]

Tylenol/acetaminophen is not an NSAID. It does not reduce inflamation.

If the Aleve is making you sick, call your doctor and talk to him about it. There are other NSAIDs out there. He might say Ibuprofin is fine, or he might say something else is better.

All NSAIDs bother my stomach. I always have to take them with food.

There's also lots of information online about whatever drugs you might be taking. Drugs.com can be useful:

http://www.drugs.com/sfx/aleve-side-effects.html

And the NIH has all kinds of good information about drugs, vitamins, all kinds of stuff:

http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/d...s/a681029.html

[indysteel]

Physical therapists--good ones--are life savers. I went a year with some significant back and hip pain. I popped Advil when it got really bad with no real lasting relief. I finally went to my doc and got a PT referral. After one visit, I felt better. After a couple months worth of treatment, almost all of the pain went away and the mobility of that hip had improved greatly. Thanks to the exercises, I haven't had any problems for almost a year.

[surgtech1956]

I like Aleve, because I can take it in the morning and seems to last alot longer for me. I broke my ankle in December and still experience alot of swelling and the Aleve works better as an anti-inflammatory drug than Advil, at least for me.