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I Have Disc Herniation At L4 L5 Giving Me Sciatica
Question: I have Disc herniation at L4 L5 giving me sciatica in my right leg. I have taken 1 epidural steroid injection a4 L4 L5 and it has reduced pain significantly. I plan to take one more injection. Still I have to take Aleve which helps a lot. I want to understand what is maximum dosage which is ok to take even though I wont take that much.
I understand that Naproxene dosage is maximum 1500 mg per day for 6 months. I take Aleve with 200 mg of Naproxene in 1 tablet. So 7 Aleve have 1400 mg of Naproxene in it. Does it mean I can take 7 aleve per day for 6 months ? I wont take this much but I want to understand XXXXXXX allowed.I dont want to have spine surgery which can be very risky. Thanks.
I understand that Naproxene dosage is maximum 1500 mg per day for 6 months. I take Aleve with 200 mg of Naproxene in 1 tablet. So 7 Aleve have 1400 mg of Naproxene in it. Does it mean I can take 7 aleve per day for 6 months ? I wont take this much but I want to understand XXXXXXX allowed.I dont want to have spine surgery which can be very risky. Thanks.
Brief Answer:
Yes. That's the maximum dose.
Detailed Answer:
Hi,
Thanks for being on healthcaremagic.com.
I am Dr.Ajay Panwar, a neurologist, here to answer your query.
As you said 1500 mg per day is the maximum dose;however, it should be taken for limited period(short duration). Taking the same dose increases the risk of side effects including nephrotoxicity and gastric ulceration. Prolonged intake of most of the Non steroidal anti-inflammatory medicines including naproxen, poses the risk of their associated side effects.Its better for you to take Aleve on sos(when needed) basis or regularly for short duration and then on sos basis.
Hope that helps. If you have any further questions, I shall be glad to have you in follow-up.
Regards,
Dr.Ajay Panwar,
MD,DM(Neurology)
Yes. That's the maximum dose.
Detailed Answer:
Hi,
Thanks for being on healthcaremagic.com.
I am Dr.Ajay Panwar, a neurologist, here to answer your query.
As you said 1500 mg per day is the maximum dose;however, it should be taken for limited period(short duration). Taking the same dose increases the risk of side effects including nephrotoxicity and gastric ulceration. Prolonged intake of most of the Non steroidal anti-inflammatory medicines including naproxen, poses the risk of their associated side effects.Its better for you to take Aleve on sos(when needed) basis or regularly for short duration and then on sos basis.
Hope that helps. If you have any further questions, I shall be glad to have you in follow-up.
Regards,
Dr.Ajay Panwar,
MD,DM(Neurology)
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Remy Koshy
Thanks for your response.
1) You said that 1500 mg per day maximum dosage should be taken for limited amount of time. I understand that this limited time is 6 months. Is that correct?
2) One Aleve has 200 mg of Naproxene. Does that mean 7 aleves per day can be taken for 6 months?
I am asking for maximum allowed. I will take it only on as needed basis but I want to understand the maximum limits so I can properly evaluate it against spine surgery. Thanks.
1) You said that 1500 mg per day maximum dosage should be taken for limited amount of time. I understand that this limited time is 6 months. Is that correct?
2) One Aleve has 200 mg of Naproxene. Does that mean 7 aleves per day can be taken for 6 months?
I am asking for maximum allowed. I will take it only on as needed basis but I want to understand the maximum limits so I can properly evaluate it against spine surgery. Thanks.
Brief Answer:
6 months is too longer a period to take such high dose.
Detailed Answer:
Hi,
Thanks for being in follow-up.
With limited period I mean, a week or two. Such a high dose should not be continued for 6 months. The straight principle is- use lowest effective dose, for shortest effective duration. Continuation for 6 months is not advisable in disc herniation. It may be taken for long term in diseases like arthritis or ankylosing spondylitis if symptoms don't improve, but even in those cases shortest dose and duration is attempted. I suggest you to upload your MRI report and images, so that I can guide you well if at all it is advisable to delay surgery and continue taking naproxen.
Hope that helps. If you have any further questions, I shall be glad to have you in follow-up.
you can ask a query directly to me anytime at-
https://doctor.healthcaremagic.com/Funnel?page=askDoctorDirectly&docId=69273
Regards,
Dr.Ajay Panwar,
MD,DM(Neurology)
6 months is too longer a period to take such high dose.
Detailed Answer:
Hi,
Thanks for being in follow-up.
With limited period I mean, a week or two. Such a high dose should not be continued for 6 months. The straight principle is- use lowest effective dose, for shortest effective duration. Continuation for 6 months is not advisable in disc herniation. It may be taken for long term in diseases like arthritis or ankylosing spondylitis if symptoms don't improve, but even in those cases shortest dose and duration is attempted. I suggest you to upload your MRI report and images, so that I can guide you well if at all it is advisable to delay surgery and continue taking naproxen.
Hope that helps. If you have any further questions, I shall be glad to have you in follow-up.
you can ask a query directly to me anytime at-
https://doctor.healthcaremagic.com/Funnel?page=askDoctorDirectly&docId=69273
Regards,
Dr.Ajay Panwar,
MD,DM(Neurology)
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Remy Koshy
Thank you for your response.
You are correct that for disc herniation, 6 months is too long.But for arthritis and spondylitis, it can be taken for 6 months if needed. Is that correct?
Also one Aleve has 200 mg Naproxene. Does that mean one can take 7 Aleve daily for 6 months in case of Arthritis or Spondylitis?
Your direct response will very much improve my understanding. Thanks.
You are correct that for disc herniation, 6 months is too long.But for arthritis and spondylitis, it can be taken for 6 months if needed. Is that correct?
Also one Aleve has 200 mg Naproxene. Does that mean one can take 7 Aleve daily for 6 months in case of Arthritis or Spondylitis?
Your direct response will very much improve my understanding. Thanks.
Brief Answer:
It should be taken for minimum effective duration in whatever disease.
Detailed Answer:
Hi,
Thanks for being in follow-up.
One straightforward protocol for whatever disease is- take minimum effective dose for minimum effective duration; which means that it should be taken for minimum duration in which patient gets optimally treated. In arthritis and ankylosing spondylitis also, taking it 1500 mg per day for 6 months will be done in cases when symptoms are bad. In these diseases also, minimum effective duration is desirable.
Hope that helps.If you have any further questions,I shall be glad to have you in follow-up.
Regards,
Dr.Ajay Panwar,
MD,DM(Neurology)
It should be taken for minimum effective duration in whatever disease.
Detailed Answer:
Hi,
Thanks for being in follow-up.
One straightforward protocol for whatever disease is- take minimum effective dose for minimum effective duration; which means that it should be taken for minimum duration in which patient gets optimally treated. In arthritis and ankylosing spondylitis also, taking it 1500 mg per day for 6 months will be done in cases when symptoms are bad. In these diseases also, minimum effective duration is desirable.
Hope that helps.If you have any further questions,I shall be glad to have you in follow-up.
Regards,
Dr.Ajay Panwar,
MD,DM(Neurology)
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Nagamani Ng
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