Managing sciatic and arthritic pain with creams?

I wonder if any of you have tried, with success, creams that one rubs on the painful area? I am hesitant to use capsisin creams because then I can't use heat--or hot tubs. A friend swears by GABA--gamma amino butyric acid, in cream form. Anyone had experience with it or other rub-on treatments? I figured they were less likely to be dangerous than oral treatments. GABA is touted as a "natural" treatment, but since it isn't a treatment for ITP, I thought this thread didn't belong in the "Alternative/natural" discussion group.

Since NSAIDs are tabu for most of us, and others besides me can't tolerate codeine meds, I thought maybe people had experimented with these creams.

In the past I have been able to use Ultram (Tramadol), but it doesn't seem to touch my nerve pain.

Ice is good, but I live in the San Francisco Bay Area, and we have cold summers, so ice isn't as agreeable as it might be in Arizona!

I've tried capsasin and for joints and love it - it works well, but then I can't put my contacts in.

If you have nerve pain, you might want to try something like Cymbalta or Neurontin. Do you have a neurologist?

Thanks, Sandi. I don't have a neurologist. My sciatica seems to be receding, so I may not need to ask for a referral.

I do have a physical therapist, who told me today, if I got it right, that Neurontin is related to GABA. Have you tried Cymbalta or Neurontin? For what?

I have neuropathy that comes and goes. I know that sounds weird, but it has to do with Lupus and the amount of inflammation I have going on. I was prescribed Cymbalta at one point, but didn't do well with it. That's actually an understatement. I took one pill on a Friday night and was unable to function the next day. I sat and stared and couldn't think. Never took another one. That is me though, and others have done well with it.

I've tried many, many medications over the years and I can tell you that Ultram is useless.

I don't think a neurologist would take care of sciatica. A neurosurgeon yes - if surgery was needed to take care of what is causing the sciatica.

In my case I'd been on a low dose of Gabapentin [Neurontion] for a while and it did nothing whatsoever for my sciatica. Maybe a higher dose would have but I refuse to take a higher dose [I take it for neuropathy]. If my neurologist, who I see for neuropathy, suggested Cymbalta I would refuse it.

Reading up on sciatica it usually will go away after a while - usually. Probably that would depend on the cause. A friend has it due to spinal stenosis, I had it for a different reason. PT helped him a lot [he tried acupuncture but after 2 sessions said it didn't help so he never went back - but acupuncture isn't a quick fix like he was hoping], PT didn't help me one bit with sciatica.

My question Karen would be have you had any tests to see why you have sciatica? An MRI brought to light the reason I had it - was an MRI for my friend too.

You're right, Melinda. I thought "nerve" and my head went to neurologist. I should have known since I've seen a neurosurgeon for my cervical herniations.

In answer to your question, Melinda, I've only had x-rays--which showed degenerative arthritis--not a surprise since I have it in my hips, knees, and fingers. I suppose an MRI would be more definitive. (I have to get up the nerve to get into one of those machines though--I'm claustrophobic!)

My usual PT has been more helpful than my orthopedist. He gives me very gentle core exercises, advises me on how to strengthen my muscles without hurting myself.

Karen, if you need to have a MRI, go to your family dr and get something for your nerves. That's what I had to do. Now, nothing works.

You are fortunate PT is helping - it is also helping my friend who has sciatica due to spinal stenosis. Since it didn't help me my MD sent me for an MRI [I don't mind them, I close my eyes and think good thoughts and will sometimes fall asleep - I just don't open my eyes until out of it]. I know my problem could arise again at any time and if so both my neurologist and neurosurgeon have recommended surgery.

Your physical therapist sounds very good.

PT helped me as long as I was going. When I stopped, I no longer felt any benefit. My insurance only pays for 20 sessions a year, so I was done in 10 weeks (2 sessions per week).

I close my eyes in the MRI too and pretend I'm somewhere else. They also had a mirror above me that showed the tech, so I was able to see people instead of just the machine.

I have mild Scoliosis (curving of the spine) which makes it real easy for me to have spinal misalignment and I frequently get sciatic pain. While time may cure an inflamed nerve, stopping the pressure on the nerve makes a much bigger difference. I use chiropractic regularly to stay in adjustment.

A friend of mine encountered sciatica for the first time in her 60's after missing a flight and doing a night on airport benches. While chiropractic helped with the acute, she ended up needing the PT to strengthen the muscless to keep the back from going out again.

A friend was told that a chiropractor could do more harm than good at her age [was in mid-50s at the time]. I would prefer to stay with a physical therapist and/or acupuncturist.

Sandi didn't your therapist give you exercises to do at home? I would think they should have.

Yes, they gave me exercises, but those are the same ones the chiropractor gave me 10 years ago. They don't help, and only leave me unable to move my neck.

Hi. I've had ITP nearly 30 years, a fairly mild case of it. I also have arthritis which I will say affects me more on a daily basis than my ITP does. I do take an NSAID, with permission from my hematologist, citing the fact that it is a quality of life issue for me. WIthout it (I take generic Mobic currently and have taken Celebrex in the past-until that got too expensive), I am very uncomfortable. I never realize how well it's working until I can't take, such as when I am preparing for surgery. I have 2 replaced knees, the last one done in April. I have arthritis in my shoulders and hips and when I've come off Mobic for those replacement surgeries, I can tell! I may be having surgery again because I have some scar tissue that formed by my latest new knee which may have to be excised surgically so if that happens, it'll be no more MObic for me until after the surgery.

I do stay away from the creams because so many of them have some form of aspirin in them. I can't name names off the bat but I do look at the labels anytime I've been temnpted to try them. I did try Capzisin (spelling that completely wrong!) on my aching feet a couple of years and that was a mistake because I used too much! My feet burned for a few days, my mistake, lol!