John,

I've been using glucosamine sulfate and condroitin sulfate in combination for quite a while and find it works wonders for my arthritic hands, elbows and knees. But I also have some disk degeneration on my spine and occasionally have a round with sciatica from that. The GS/CS will lubricate and and rebuild joints, but do nothing to regenerate disks or relieve the pressure on the nerve that causes sciatica.

A very simple thing I do — which several other people have tried and all agreeded it helped — is just find a playground bar (or even the floor above as you're going down some steps) and hang like you're going to do chin-ups.

I find it stretches my back and takes the pressure off the sciatic nerve.

good luck,

david