Is good for pain. It also has the lowest potential for cardiac issues caused
by NSAIDs. (a comparison was done, and Naprosyn was the lowest in risk--but there is still some risk) 500mg twice a day is the max RX dose.
It is also the same as Aleve OTC which is is sodium salt and faster acting.
I've found that Aleve liquigels are just as good as the RX, at least for me. The liquigel form seems to
be absorbed faster and it matches the higher RX dose for me. I think it is because of the liquigel technology.

What NSAIDs do is suppress Cox-2 enzymes. Some Cox-2 are inflammatory and others are part of the healing process. So with long term use, NSAIDs don't really lead to healing. Also one important Cox-2 is prostacyclin made in the kidney which is a vasodilator-- suppressing THIS is what causes the heart attacks, and increased blood pressure.
And Vioxx was the most potent Cox-2 NSAID and that is why so many heart attacks resulted. Prostacyclin dilates blood vessels and prevents hypertension also.

So the trick is using as little of NSAIDs as possible, and for as short a time as possible.

I am glad he got the lisinopril finally.

I find for severe pain, I have I use one Aleve liquigel now, which is less than 1/2 of a 500mg Naprosyn. Over the years I have relied mostly on SAMe for
my arthritis pain. So I don't use NSAIDs much anymore. I will also sometimes take Tylenol, but not that everyday either.

You might try the Salonpas on his back too. You can stack them. I've used as many as 3 for acute strains back there.