External pain relief medications / rubs / ointments

[Analog]

What works for you?

I tried aspercreme and I'm not sure it does anything at all. Is there a special way to use these rub on medicines to get them to work better? Heat, electric massage device?

Any better medications OTC?

 

[MagnusTheBrewer]

Everyone is different, you have to find what works for you. I like Tiger Balm.

 

[surfsatwerk]

 

[highland145]

traumeel for me.

biofreeze too.

 

[SandEagle]

Excedrin extra strength, icy hot

 

[BoomerD]

My knee surgeon gave me several bottles of "pain-relieving creams," and IMO, they're not worth the cost of the bottles. One is a capsaicin cream, one is ketoprofen, the other is GABA. (for neurological pain among other things)

 

[highland145]

Joint or muscle?

 

[Analog]

Joint or muscle?

muscle / tendon

 

[highland145]

muscle / tendon

Had good success with fish oil for the knees, fwiw.

Deep tissue massage to release tendon adhesions for tendinitis.

 

[Analog]

Had good success with fish oil for the knees, fwiw.

Deep tissue massage to release tendon adhesions for tendinitis.

was the deep tissue massage by itself, or was something rubbed in?

 

[highland145]

was the deep tissue massage by itself, or was something rubbed in?

This if you can find some one in your area. Hurts like hell but it worked. Nearly tore a forearm tendon. It went pop,pop,pop and I put the weight down. One year later, I was still at 25%. After one visit, I had significant results. After three, I haven't had to go back for the forearm.

 

[hellotyler]

Tigerbalm.

 

[lxskllr]

Tigerbalm.

^^^

Same. I also like Sloan's liniment, but I don't know if that's made anymore.

 

[HybridSquirrel]

Tigerbalm is the best and readily available. Less available is this chinese stuff called "Eagle" thats all it says on the bottle. Its a green oil, and smells like cheap cologne, but damn that shit will make your pain go away. Also, try anything with rattlesnake venom in it.


edit: this is that chinese stuff i use.

http://www.fareastginseng.com/eabrmeoil.html

 

[Hayabusa Rider]

The above.

 

[kage69]

The menthol and capsaicin based creams never really impressed me, they just seemed to provide a sensation along with the pain, in addition to making me smell like some kind of candy. My old Chinese medicine guy got mad at me for using Tiger Balm once, gave me a unlabeled container of something popular with the gongfu crowd, I think he called it di da jow. Said if I was going to abuse my hands and feet the least I could do is to use "the real thing." That stuff was amazing, although I'm sure it contained nasty bits from various endangered animals. Smelled like a bottle of mouth wash puked on a urinal cake, but it lasted for damn near a whole day.

These days I rely on arnica gel. Might not be the best for nerve related injuries, but is great for any kind of bruising, pulled muscle, or general soreness. Absorbs quick, no greasiness, no funky odor. Current tube of the stuff came from Whole Foods, got it for like $9.

 

[Rastus]

Just stick to a fistfull of Oxycontins and a six pack and head to a strip joint to do jello shots from a strippers asscrack. Works for me every time.

 

[HybridSquirrel]

Just stick to a fistfull of Oxycontins and a six pack and head to a strip joint to do jello shots from a strippers asscrack. Works for me every time.

+1

 

[moshquerade]

I use this back massager. It works wonders. Follow directions carefully.

"Back massager. Designed to be rolled up and down the back. Keep the handle over the spine allowing the balls to massage the muscles on either side of the spine. The balls are spaced wide enough to stay on either side of the spine, but narrow enough to stay inside the shoulder blades."
http://www.tufftoys.bc.ca/toyspg8.html

 

[brainhulk]

lidoderm patch

 

[AMDZen]

Crunch up some oxycontin's, mix with water and spread on your skin = win

 

[I Saw OJ]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IzowSs9mNOM

 

[sdifox]

I use this back massager. It works wonders. Follow directions carefully.

"Back massager. Designed to be rolled up and down the back. Keep the handle over the spine allowing the balls to massage the muscles on either side of the spine. The balls are spaced wide enough to stay on either side of the spine, but narrow enough to stay inside the shoulder blades."
http://www.tufftoys.bc.ca/toyspg8.html

mosh, I knew you liked it rough, but I never imagined this rough D:

 

[sdifox]

I have a bottle of rice wine with assortment of chinese herbal medicine in it. You are supposed to work it into the muscle. Works ok I guess.