Reddit mentions: The best joint & muscle pain relief products

Currently going through this same issue. There's a few things I've found to give me some relief. I see in other comments that you're from Germany so I'll try to keep that in mind 👍

I use a gel ice pack that wraps around my neck. I also have a heat pack, but personally, the ice pack is much more relieving for my migraines.

Menthol cream like Biofreeze is a great way to give you at least a half hour of pain relief. Just rub some on your forehead, neck and maybe a little on your cheek bones, and you'll feel a cooling sensation that can really help you out in a pinch.

I'm fortunate enough to be in a state that has relaxed its medical marijuana laws, but I see that Germany is still keeping its MMJ close to the chest. Medical marijuana isn't for everyone, but it's worth looking into, especially since you're in a medication overuse predicament. There's a lot of different capacities medical marijuana comes in, at least in the States. I looked up some information about qualifying for medical marijuana in Germany if this is something that interests you.

Best of luck. This isn't an easy battle, but it'll get better.

EDIT: I also recommend the steroid taper for really troublesome migraines. I’ve gotten one mega-migraine per month recently and each time I’ve used a prednisone taper. My neurologist has his concerns about using this method too much, but so far it’s doing the trick.

Another thing I’ve thought of is ER visits. Sometimes you just can’t get any relief and your doctor isn’t readily available. I don’t know what the emergency healthcare situation is like in Germany, but in the States we have ERs in hospitals and standalone facilities. The standalone ER clinics are pretty badass, so if you have some equivalent to that I strongly recommend it. Most emergency rooms are armed with the “migraine cocktail.” It’s usually some combination of an anti-convulsant, anti-nausea, muscle relaxer, steroid, triptan or magnesium. You can tell them about your medication overuse headaches and they can adjust the recipe. Like I said, I’m dealing with MOH and going to the ER has helped me out, so I wouldn’t worry too much about their meds triggering another headache. It’s worth a shot, anyways.

I really want to try this. I'm in pain from a back injury several years ago. I know biofreeze gel works great, but I'm curious if the spray works as well. I'm thinking it might be just as effective and easier to use as well...but I don't know, so trying it would be fantastic! :)

Elephant Barber!

I'm Christine. I'm a makeup artist, I'm a really good painter but a terrible drawer, I am kind, friendly, and overall a generous person. I've made great friends on here and I am most willing to bet you will too!

Sure. What I do is take 1 oz of herb and grind it fine (grinder or coffee grinder not used for coffee) and put the ground flowers into a mason jar, the type used for canning seal that sucker up and put it in a 300 degree oven for a half hour. Take it out and let it cool a half hour. Then put 1 cup of coconut oil in the same jar and put it in a crock pot with about 2 inches of water and put that on high for an hour or three, shaking and swirling around the mixture every half hour or so. Then after, let it cool a bit until you can pick up the jar with your hands, but don't let it solidify. Then I either strain the mixture using a mesh bag into another mason jar for some other edible or I used to try to scoop the flowers into the pills but it wasn't very effective.

The pills come in a couple of differenent sizes and I got one of these things at a "nautral" food store to help hold them in batches. Then while the coconut oil is melty it's eyedropper time and fill them up and seal them. Then I put them in the freezer unless I'm carrying them so they stay solid. Then you have a measure dose of cannabis that you can take everywhere you want to be. I find this pretty cost effective. Scale up and down the recipe as necessary.

TL:DR: bake an oz of ground weed in mason jar for 30 min @ 300 F, add 1 cup of coconut oil, place in jar in crockpot and simmer for 2-3 hours or longer, use eyedropper to put liquid coconut oil in pills put on pill lid. Keep them cold to stay solid. You win.

Hope this helps.

Edit: Thanks for the gold! My first one!

Sort of joining in the chorus here, but yep, that sounds like a muscle spasm. Chronic, gnarly, treatment-resistant muscle spasms are super common with EDS- they're usually associated with a particularly unstable joint, what your muscles freak out overcompensating for, but can be caused by other things as well.

The "zingy" nerve pain is probably caused by impingement- either by the unstable joint subluxing onto it, or the spasmed muscles squeezing the crap out of it. Given your description of the timing, it's probably a subluxation. My random IANAD guess would be AC joint, just because your description sounds a lot like what happens when mine slips.

Treating these things is a bitch and a half. Here are some of the things I do, which help somewhat.

• When it first starts, some self-administered trigger-point masage can sometimes stop it. Here are some tools I use: Neck knobby thing, spine knobby thing, foam roller. You can also use tennis balls or lacross balls, but I uh.. broke them \^\^;;;
  
• Aspercreme / Blue Emu - I find the classic Trolamine Salicylate works best for me, but if you have an aspirin allergy, or if Lidocaine works better for you, they make a version with that as the active instead. There's also a spray form for when an area is too tender to touch. They can be a little pricey, but Amazon has a Subscribe & Save discount on them, which helps.
  
• Combine the above with Tiger Balm or Icy Hot, if you can tolerate them, and I find it makes them more effective than either separately. I think they maybe help the ingredients in the above penetrate better?
  
• If you can get it, adding a final layer of CBD lotion or oil is extra effective. I use Ethos Muscle Melt.
  
• Slap a quality heating pad with a washable cover on the above and bake that shit in- (NOTE: I AM DEFINITELY NOT A DOCTOR, AND THE ASPERCREME LABEL SPECIFICALLY SAYS NOT TO DO THIS but damned if it isn't effective and at this point I'll do anything that works?)
  
• If that fails, grab some alcohol swabs to wipe all that shit I just recommended off from a few spots and then use a TENS unit.
  
• Medicate: this part is obviously dependent on your own rxs and state legislature, etc, but muscle relaxants and CBD are helpful things to have. For an OTC option, I've found that some antihistamines can be useful, but then again I've got MCAS as a complication so YMMV.
  
• Physical therapy- PTs often recommend certain stretches to help prevent spasms, but in my experience, every single time they have at best done nothing and at worst they've triggered/exacerbated them. I have had some good results with exercises designed to strengthen the unstable joint that caused the whole mess, though-
  very light, irritatingly soft and repetitive exercises that drive me crazy but actually are maybe kind of effective? BUT I AM NOT A DOCTOR.
  
  Hopefully this will be of some use. I swear some of the worst pain I've experienced in EDS has been from muscle spasms, geez.

I’ve used a bunch, tizanidine is one that can also help with migraines (side effects: drowsiness, dizziness, dehydration, etc.). There are lidocaine patches your primary/specialist can prescribe that are really awesome — you can leave them on for 12 hours, shower in them, wear them to work, to bed, super convenient, covered by insurance, all that good stuff. If you can’t get them from your doc you can get OTC aspercream w/ lidocaine (there’s a spray now, too) and it’s super effective, as well. Anyway, lidocaine has really helped me with my chronic pain related migraines — effective and cheap with no side effects.

just hopping in to let you guys know that this shit is literally amazing

https://www.amazon.com/Namman-Muay-Boxing-Liniment-120ml/dp/B001ON8ZN6


seriously it's like a super icy hot or something. Pretty instant relief and it's last as well, I've noticed an almost overnight improvement with with my shins (some parts kicking, some parts minor shinsplints). Especially if you massage your muscles intensely while applying it. I cannot recommend this stuff highly enough.

I use First Aid Beauty Face Cleanser to wash (it's so mild, and it's lasted me a while), Julep Love Your Bare Face to remove makeup, Teddy Organics Orange Blossom Toner right after washing to help with my dry skin, and a few drops of Teddy Organics Jojoba Oil to moisturize. If I do get a zit nowadays, it's probably cystic and I use Smile's PRID Drawing Salve to dry it out/heal it.

I'm really happy with the prices of all these products, too. The jojoba oil lasts forever, and I use it on my hair too.

Yes, Rx meds suck! Never again!

I’ve been taking these in the 400mg dosage. I started at 200. Doctor's Best SAM-e 200 mg, Vegan, Gluten Free, Soy Free, Mood and Joint Support, 60 Enteric Coated Tablets https://www.amazon.com/dp/B002DP1V8A/
They prescribe SAM-E in Europe and other countries.

I like listening to Eckhart Tolle The Power Now. It has really resonated with me.

I have extraordinarily sensitive skin, having both Fibro and a combo of psoriasis and eczema. I use Neutrogena Skin Cream. I love it! Also, [Tiger Balm](http://www.amazon.com/Tiger-Balm-Relieving-Ointment-Strength/dp/B00028PG0O/ref=sr_1_3? ie=UTF8&qid=1418794009&sr=8-3&keywords=Tiger+Balm) along with a nice massage works wonders. Beyond that, if he's not too sensitive to heat, a good heating pad can help, or even a TENS unit like my rheumatologist always suggests, although I personally can't use one.

For me
Prescriptions:
•Toradol (Ketorolac) - a strong anti inflammatory drug, given in injection or pill form.

•Medro (MethylPREDNISolone dose pack) - a steroid to help reduce inflammation.

•Indocin (Indomethacin) - anti inflammatory drug.

• Neurotin (Gabapentin) - a nerve pain drug

•Valium (diazepam) vaginal suppositories -works as a muscle relaxer directly into the pelvic floor to ease spasm. Can also be made with Baclofen and other drug compounded.

Over-the-Counter:
•Doan’s (magnesium salicylate tetrahydrate) - a pain reliever that isn’t acetaminophen or ibuprofen.

•Hot Hand’s adhesive body warmer -cheaper and heat lasts longer than Thermacare Heatwraps

•Bengay cream - active ingredients are: Methol, Camphor and Methyl Salycilate.

In addition, Pelvic floor physical therapy, very gentle yoga, hot tubs and water walking. I also have a Rollator I use to help on bad days (I also have hip chronic hip pain). I hope this list is helpful. Hugs

If you are into the supplement route, I swear by Solgar 7. It's as close to a 'miracle cure' as there likely is. It won't change your world necessarily and you still need to take care of yourself actively and preventively but it's absolutely wonderful for joints.

https://www.amazon.com/Solgar-No-07-Vegetable-Capsules-Count/dp/B007V2UAEG

Also fish oil is good.

After years of dealing with chronic pain I was introduced to something called CryoDerm and it's changed my life. I use this whenever I have a flare up (like right now) and it definitely helps take the edge off and provides relief long enough to fall asleep. They have a cold and a heat therapy and although I have not tried the heat, if it's anything like the cold I would say it's definitely worth a shot. I recommend the roll-on because I find it's less messy and way easier to apply to yourself. You can get it off of amazon for around 10 bucks.

Cold: https://www.amazon.com/CryoDerm-Analgesic-Cryotherapy-3-0-Roll/dp/B000FRIWUS/ref=sr_1_18?crid=2FU0DRHGACJBL&keywords=cryoderm+roll+on&qid=1550288077&s=gateway&sprefix=cryoderm+r%2Caps%2C176&sr=8-18

Hot: https://www.amazon.com/Cryoderm-Heat-Roll-On-3-oz/dp/B00GYRC9ZM/ref=sr_1_2_sspa?crid=2FU0DRHGACJBL&keywords=cryoderm+roll+on&qid=1550289726&s=gateway&sprefix=cryoderm+r%2Caps%2C176&sr=8-2-spons&psc=1

I saw my massage therapist yesterday (who specializes in sports medicine) and he used a gel on my joints that felt great! So today I went a bought some. Biofreeze. I got a roll-on so it doesn't have to be massaged in. Used it on elbows and wrists today!

I've been wanting a paraffin wax bath for a while now and was thinking I could get the wax all the way up my wrists. A great way to keep some heat on the joints! I've heard from others that they love paraffin for their hands.

This should help ease her back pain. A hot compress relaxes the muscles so she should feel better when she's wearing it.

Here is something from my wishlist. A used copy is only $2.28! :)

And, last but not least - ending on a happy note... This is a picture of my puppy when his floppy ears were just beginning to stand up on their own.

Let's be pain free and I hope your mom recovers quickly!

Edit: Also, Tiger Balm works wonders for aching muscles!

What is your price range? I think 5 Yeti coolers would be badass (here). But if that is too expensive, get them some decent knives, like this. Much less expensive, extremely useful, lasts forever. I have my grandfather's that he bought in the 50s. Still fantastic.

Flasks are really good, actually. Get a Stanley flask for everybody (here).

You could also do flashlights, but not everybody would be into that like I would be. Here is my recommendation anyway (here).

I had both of my breasts/nipples done just a few months ago!

I experimented and tried out a numbing cream and my result was FANTASTIC. I’ve had my back, sides, one forearm, and both calves done so I’m not new to the sensation of being tattooed. The numbing cream was fantastic and absolutely worth it for the areola. I read a lot of mixed reviews, and my two cents is that reviewers probably didn’t leave the cream on long enough before the tattoo and didn’t cover it with plastic wrap to sit. I lathered and covered with plastic wrap for about 2 hours before my session started, and would say I got about 1-2 hours of good numbing out of it where it took away about 75% of the pain.

The second side didn’t have any numbing left by the time we got there, and let me tell you the pain was intense. Most intense tattoo pain I’ve felt for sure. It was bearable with breaks and a lot of cussing, but much better with the numbing cream. If you use it, just make sure to time out when you put the cream on well, as it won’t re-absorb if you wait too long like I did on the second side.

I used this one and the jar is more than enough (my tattoos are my whole breast/nipple)
https://www.amazon.com/Lidocaine-Liposomal-Technology-Penetration-Discomfort/dp/B019D7MQMK

I’ve liked most of the ones I’ve tried, this is my current favorite, off Amazon. There’s also a fibro doctor who has hers 3rd party tested because there’s so much variation in amounts. That’s the second link.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B07HZ23PSS/ref=ya_aw_oh_bia_dp?ie=UTF8&psc=1

https://www.fridabotanicals.com

Liniment Oil, and I've heard this stuff is good

I used icyhot until I took a nap and woke up freezing despite the fact my house was a comfortable 70 degrees... The liniment oil stuff seems to apply better and doesn't leave as much residue

Prid is also great for this too. It's a homeopathic drawing slave found at most grocery/drugstores. I've pulled out many splinters with it :)

yes you can buy it over the counter at your local drugstore (walgreens).
https://www.amazon.com/Ebanel-Painkilling-Anesthetic-Hemorrhoid-Discomfort/dp/B019D7MQMK/
It's cheaper on amazon however. also get some small rubber "cots", finger condoms, and try/practice digital stimulation. i do that every day before work to clean out what's in their and relax my lower GI. I started that after i did some pelvic floor therapy, where a therapist sticks their finger in your butt to see how tight you and if your muscles are correctly orchestrated "down there". mine are not.

Check BioFreeze. Massage your legs. Get good rest. You should be good to go. Don't push too hard though

This is what I bought off of amazon. Not sure if it’s just placebo but I think it helps.

Ebanel 5% Lidocaine Topical Numbing Cream for Painkilling, 1.35oz Max Strength Pain Relief Cream Ointment Anesthetic Gel with Liposomal for Sections, https://www.amazon.com/dp/B019D7MQMK/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apip_pBcHhpyOz1g3I

It's called liniment (I have never used it and think it's like Tiger Balm or Bengay) and it's an oil or balm to help with muscle soreness.

random sample seller on amazon:

http://www.amazon.com/Namman-Muay-Boxing-Liniment-120ml/dp/B001ON8ZN6

I feel you 100%. I have a skin disease called hidradenitis suppurativa. Basically, it’s a chronic skin condition featuring cysts in places such as the armpits or groin. The skin lesions develop as a result of inflammation and infection of sweat glands. This means I end up with huge cysts all over my groin, butt crack, under my boobs, armpits and anywhere else there are sweat glands. It’s painful and miserable.

Home treatment? Sit in hot baths for 15 minutes at a time, as hot as you can stand. Also, take a wet washcloth and heat it in the microwave. Once it’s as hot as you can stand, put it on the cyst. You need to use the warm compresses on and off all day. Once it’s soft enough, it will bust.

Another item that works flawlessly for me is Prid. It’s a drawing salve (meaning it draws out the infection). You can get it at Walmart, CVS or any other pharmacy. Below is the link to get it online. I will coat my cysts in Prid before bed and usually when I wake up it’s busted sometime in the night and I can drain the remaining pus.

I know other responders have told you how to make salve but honestly Prid is easier and cheaper. Try to avoid taking antibiotics unless they were prescribed specifically for this as ones from past issues may not be right for this (they may be viral instead of bacterial). Also, the more times you take antibiotics for the same condition the more likely your condition becomes resistant to antibiotic use. Try to limit using them as much as possible.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0089UN898/ref=dp_cerb_1

If you're talking about cystic acne, which is that stuff under the skin that is impossible to pop and lasts months, I found a drawing salve that works really well. You basically do a hot compress with a damp towel for a few minutes, then put a glob on and leave it on for a while. It brings it to a head and helps get rid of acne a lot quicker. If you use it routinely, it'll draw the pus out on its own.

Something I've found that works pretty well for me is Prids Drawing Salve. As soon as I feel one of the cystic pimples emerging I put the salve on at night with the sticky part of a bandaid over it. It might take a couple nights but I can usually get a head to form to release pressure. Once I am able to lance it, I use this to help absorb what's left.

I've been using Solgar 7 for two days and feel an effect already. They say relief with in 7 days...

http://www.amazon.com/Solgar-No-07-Vegetable-Capsules-Count/dp/B007V2UAEG?ie=UTF8&keywords=solgar%207&qid=1459452269&ref_=sr_1_1_a_it&sr=8-1

Well, shoot. You could always just try putting the hydrocolloid bandage on the whole area just in case? Or do Prid on the area with a regular bandage on top?

Did a derm rule out any sort of fungal/bacterial thing going on?

Here you go

Apparently they have a roll-on form which works really well too.

Though mine weren't nearly as bad as yours, I found that I was over-icing, too, and that was making the problem worse. So I went the other way. Heating pad and elevation.

If it's not an acute injury and has gone to the point where it's a chronic injury, the heat will help increase blood flow to the region, and stimulate healing.

Also, extra strength tiger balm rubbed on my calves and shins right before bed WORKED FREAKING MIRACLES for me.

Ramina Natural Hemp Extract Pain Relief Cream - 500 Mg - Hemp Salve Contains Turmeric, MSM & Arnica - Relieves Inflammation, Muscle, Joint, Back, Knee, Nerves & Arthritis Pain - Made in USA - Non-GMO https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07HZ23PSS/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_sfsSCb1CVN711

not AB, but for some extra oomph put on a little Prid's drawing salve before the bandage. It's magic http://www.amazon.com/Smiles-Prid-Homeopathic-Drawing-Salve/dp/B00016X604

http://www.amazon.com/Namman-Muay-Boxing-Liniment-120ml/dp/B001ON8ZN6/ref=cm_cr_pr_product_top

I think they mean Thai liniment.

Get some topical anaesthetic (with lidocaine) and smear it on. Let it soak in for 10min before you put on underwear and it will make a huge difference. This is what has allowed me to sleep through the night (I'm on day 14).

I use one I buy at the clinic I go to. It's called Ebanel Numb 520. You can get it on Amazon too.

https://www.amazon.com/Child-Resistant-Lidocaine-Technology-Penetration-Discomfort/dp/B019D7MQMK

You could try this stuff. http://www.amazon.com/Smiles-Prid-Homeopathic-Drawing-Salve/dp/B00016X604 I get itchy welts from my injections that last about 2 weeks each. I rotate sites and put goop on them when they're unbearably itchy (usually the first two days after my shot, but sometimes they itch randomly).

Well smoke is bad for your lungs lol. You could eat edibles I guess tho.

I love this stuff personally and thai oil. https://www.amazon.com/White-Monkey-Holding-Peach-Medicated/dp/B00OVLH3UY I got a bulk 5 pack of this and some of this stuff too https://www.amazon.com/Namman-Muay-Boxing-Liniment-120ml/dp/B001ON8ZN6

So the methyl salicylate in this stuff basically turns into aspirin which kills the pain. I hear it isn't a good idea to bathe in this stuff but then again, the thai fighters do it so idk...

I started to using this numbing cream a couple weeks ago and it made a huge difference for me. I do 1 hour sessions and before I started using it, I was really struggling to get through the last 10-15min, but now I'm thinking of trying 1.5 hr sessions. I talked a bit with my electrologist about it and she said that wrapping it was very important to get the full effect of the lidocaine. Yes it feels really stupid and I got some weird looks from my neighbors but whatever, if it makes electro more bearable than idgaf if I look silly for a bit.

I've heard THIS STUFF is the "real deal", but I just use Tiger Balm on the rare occasion I feel sore enough where I can't tough through it. After my first few classes though, I basically bathed in it.

heres some extra stuff i pack in my bag

• lots of tape
  
• extra belt, underwear and change of shirt
  
• surgical scissors to quickly cut the tape off after sessions
  
• kneepads / shin guards for spazzy white belts
  
• this mesh bag to dump my sweaty gi, gear and clothes in after a session so it can breathe on the way home.
  
• tiger balm and some muay thai liniment I use for my shins from cross training muay thai. (also for training through sore muscles, I use this sparingly though)
  
• mouth guard
  
• gatorade powder
  
• towel to wipe down afterwards / lay on my car seat

Try a Drawing Salve. I just picked it up a few weeks ago after someone mentioned it in a thread. Put it on and cover with a ban-aid before bed. I had a pimple for almost a week that wasn't noticeable but hurt like hell. I'm a picker by nature and it was killing me. I knew that if I picked it it would just hurt worse and I wouldn't get anything out of it anyway.

I use the salve for 2 nights and it finally came to a head and I was able to drain it.