Bigkid's thread about his ordeal with serious injury reminded me to be grateful of my much smaller problem.

FWIW: I got a genetic knuckle condition that still affects my daily activities. Sometimes a finger will hurt (and even LOOK) exactly like it's suddenly got broken! It can instantly turn me into a crotchety old coot :ticking:

A few years ago, my rheumatologist only offered drugs (and surgery, if it got bad enough). But he also mentioned the possibility of a topical NSAID that was still waiting for FDA approval.

I ran out of patience and googled topical NSAIDs. I read that while Americans were still running NSAIDs thru their whole system, most of the world could just go to their drug store and pick up this stuff OTC like we do Ben Gay here (except it's not smelly, greasy and works way better).

It's the same effective NSAID drugs available in pill form, but as a topical gel it goes right into the pained area, instead of detouring thru your stomach, liver and heart first. These include Diclofenac, ketoprofen, indomethacin, and ibuprofen. The average drug store stuff sold here just masks the pain with hot or cold sensations instead of directly addressing the inflammation (like what's destroying my own knuckles).

The FDA has since allowed the Voltaren / Voltarol Diclofenac gel to be sold here as an expensive, RX only rub. My tri-athelete co-worker has an Rx for it and swears by it - (esp.since Diclofenac pills were too hard on her stomach). But she was interested to know that she could get the same gel shipped from the UK for cheaper than her co-pay here!

There was also milder ibuprofen gels available here- until the FDA scared off the 8 US providers recently. Not because it's ineffective or harmful (it's been well studied and approved OTC overseas) - but because the US makers didn't play (and PAY) the bureaucratic game here yet (ie "reinvent the wheel"). The Voltaren makers had the resources to eventually get approval here from all their succes$ in Europe, I suppose. Meanwhile, many people, (esp. old folks) are still wrecking their livers (and even dying) every year from taking pain pills. Some of them could have kept healthy and treated their inflammatory pain topically instead, if they only knew.

So, if you get a pain after a long day in Wildwood sometime, hit me up for a dab if I'm there! ;-)

I had to go for my annual Neurology app. Last month ( 14 years ago I almost died from Encephalitis) And need annual check ups. I saw a new guy as the old one wouldn't see me any more because I irritated him to much!! This guy looked at my MRI prints (new ones every year) and asked what pain meds I take for my headaches, I said I always have a headache and after all these years if it went away I would miss it. He wrote a note in his book and shook his head. Then he asked me the toxic question. " would you like me to put you on a pain maintenance program"?
I had already told him I don't take any meds because I don't like the effects of them. But mostly because I didn't feel I needed them. Now before every one gets mad at me I KNOW many people are far worse off than I am and they would not be able to function with out the meds. But this guy also became my former Dr. He was a pain pill pusher. There are to many out there.
I feel that there are MANY MANY cases where meds are needed. But if a patient says they do want take them because they don't need them. The Dr should not push the issue. Now I also know that BigKig needs these to function. and for him I am glad they exist.
I think the best part of my newer issue with my heart is they want to give me a pacemaker and then I will not have MRI's any more!!
Sorry for the veer lad. And thanks for the offer. I take an ibuprofen now and then when my arthritis kicks up.

I had Reiter's Syndrom in the 80's . It ends up with Arthritis in joints.

I was on Voltaren for almost a year. Also one called indocid ? Messed my stomach up bad while it worked on the pain / swelling. It was a few years before my plumbing system got back to normal. A topical form sounds amazing ! Hope I never need to use it again !

One of my favorite "unknown" extreme sports recovery aids is vitamin K cream. Vitamin K helps rebuild capillaries to clear/ heal bruises. When I use it the bruises clear up in mere days rather than weeks. I am currently working on the bruise caused when a line snap pulled me over the side rail and 6' in the air at 34.5 kph a couple of weeks ago.

Topical Voltaren (diclofenec) has been available in Europe since 90's (at least). I used to travel with various Canadian Amateur winter sports teams. When we went to Europe a lot of the athletes would hit the pharmacy to pick up tubes of Voltaren gel, it's only been available in Canada recently.

Pennsaid is probably the best topical preparation of diclofenec at the moment, it in liquid drops. It has some DMSO (dimethyl sulfoxide) to take it through the skin, you get more of the diclo where it's needed.

For Bruises, a polish therapist told me to pick up
One called Lasonil (made by bayer) when I took my first trip abroad.

http://www.bayer.co.nz/scripts/pages/en/bayerrsquos_products...

Another alternative is a german made homeopathic preparation, Traumeel. Available in sublingual tablets, sublingual drops or as a topical cream. The Tablets are the easiest to take. No gastro problems. It used to be one of the only homeopathic preparations that was in the Physicians Desk Reference. It is made by a german pharmaceutical company and has some science behind it.

As a skier with lots of knee pain (I have the knees of a 50 year old...) I've always looked for natural pain relief that doesn't have any of the gnarly manufactured medicines in them. My mom actually got me a tube of "arnica gel". I don't think it's quite as powerful as the NSAID type stuff, but for any aches and pains, I rub it on and feel far less pain after only a few minutes. It also quickens healing and can be taken as a dissolvable pill. It's also not incredibly expensive.

I am glad that my troubles are the thoughts of others to use as a gauge about there own pain. For most of us we have to deal with stuff like this as we get older, whether its at a young age or later in life.
Here in Washington State we are setting new protocols for pain medications, pain management, chronic pain, and the 2 that has caused all the problems, pill pusher Dr's and abusers.
I have to take a written test and after passing it it is off to a psychologist for the OK to be part of the drug program. I sign a contract that says I will follow the rules if I want to get any type of pain meds. I take a pee test and give my hair to prove I am not taking anything but what the Dr has given me. I can be kicked off the program for going to the dentist and getting a shot of Novocain for any teeth work with out a prior OK from the Dr. Any type of medication for a runny nose, cold, vitamin supplement, herbal tea, energy drink, all of these and a million more, I need to have an OK and the Dr has to make note of it prior to my using it, or I am out.
One of the meds we explored was a topical cream the Pain Specialist made up just for me. 15% of this and 30% of that and a bit of.....
I call the clinic and prove who I am and send them 450.00 per ounce of this stuff that I rub on my chest. The greatest stuff in the world....for about 3-4 hours, wash off the area and reapply....
The pill does have a few side effects that are hard to live with, but they last 12-24 hours per dose and you have to build up the amount in your system for them to do what they do best. I did like the topical but not the easiest to use and not easy at times and places.
Your right about the stomach, heart, and every organ along the way to the bones/muscles, getting a dose of the drug also.

One thing I have learned and have become a pain in the Doctor's life's, I do know a bit more about ME than the Dr. What works and what doesn't. Right now I am in the middle of an adjustment of my Opiates and my wife is not happy, and neither am I. When I am kicked out of the program, I will self medicate with other stuff from over the boarder that our pill pushing society is not ready to embrace, until then I will do my best to follow the rules.

My best to you guys and the topicals you are able to use without the contracts I have to live with. And by the way, the drug program I am in is going to be implemented through out the entire US. It is only a mater of time before everyone will be in the same boat as I am.

We aren't as liberal with over the counter pain med's as some folks think up here.

You can get pills with 8mg of codeine without a prescription. I think T-3's have 35mg and they need a prescription.

My issue with T3 is that it only seems to work for a couple of hours. The stronger stuff like percocet ( sp ) worked longer but created a harsh buzz.

I feel very fortunate that at 53 ( almost 54) I'm pretty much pain free . Amazing when you look at how I have beaten myself up.

Whoo-hoo, spam post removed!

Lad,
One of my "go to" post-wildwood items is Voltaren. The other is Robaxet. Kinda' like Red Rose tea (if you're old enough to remember the commercials) - they're only available in Canada eh. At least without having a Rx or OTC. Yup - right there on the shelf. When I heard about Regden's bump at WBB, I immediately thought about both.

We (north of the 49th) now have Voltaren available in corner drug stores, local holistic health shops as well as the big-box stores like WalMart, and it beats the heck out of everything else for local delivery rather than popping a pill. (We used to bring it back from Mexico :evil: ) Arnica kicks in later to deal with the impact and bruise discomfort, but I find it doesn't have the same penetration or relief.

Robaxet is a combination of methocarbomol, a skeletal muscle relaxant, and ibuprofen. Great for the back spasms after holding myself in the buggy for a couple of hours.

Ken, Percocet (oxycodone) is where you wind up after the codine and morphine have stopped working. It's an opiod (narcotic) and has its own set of headaches. Regulated by Health Canada and the RCMP, it's supposed to require a Rx to get, but it's usually available in most high school yards thanks to mom and dad not watching what's going on at home.

Fortunately, any health complaint that I have is simply 'cause I'm getting older and still trying to play like a kid. But I ain't gonna stop. :wee: Simple meds work for me.

But I still have to go to a government store to buy a beer