(Part 2) Best joint & muscle pain relief products according to redditors

Basically medical grade industrial Biofreeze spray

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.

someone posted this last year and it was the most amazing thing I brought to forest last year

https://www.amazon.com/Absorbine-Jr-Plus-Relieving-Liquid/dp/B018H7DYEQ/ref=sr_1_2_a_it?ie=UTF8&qid=1481221831&sr=8-2&keywords=absorbine+jr

It is amazing for sore muscles. Instant relief. I carried our totem for an entire night and using this was a life saver

It sounds like you like menthol. Maybe try something like this on your bald ass head and run out the door like saitama. I bet that would feel pretty good. I have a peppermint oil shaving cream that cools the fuck out of my face after shaving.

https://www.amazon.com/Biofreeze-Analgesic-Colorless-Reliever-Arthritis/dp/B00NMPMY6I

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.

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.

Joint Force

helps a ton in the short term, just don't let it fool you into thinking you're "fixed". still be vigilant in tracking down the underlying cause of your pain.

Doctors in my area won’t even prescribe opiates for fibromyalgia. Unfortunately. I use a product called

Fibro Cream

I don't need double talk, I need a mortar and pestle because it's great to have in the kitcen! It makes grinding things to a paste so much easier :D

I think /u/synchroidiotic needs this because it works like a charm after a stressful day.

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).

http://www.amazon.com/Counterpain-Analgesic-Hot-Cream-120g/dp/B007CELB9G

http://www.amazon.com/Salonpas-Pain-Relieving-Patch-Package/dp/B00FOB5BOK/ref=sr_1_1?s=hpc&ie=UTF8&qid=1409417829&sr=1-1&keywords=salonpas

http://www.amazon.com/Tiger-Balm-Sports-1-7-Ounce-Pack/dp/B001GCU09C/ref=sr_1_3?s=hpc&ie=UTF8&qid=1409417814&sr=1-3&keywords=tiger+balm

All used all over Asia, all hot as hell. Particularly Tiger Balm. As a beginner I recommend you try Salonpas.

Aspirin/Tylenol/Advil or any other type of pain relief, this will help you to not have a headache in case one may occur! So many times I bring some with me because it NEVER fails. I will have at least one on any trip.

It's really hard to find good care on medicaid sadly, if your currently at an office and think your not getting good care from one doctor ask to be seen by another. Make a fuss, your in terrible pain and this should be taken seriously.

Have you tried capsaicin cream?

https://www.amazon.com/Zostrix-Arthritis-Pain-Relief-Cream/dp/B00E4MIDZE

Capsaicin is interesting as it is effective for both arthritis pain and neurological pain. I've had mixed responses with store brands but Zostrix HP with .075% has been spot on 100% of the time.


I haven't tried their new packaging

https://www.amazon.com/Zostrix-Strength-Arthritis-Analgesic-Capsaicin/dp/B000F5IEK8/ref=pd_bxgy_121_img_2?_encoding=UTF8&pd_rd_i=B000F5IEK8&pd_rd_r=Q5MMB3VWC51XD9WYY3H6&pd_rd_w=gOSVN&pd_rd_wg=jmBTG&refRID=Q5MMB3VWC51XD9WYY3H6&th=1

and its rather stronger then the stuff I have used.

Wallgreens/DuaneReed carry the correct stuff as well.

My right eye is much worse than my left. I spent years with badly fitted RGP lenses. I finally found a someone that knows what they are doing. It took months to learn to relax the muscles around my right eye to see.

I've eye patched before. Try using migrastick or gentle topical muscle relaxers on the stressed muscles, basically deep heat but for sensitive areas.

product in question for the curious: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B005EKJ0OS

I would look for any scientific studies if these kinds of high priced pills actually do anything or just give you very expensive pee

Got the bio freeze on amazon

Jeebus, dig deep for that one Napolitano? That had to hurt! Let me get you something for that

Jesus, relax man. The "overused-meme-alert" was "sounding off" on the meme, not you. Either you're on your period or trolling, because nothing else could explain how bitchy you sound. Here you go.