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        New Message Board Archives >> Medications, Treatments, Therapies 2003 >> DMSO treatment seems to have worked
        
(Message started by: bob.niven on May 20^th, 2003, 12:34pm)

Title: DMSO treatment seems to have worked
Post by bob.niven on May 20^th, 2003, 12:34pm

After a 3 year absence I began to have cluster headaches again. Working on the theory that they may be caused by swelling nerves in the head/scalp I smeared on a good quantity of DMSO gel on the back of my neck and on the right side of my head where the pain was the worst. Instead of lasting the usual 1 to 1 1/2 hours my headaches were gone in 5 minutes.

I have repeated this program twice and it worked both times.

DMSO apparently has the ability to reduce inflamation so if clusters are caused by inflamed nerves and blood vessels maybe that explains why the treatment worked for me.

I would be interested if anyone else has had a try with DMSO. In Canada the quickest way to get DMSO is to visit your local vet and say it is for your horse.

Title: Re: DMSO treatment seems to have worked
Post by nancyann on May 20^th, 2003, 1:09pm

I don't mean to seem ignorant but what is DMSO??

Title: Re: DMSO treatment seems to have worked
Post by CJohnson on May 20^th, 2003, 1:36pm

DMSO (dimethylsulfoxide) is a byproduct of the wood industry. It is said to penetrate the skin quickly and harmlessly. DMSO perhaps has been used most widely as a topical analgesic, in a 70 percent DMSO, 30 percent water solution. Laboratory studies suggest that DMSO cuts pain by blocking peripheral nerve C fibers. Several clinical trials have demonstrated its effectiveness although in one trial, no benefit was found.6 Burns, cuts, and sprains have been treated with DMSO. Relief is reported to be almost immediate, lasting up to 6 hours. A number of sports teams and Olympic athletes have used DMSO, although some have since moved on to other treatment modalities. When administration ceases, so do the effects of the drug.

Anxious to see how this stands up to Ueli's scrutiny.
Here is a link to a website: http://www.dmso.org/

PFDANs
-Curtis

Title: Re: DMSO treatment seems to have worked
Post by Elaine on May 20^th, 2003, 3:23pm

I have used this also, it does work, I use it for a lot of my pains.

I use to work for a vet, we had a boxer come in that was drug behind a car. He was in so much pain. We covered this dog in the stuff. Bless his heart it helped him. He healed fast. He smelled bad but it worked to relieve his pain. After seeing the effect it had on him I use it on me now.

It feels warm to the skin, it sometimes stings a little. It does help.

I keep a bottle here at home. I use it for sore arms joints and yes clusters but it took more than five minutes for me to feel relieve.

If you put this on your face you be very careful not to get it in your eyes.

I would not say it has no side effect there has been some strong concern about this drug !

Title: Re: DMSO treatment seems to have worked
Post by paragate on May 22^nd, 2003, 4:50pm

Hmmm, interesting. The mechanism certainly seems to make sense.

My doctor will give novacaine injections at the base of the skull, which actually does in a significant population provide some relief, and in some actually stops the cycle. With me, though, it only worked for around two days and then the headaches recurred. I decided the PITA factor of going to see him every 48 hours for an injection was too high, so we've moved on to other alternatives.

Not sure I'm into smearing my scalp with DMSO, though if it works for you, that's really great!

Title: Re: DMSO treatment seems to have worked
Post by bob.niven on May 22^nd, 2003, 11:26pm

I am going to ask my doctor if putting something like novocaine in with the DSMO is feasible. If you have read about DSMO it seems to have this ability to deliver meds right through your skin. But I found good results with DSMO alone and if you get the liquid it is not really messy at all.

Title: Re: DMSO treatment seems to have worked
Post by paragate on May 23^rd, 2003, 6:15pm

Thinking on it some more, it may have been lidocaine that my doc injected. Been a couple years, was mid-cycle and had just changed docs, and so my head was fuzzy even then, and the memories are moreso because of time. But the concept is the same: deaden key nerves.

Title: Re: DMSO treatment seems to have worked
Post by MarkV on May 23^rd, 2003, 10:20pm

Be careful, DMSO acts as a carrier agent that can introduce chemical contaminants into the blood stream. My uncle had arthritis and used a rag to rug DMSO on his knee. Problem was he had used the rag previously to rinse his hands with gasoline when he was cutting wood. The DMSO acted as a carrier agent and introduced the residual gasoline that was in the rag into his blood stream. He immediately tasted it in his mouth.

I've read the 60's kids (yeah, just missed that era - too bad) also used it as a carrier agent for acid.

DMSO also has anti-inflammatory properties. I tried it for neck pain related to clusters, but got a common side effect - blurry vision.

Be careful.

MarkV

Title: Re: DMSO treatment seems to have worked
Post by paragate on May 24^th, 2003, 2:27pm

I think the DMSO as carrier for acid thing is urban legend.