Dmso

[Pat29627]

Hi. Does anyone know if it's ok to use DMSO after you have an artificial joint? I was thinking about how wonderfully it got rid of bruising and swelling after I shut my hand in the car door. Also I once had a patellar tendon pain that lasted weeks, but it went away after two applications of DMSO. I thought it might be great for the internal knee swelling and pain I'm having now, but I'm afraid to use it with my new knee.

Pat

 

[Texas]

Pat how far out from surgery are you. What is DMSO im sorry its late...lol

 

[Jamie]

Boy, Pat....I don't know. This is a substance that is readily absorbed into the skin and tissue, a chemical solvent, and I don't know about its use following a joint replacement. Maybe Jo will know more about it. In the USA, the FDA has only given approval for very limited medical use topically. I know people who swear by it, use it much more than what is recommended. If Jo doesn't know, I would ask your surgeon or primary care doctor.

 

[Josephine]

Jo doesn't know. Never heard of the stuff. What does it do?

 

[Jamie]

Jo, DMSO is primarily a solvent that is used in industry. As I was reading about it this morning, it does have some uses to preserve tissue that is frozen (like embryos). In this country, many people swear that it relieves pain when rubbed on the skin in the area that hurts. However, there has been a lot of discussion pro and con over the years about it because it IS a solvent and is very easily absorbed into the skin and tissues. It only has limited approval by the USA's Food and Drug Administration for medicinal use. Quite frankly, I'm not comfortable telling anyone to use it either before or after joint replacement surgery. That's why I recommended that Pat talk it over with either her surgeon or her primary care doctor.

 

[Pat29627]

When I asked my surgeon if I could use DMSO, he said for me to use the NSAID patch for 12 hours at night, then I could use DMSO during the day.

In the U.S., the word-of-mouth is that DMSO is capable of relieving pain, diminishing swelling, reducing inflammation, encouraging healing and restoring normal function. In Great Britain, Germany, and Japan, doctors prescribe it for a variety of ailments, including pain, inflammation and arthritis.

I've been using these since last Thursday. My knee is a tiny bit better. I can walk fairly well without my cane now (very slowly), but still have great pain in the knee when I'm trying to rise after sitting. I was kind of hoping for a miraculous recovery..... LOL, aren't we all!

Pat

 

[Jamie]

Pat, I'm glad you got an answer to your question. Have you been doing exercises for your quad? That might help lessen the pain when you get up from sitting. Squats are an excellent exercise...and so is an exercise bike.

 

[Texas]

Hi Pat I hope it works for you, I agree my lil leg is so tiny but now I have that torn calf muscle and cant exercise and Im watching it dwindle away more. My op leg is really small. So if you can exercise I would....Let me know if you think that cream I guess is working Im just curious....I hope you feel better real soon...