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Jerome (Brooklyn, Ny) on 01/04/2011
3 out of 5 stars

Better But With Side Effects

First and foremost, I love this site! Second, I have recently found great relief from tennis and golfer's elbow pain that has bothered me on and off for over a decade. I am a weightlifter/former obsessive bodybuilder in my 30s who injured the tendons in my elbows some 12 years ago by doing a tricep exercise called "skull crushers" with far too much weight. I actually felt something tear in my elbows at that time. From that point forward, my elbows caused me nagging pain every few months for as long as I put pressure on them. I tried everything I could think of to rid myself of the pain--acupuncture worked somewhat, but the pain always came back. Active release technique (ART) applied by a chiropractor worked even better, but it was expensive and a hassle to keep going every week, and the pain would come back after that as well. I recently made a decision to get into the best shape of my life. Sure enough, a few weeks into my new exercise program, my elbows began to flare.

This time I did some research and came across postings by athletes/golfers/tennis players/etc. online claiming that DMSO may work for tendon-related problems. I bought some 90% diluted DMSO and applied it to my elbows. Within a few minutes my elbows felt like they had third-degree burns--they felt like they were sizzling! I actually had to wash the DMSO off after less than 10 minutes, it was burning so bad. However, the next morning when I awoke, and during the next evening's workout, I noticed a HUGE improvement in how my elbows felt. Mind you, this is after only one application! I applied it again last night, had to wash it off after only 5 minutes because I couldn't stand the burning again, but today my elbows feel even better! It really is unbelievable to me that a problem that's plagued me for so long appears to be dissolving over a matter of days.

At this point, I think there is much truth to the theory that tendon injuries are very slow to heal due to the low blood flow they normally receive in our bodies. Therefore, treatments that increase blood flow to the injured tendon (like icing or especially DMSO) are the only things that really make a difference. My experience with DMSO gives me yet another reason to thank the online healing community and to dismiss the conventional medical establishment and FDA who claim that natural treatments like DMSO are bunk and that we should all get toxic cortisone injections and needless operations instead. Good luck!

REPLY   8      

Replied By Sigma6 (Midpines, Ca, Us) on 05/09/2011

You can get DMSO Gel from Amazon that is 70% DMSO and 30% Aloe Vera. While it doesn't feel like it burns, it does itch for awhile.
REPLY         

Replied By Mohammed (Ahamdi, Kuwait) on 10/04/2011

How can I use Dimethyl sulfoxide DMSO for pain in my elbow bone? Is there any other medicine to get rid of this pain? Khan
REPLY         

Replied By Tnselbw (Denver, Co) on 11/28/2012

Another thing you might want to try is wearing wrist braces at night. I went 3 specialists for tennis elbow. It was so bad they put me in a cast to let it heal. After I got out of the cast (8 weeks later) the pain was still incredible. I went to an amazing physical therapist who told me to go to the drug store and buy a wrist brace ( the over the counter kind used for carpel tunnel, etc). She told me to wear the brace at NIGHT but NOT during the day. She explained that we all bend our wrists at night which pulls on the tendon to the elbow. The brace stops it. She also said you must use your arm a little during the day to keep good motion. It took a really long time to heal. I haven't had pain for 6-8 months now. If I feel a twinge in that elbow I put the brace on form3-4 nights because I don't ever want to feel that pain again! Lastly, I can even lift weights again!
REPLY   3      

Replied By Marsh (Colo) on 04/04/2026

This replies is late, but you're right. After a fall that resulted in a twisted ankle and 2 hyperextended thumbs (ugh), I slept with wrist braces that also mobilized the thumbs after noticing a painful movement would wake me me, slowing healing. Between that and exercises thumbs are MUCH better. (BTW, I saw an orthopedic hand specialist who immediately wanted to schedule surgery. Wasn't ready to sign up for that. A week later saw his partner for a lower back pull after lifting a heavy box. Mentioned my thumbs. He ironically he had the same surgery in order to fix his dangling thumb after a fall. He recommended trying exercises before signing up for surgery - gently squeezing a small ball, and laying hands flat on table and moving thumbs slowly away from hand to form a capital L and bringing thumb back to touch index finger. (not that I would have signed up for it). Rubbing frankincense, arnica, Voltarin and adding DMSO have takent he edge off. Just found a new product - Arthritis Pain Relief Rubbing Oil that I'm trying without DMSO.

Replied By Melissa N. (IL) on 06/20/2021

I love DMSO, I've used it for shingles pain. It was the only thing that worked. And only today, after having tennis elbow for 3 months, from shoveling heavy wet snow in Chicago Am I realizing that DMSO would work for this as well.

I'm a hair stylist so I have repetitive motions all day at work, that gave me low lying issues with tennis elbow. But I had it under control, until I shoveled ice and snow.

From my experience, you can only leave it on for 5-10 minutes at the most, and then you must wipe it off. It works transdermally, so it is immediate.

Thank you for sharing your experience. It helped me to run to my bathroom and apply it to my tennis elbow. Which helped immensely. Even more then painkillers or the NSAIDS I've taken. I forget how strong this is. But you can't leave it on very long, that is the side effect.

Thank you for sharing!!

Also I love Earth clinic, I have fixed so many health issues from this website! I don't know why I just didn't check here first.
REPLY   11      

Replied By Art (California) on 04/04/2026

Hi Marsh,

I have had very good responses to thumb issues like these using 3 things all at the same time.

1. Mag Oil

2. Borax Lotion

3. Melatonin Lotion

Apply all three at the same time before bed and first thing in the morning. A midday application can speed the process. AI gives a brief explanation of why they work here :

' Yes, magnesium, boron, and melatonin can assist in the repair of joints, ligaments, tendons and muscles, though they work through different biological mechanisms. Current research indicates they are most effective when used as part of a broader nutritional strategy for injury recovery. '

There are studies to support these three for joints, tendons, ligaments and muscle repair and stabilization.

I explain how to make borax lotion here :

https://www.earthclinic.com/remedies/borax-lotion.html

I explain how to make melatonin lotion here :

https://www.earthclinic.com/supplements/melatonin-lotion.html

And here is a typical mag oil spray that you can buy on Amazon :

https://www.amazon.com/Magnesium-Oil-Spray-STRENGTH-Essential/dp/B01N0KQ9QJ/ref=sr_1_5?crid=FY7UAJDVB6DV&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.hTYXxEud9s5Xsy-76oSeS73F0xnU3ox59tjfSu_Cb8_5rTSmRo_jqPdwAXtnKTuPPo6CwFWh9wpcuwvpD-VA4EUmMMrkjOeVphrDbkLyu0yftpjX8jJSUN1kVHO8Oe6MVmFLwyUVUFGzBZPl951KJxSyLBOeNaEfgnLysQxiCqdjVtsseCO2mMumzEkdxN0aaeFU6fuD5ocmU-PjVDCPxkyCMH6mi0bUcF4TqYSggsctbMqZ9X12rzd0jQ5fiYUMju_Scs8_UHB9-RWu_W03DfZSlxrdtRTHGFm1FV2BkdM.IFrb4sJry1uIJr55NIlyfDnI-nIhsuWAVbaZ_AGYmOw&dib_tag=se&keywords=mag+oil&qid=1775325053&rdc=1&sprefix=mag+oil,aps,240&sr=8-5&th=1

It can take a couple months of regular application if the damage is very significant, but it offers relief long before then.

Art