Earth Clinic Mobile: Home Remedies for People and Pets

Recent Posts

Husband With Torn Back Muscle

trichaj (San Francisco, CA) on 09/24/2025

My husband inured his back 3 weeks ago, rested mostly and was getting better until last Friday. He pulled something when lifting a sign out of his truck bed. He became almost immobile an hour after. He rested for hours unable to move at all and I tried DMSO (I’m a beginner and don’t think the dosage was high enough) by the evening we had to take him to the dreaded ER. He couldn’t stand, when he got up from the bed the pain was so unbearable he started sweating and became nauseous. I had to call the paramedics.

They did nothing but give him pain killers. They wouldn’t give him an MRI. They said he has a strain or possible tear on a lower lumbar muscle, not a slipped disc. He left with oxycodone. He denied the heavier fentanyl and morphine, maybe because he denied it they didn’t think his back was that hurt.

Anyhow I have him on some herbs from acupuncturist friend, he’s still has to take the oxycodone + Tylenol/Ibuprofen to his dismay. He will get off them as soon as he is able.

I have been rotating between arnica hemp pain cream and comfrey salve, and heat pad. He can get up and walk a little, and does laps around the house before back to resting.

I’ve never seen him in such pain. DMSO is out with the pain killers, which are just dulling the pain, but with it’s being so significant it gives a little relief.

I’m wondering if Borax can improve the muscle repair??

Any thoughts on any other remedies?

Many thanks in advance.

Replied by Art from California on 09/24/2025

Hi trichaj,

What can be helpful for muscle repair is melatonin lotion (ML) and oral magnesium glycinate. Both offer reparative effects and can be used at the same time. Here is how to make melatonin lotion :

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

Here is a link to a typical magnesium glycinate product :

https://www.amazon.com/Supplements-Magnesium-Glycinate-Absorbable-Tablets/dp/B07NWMVMT1/ref=sr_1_5?crid=21JZN548FXX0G&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.qD-ItrkIJC252coNakKqcEf7KFnbKUxyMULfDlEB1gj5K8yYwXz_WazatgNUCXjctwuQTFc4Csjg-_oK97K5uJNNYwvPqRA84RIaMYpZN5UKTL5FO_Wf-C8SacwS0QJjkeVUNtPHFjq-fHKcPHFpm68JQvKGelcxHtGRw7XVSb3pTgHUez9QtAvdC03SVG1NQc5yNYSKKnd-gEc5xf0VI78NlJ5gJmGlrVbpdDL2ltDaWVoK-T5dzbiiqOSbROh4nBu9sjQKJ9NkVkdx_8kw2-YCVC-raZKN1r5K8MZ3NYA.5zH0ptRInJMmlIJ2eWiUtRpG4bhschfHqypaAqurzVY&dib_tag=se&keywords=magnesium+glycinate+NOW+brand&qid=1758740643&sprefix=magnesium+glycinate+now+brand,aps,175&sr=8-5

It will require 4 of the above capsules per day in order to reach the RDA for elemental magnesium for men as each capsule delivers 100 mg of elemental magnesium and the RDA for men is 400 mg for men ages 19 to 30 and 420 mg for men age 31 or over. The magnesium will also help to relax the muscles.

Both work together and may have synergy due to different methods of action. The following link discusses the reparative effects of melatonin on muscles :

https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10008686/

Here is a relevant quote from the link:

' Our data support the hypothesis that melatonin rapidly rescues skeletal muscle differentiation and the melatonin/Pax7 axis could therefore serve as an important therapeutic target to optimize muscle healing after injury. '

Here is a link discussing the positive effects of magnesium for muscle repair :

https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC6723322/

Here is a relevant quote from the link :

' We conclude that magnesium supplementation seems to exert a protective effect on muscle damage.'

You will need to get your husband's doctor's approval and supervision before using these two options to be sure they will be safe for him and compatible with all of the medications your husband is taking.

Assuming it is muscle damage, muscle repair takes time. He will likely still need his pain relievers for sometime while the magnesium and melatonin help to heal his muscles.

Art