Dmso

[Lady V]

(Dimethyl Sulfoxide-99% purity, 90% by volume, roll-on)

Has anyone used this? I had a co-worker recommend trying this after he learned of the constant heel pain I was suffering. He said he got it at a co-op and that while it has not been approved for humans that farmers use it on the animals a lot? I looked online and have read numerous articles of humans using this for several things (pain, lower back problems, arthritis, sprains, etc..)
It says its something about how it is able to dissolve through the skin so quickly or something that leads to healing. Some people say they feel relief almost immediately.
I have major heel pain (plantar fasciitis) and I was hoping maybe someone on the DIS had used this product for a similar ailment and could give me some hope? Or if anyone has used this for anything? Thank you!

 

[BriarfoxinWA]

Years ago I used it on my horses when they had leg swelling. The vet always said you didn't want to get it on your own skin. the danger I believe is that anything else on your skin will also get absorbed with it.

 

[GottaGetToDisney!]

LadyV- I've never heard of DMSO, but as far as your heel problems go I feel your pain - literally. I've been suffering from plantar fasciitis for a long, long time. I just thought I'd run this idea by you:

A couple of weeks ago, my co-worker kinesio-taped my feet (I work in Physical Therapy). I'd never tried kinesio-tape (honestly, I wasn't 100% convinced it would do any good), but I was desperate to try anything.

I was amazed at the difference it made. The very next morning after having the tape applied I stepped out of my bed and...no pain. None. I could have cried because I was so happy. The tape only lasts for 3-5 days, so my co-worker applied it again for me one other time. Since then, it's been about a week without it and my feet do hurt a little bit, but nothing like the pain was before.

I'm going to order my own tape on Amazon (not too expensive - about 12.00 for a roll) and then my co-worker is going to teach me how to apply the tape myself. I know there are videos on youtube that demonstrate the application, too, if you wanted to try it yourself.

Good luck!
Gotta Get To Disney!

 

[Art 1]

Lots of us used it years ago. It gives you bad breath. Like garlic. It never caused us harm, some guys swore by it.

 

[Lady V]

LadyV- I've never heard of DMSO, but as far as your heel problems go I feel your pain - literally. I've been suffering from plantar fasciitis for a long, long time. I just thought I'd run this idea by you:

A couple of weeks ago, my co-worker kinesio-taped my feet (I work in Physical Therapy). I'd never tried kinesio-tape (honestly, I wasn't 100% convinced it would do any good), but I was desperate to try anything.

I was amazed at the difference it made. The very next morning after having the tape applied I stepped out of my bed and...no pain. None. I could have cried because I was so happy. The tape only lasts for 3-5 days, so my co-worker applied it again for me one other time. Since then, it's been about a week without it and my feet do hurt a little bit, but nothing like the pain was before.

I'm going to order my own tape on Amazon (not too expensive - about 12.00 for a roll) and then my co-worker is going to teach me how to apply the tape myself. I know there are videos on youtube that demonstrate the application, too, if you wanted to try it yourself.

Good luck!
Gotta Get To Disney!

Thank you!! I am googling it now and am so excited just hoping it will work!! Do you have any suggestions as to which is best? I am nervous I won't be able to wrap it correctly. Also--were you told any stretches that would help? Do you ice or heat or both? Thank you!!

 

[Tinijocaro]

My dd16 has horrible heel pain due to PF. Going to look into this tape. I feel so bad for her- she's too young.

 

[aprilchem]

I am a professional chemist, and I am shocked that people would consider putting DMSO on their skin. I double-glove when I use it and take great care not to breathe it (I use it in a special air-flow fume hood so the vapors don't go near my face).

I just looked up the Safety Data Sheet (the new version of the MSDS sheet) and here is what it says:

Potential Acute Health Effects:
Slightly hazardous in case of inhalation (lung irritant). Slightly hazardous in case of skin contact (irritant, permeator), of eye contact (irritant), of ingestion, .
Potential Chronic Health Effects:
Slightly hazardous in case of skin contact (irritant, sensitizer, permeator), of ingestion. CARCINOGENIC EFFECTS:
Not available. MUTAGENIC EFFECTS: Mutagenic for mammalian somatic cells. Mutagenic for bacteria and/or yeast. TERATOGENIC EFFECTS: Not available. DEVELOPMENTAL TOXICITY: Not available. The substance may be toxic to blood, kidneys, liver, mucous membranes, skin, eyes. Repeated or prolonged exposure to the substance can produce target organs damage.

I hope this helps.

April

 

[tvguy]

It was a holelistic fad to use it about 30 years ago. One that I thought had gone away because of all the bad things it did.

 

[Art 1]

I am a professional chemist, and I am shocked that people would consider putting DMSO on their skin. I double-glove when I use it and take great care not to breathe it (I use it in a special air-flow fume hood so the vapors don't go near my face).

I just looked up the Safety Data Sheet (the new version of the MSDS sheet) and here is what it says:

Potential Acute Health Effects:
Slightly hazardous in case of inhalation (lung irritant). Slightly hazardous in case of skin contact (irritant, permeator), of eye contact (irritant), of ingestion, .
Potential Chronic Health Effects:
Slightly hazardous in case of skin contact (irritant, sensitizer, permeator), of ingestion. CARCINOGENIC EFFECTS:
Not available. MUTAGENIC EFFECTS: Mutagenic for mammalian somatic cells. Mutagenic for bacteria and/or yeast. TERATOGENIC EFFECTS: Not available. DEVELOPMENTAL TOXICITY: Not available. The substance may be toxic to blood, kidneys, liver, mucous membranes, skin, eyes. Repeated or prolonged exposure to the substance can produce target organs damage.

I hope this helps.

April

But read an asprin warning sheet sometime.

 

["Cinder" Ella's Mom]

I had to have a steroid injection in my foot for my horrific plantar fasciitis. That helped for a bit and I was taping with KT tape daily as well. I was in so much pain despite stretches daily. I saw a pair of plantar fasciitis socks on Amazon and bought them. They are tight fitting and offer amazing arch support. They are toe-less socks...can't remember the brand, and are about ankle high. I wore them all winter under my regular socks and never go barefoot. They worked! I went from excruciating pain to barely any. I got a size large for my sz. 8 shoe. They come in pairs, but I only have on bad foot so I can alternate them while washing. BEST move I ever made was getting these socks!!!!

 

[aprilchem]

But read an asprin warning sheet sometime.

Here is the SDS for acetylsalicylic acid:
Potential Acute Health Effects:
Hazardous in case of skin contact (irritant), of eye contact (irritant). Slightly hazardous in case of skin contact (corrosive, permeator), of ingestion, of inhalation. Severe over-exposure can result in death.
Potential Chronic Health Effects:
CARCINOGENIC EFFECTS: Not available. MUTAGENIC EFFECTS: Not available. TERATOGENIC EFFECTS: Not available. DEVELOPMENTAL TOXICITY: Not available. The substance is toxic to blood, lungs, mucous membranes. Repeated or prolonged exposure to the substance can produce target organs damage. Repeated exposure to a highly toxic material may produce general deterioration of health by an accumulation in one or many human organs.

To me, this indicates that the danger for aspirin is simply that of overexposure (i.e., overdose) while DMSO has acute toxic effects (particularly the mutagenic effects; I don't mess with mutagens).

 

[Lady V]

Thank you so much for the detailed warning. I have decided not to continue using it. I only used it for 2 days-I hope there will be no consequence later.
I'm so discouraged. I was very hopeful with this product.
Is there anyone here who actually treats this in their job ? I get conflicting info online. Some places say to stretch some some it damages it more. Some places say to tape while others day I need physical therapy for months to actually heal it. I just want to get better.

 

[The Mystery Machine]

Thank you so much for the detailed warning. I have decided not to continue using it. I only used it for 2 days-I hope there will be no consequence later.
I'm so discouraged. I was very hopeful with this product.
Is there anyone here who actually treats this in their job ? I get conflicting info online. Some places say to stretch some some it damages it more. Some places say to tape while others day I need physical therapy for months to actually heal it. I just want to get better.

If you actually want to get better you have to work for it unfortunately. There is no magic pill.

I went to physical therapy where she used evil tools on me to break up the scar tissue and did some taping.

I also did stretching (vital to recovery), used the golf ball, exercise, my podiatrist made me custom orthotics, and saw a certified pedorthist at Brown Shoe and was fitted for shoes that offered me maximum support.

You may have "heel spurs" as well. I went full throttle on my PF to avoid getting spurs.

I also have "Morton's neuroma" on my right foot so I have continued to exercise and stretch.

I have since joined a gym and I have been taking classes since Oct. I have been at it for about a 1 1/2 yrs with this issue.

I have to wear my shoes with orthotics ALL THE TIME. If I cheat and slip on my sandals for a bit I pay the price with my neuroma. My PF has been gone for a long time.

I am not going to lie, it was painful to get rid of PF however good riddance to it.

Anyway that is my experience.

 

[Lady V]

If you actually want to get better you have to work for it unfortunately. There is no magic pill.

I went to physical therapy where she used evil tools on me to break up the scar tissue and did some taping.

I also did stretching (vital to recovery), used the golf ball, exercise, my podiatrist made me custom orthotics, and saw a certified pedorthist at Brown Shoe and was fitted for shoes that offered me maximum support.

You may have "heel spurs" as well. I went full throttle on my PF to avoid getting spurs.

I also have "Morton's neuroma" on my right foot so I have continued to exercise and stretch.

I have since joined a gym and I have been taking classes since Oct. I have been at it for about a 1 1/2 yrs with this issue.

I have to wear my shoes with orthotics ALL THE TIME. If I cheat and slip on my sandals for a bit I pay the price with my neuroma. My PF has been gone for a long time.

I am not going to lie, it was painful to get rid of PF however good riddance to it.

Anyway that is my experience.

So I am thinking the answer is to go to physical therapy? I was so hoping it was something that could be iced, heated, stretched, exercised, wrapped, or rested away.
Thank you so much for all the advice everyone!

 

[EdiePA]

Thank you so much for the detailed warning. I have decided not to continue using it. I only used it for 2 days-I hope there will be no consequence later.
I'm so discouraged. I was very hopeful with this product.
Is there anyone here who actually treats this in their job ? I get conflicting info online. Some places say to stretch some some it damages it more. Some places say to tape while others day I need physical therapy for months to actually heal it. I just want to get better.

I went to an orthopedic surgeon for my PF after trying steroid injections (X2) and all the physical therapist could throw at it. He suggested going "low tech" and completely resting my foot for six weeks. He put my foot/leg in a plaster cast (from the toes to the knees) with my toe pointed. It was a "walking" cast, but still very hard to walk around in with the pointed toe. I spent six weeks with it like that and then they took the cast off. Then, it took a lot of stretching to get my Achilles tendon back, but it was so worth it. I haven't had any pain since (15+ years.)

Edie

 

[leebee]

I am a professional chemist, and I am shocked that people would consider putting DMSO on their skin. I double-glove when I use it and take great care not to breathe it (I use it in a special air-flow fume hood so the vapors don't go near my face).

I just looked up the Safety Data Sheet (the new version of the MSDS sheet) and here is what it says:

Potential Acute Health Effects:
Slightly hazardous in case of inhalation (lung irritant). Slightly hazardous in case of skin contact (irritant, permeator), of eye contact (irritant), of ingestion, .
Potential Chronic Health Effects:
Slightly hazardous in case of skin contact (irritant, sensitizer, permeator), of ingestion. CARCINOGENIC EFFECTS:
Not available. MUTAGENIC EFFECTS: Mutagenic for mammalian somatic cells. Mutagenic for bacteria and/or yeast. TERATOGENIC EFFECTS: Not available. DEVELOPMENTAL TOXICITY: Not available. The substance may be toxic to blood, kidneys, liver, mucous membranes, skin, eyes. Repeated or prolonged exposure to the substance can produce target organs damage.

I hope this helps.

April

I am with April. We used DMSO in the lab for a variety of things because it passes so easily through so many membranes, and it transports whatever is around at the time across membranes when it goes across the membranes. It is extremely dangerous for humans. Mutagenic effects change your DNA; teratogenic effects change the DNA of the developing fetus. It's DANGEROUS to humans.

Several years ago there was a book called "White Oleander." Oleander is toxic to humans. In this story, Oleander toxin was extracted/suspended in DMSO. The solution was then "painted" on doorknobs, surfaces, etc., that the intended victim would touch. Contact with this dried oleander/DMSO solution killed the victim. He didn't even need to come into contact with liquid DMSO; the dried concoction was still active enough to carry the toxin into his cells and kill him. THAT is how DMSO works… nothing to mess around with.

 

[Cantw8]

I am a professional chemist, and I am shocked that people would consider putting DMSO on their skin. I double-glove when I use it and take great care not to breathe it (I use it in a special air-flow fume hood so the vapors don't go near my face).

I just looked up the Safety Data Sheet (the new version of the MSDS sheet) and here is what it says:

Potential Acute Health Effects:
Slightly hazardous in case of inhalation (lung irritant). Slightly hazardous in case of skin contact (irritant, permeator), of eye contact (irritant), of ingestion, .
Potential Chronic Health Effects:
Slightly hazardous in case of skin contact (irritant, sensitizer, permeator), of ingestion. CARCINOGENIC EFFECTS:
Not available. MUTAGENIC EFFECTS: Mutagenic for mammalian somatic cells. Mutagenic for bacteria and/or yeast. TERATOGENIC EFFECTS: Not available. DEVELOPMENTAL TOXICITY: Not available. The substance may be toxic to blood, kidneys, liver, mucous membranes, skin, eyes. Repeated or prolonged exposure to the substance can produce target organs damage.

I hope this helps.

April

LOL, I always use it with media to freeze down cells before cryogenically storing them. I can't imagine anyone putting it on their skin