Many of you have tried Arnica Cream or Arnica Gel and found it helped relieve some of the muscle pain associated with Chiari. I ran across this today and I thought that it was interesting
"Homeopathic Arnica Cream Gets Rave Review on The Dr. Oz Show"
There isn't any difference between the gel or cream. Some people like the gel because it has a cooling effect when you put it on. They both work great, last a long time and are inexpensive.
Maybe the members that have tried it could tell what results they have got from using Arinica......
The neck muscles are shallow so it's easier to penatrate them. The muscles of the back are deeper. Three things come to mind. You can try heating it after you put it on so maybe it will penetrate. The gel may work better for bigger muscles also. I use arnica oil when I do back massages on my husband and kids. It takes a few days of massaging and putting the oil on to make a difference. You can mix the arnica cream with another oil like coconut or olive and see if it penetrates the bigger muscles better. Put heat on it after wards if you can.
There is also to homeoapathic creams that have mixes of other remedies in them that may be more effective on the back. One is called The Rub. The other is a Leg Cramp ointment with wintergreen that has a warming effect. It works on other big muscles too. I wil put up links for all of them plus the Arnica oil that I love love love.
I would start with what you have and then maybe try one of the others if the heat and adding oil don't help.
Homeopathy doesn't mask the pain it actually spurs your body to heal itself.
I'm putting up Amazon links because the reviews may help you choose
Any suggestions for other creams? I bought some because of the rave reviews. Sadly to say I’m allergic to it. It is is in the same family as daisies and rag weed. Boy oh boy did I get reemed by my doctor when I went into anaphactic shock!!!