I know I haven't been around very much but I am always thinking of you all and praying for you everyone that has to deal with Chiari and all it's lovely side effects.
As some of you know I am a big proponent of Homeopathy. I have used it on my family and myself for over 17 years and have felt blessed everyday that when I was pregnant a doctor recommended I check it out.
I know a lot of you use arnica cream or gel and it's helped many of you get some much needed pain relief and helps take the edge off sore muscles. I've used it for many many years. I wanted to recommend a cream that has really helped me recently and works better than the arnica cream for my very painful stiff muscles. I've mentioned it before but I wanted to highlight it and hopefully encourage some of you to try it.
The name of the cream is Hyland's Leg Cramps Ointment. You can get it at most health food stores and on the internet. I will give links at end. Also if you buy anything at Whole Foods they let you try it and if you are not happy with it they will give you your money back or store credit.
First of all it has arnica in it but it has several other homeopathic remedies that help kick it up a notch. It says it's for leg cramps but it helps with any muscle group. I use it for just my legs but in desperation one day I used it on my neck and arm and was blown away at how much it helped take the stiffness away and made the pain much more bearable or non existant for awhile.
The ingredients are
Arnica for all muscle pain
Aconite for shooting pain
Ledum for cramp like tension
Magnesia Phos for cramps and hard painful muscles
Rhus Tox for pain relieved by warmth and rhumatic pain
Viscum Alba for shooting sharp pain
It also has wintergreen in it so it smells wonderful and has a slight warming effect. ( wash hands after..it will sting eyes)
You can use it anytime of day but I have found that if I use it for a few nights in a row right before bed it is the most effective way for me. I do 2 'coats' The first time I put it on the area that hurts I rub it into the sore muscle with as much pressure as I can take until it sinks into the skin. The second time I put it on the same area but gentler like you would put lotion on dry skin until it absorbs completely.
It takes about 20 minutes to feel the effects. As you sleep the remedies will soak in and do their magic. You should wake up feeling less stiff and taking some of the pain away. Two or three nights in a row does the trick for me and I occasionally use it on a sore spot or spots during the day. It wont cure you but hopefully it will lower your pain level some. I use it generously and sometime mix it with arnica cream to make the tube last longer. I also cut the tube open to get every last drop because quite a bit is left when it seems empty.
I buy a 3 pack on Amazon because it is the best deal but they also sell singles. Great reviews also
Hylands page http://www.hylands.com/products/hylands-leg-cramps-ointment
I hope this helps ...... All the best.... Wendy