Mara- I'm sorry that you were ill... I had something like that last week. Ugh. I also have an 18mo old who didn't understand why daddy was upstairs asleep when she was downstairs playing.
Biofreeze is my friend!! I think that the roll-on is easier to apply, but the gel seems to last a little longer. The only problem with putting it on at work is that people wonder what that smell is .

hope you're feeling better