I've known about this for years but it was always $30.00 or so.

I have an arthritic shoulder which I work with. I exercise, I do the spider up the wall thing. But every now and then (especially with the nutty weather we are having), well it drives me crazy.

So today, Alan and I were in the drug store around the corner from me, and I saw the roll on of Bio Freeze. They just got the shipment in, and it expires in 2011.

COST???? $8.99 for a 3 oz roll on (a nice size one at that).

He got 3 of them in. I bought one, my lady friend bought one, so there is one left.

Tonight, Alan is going to put it on his feet when they start burning.

THAT WILL BE THE TEST.

Two days ago he had a BAD NEUROPATHY DAY. Don't know if it was the weather (nutty), barometer going up and down, etc. or stress in our lives.

Who knows?? Who cares??

As long as we get relief from some place, that's all I care about.

So tonight will tell the tale.

Will update.

Melody

all the time. But, only a little and never with heat. Personally, I cannot stand it on my feet. They are very sensitive. But it's great for my lower back and my calves sometimes. I use it on my back for muscle cramps or sore back. My back doesn't burn. My feet get crampy and I soak them in Epsom Salt and very lukewarm water.

Do not use a lot of it or all over and never with a heating pad at the same time. Perhaps you know this. And not more than four times a day I believe it says.

Also, I am surprised that you could buy it at the local drug store. The company always says that they do not let places sell Biofreeze except for sports stores, chiropractors, etc. And it is true here. You can't even buy it on-line like you used to be able to.

I've used it for years and never had to pay that much for it.

Lately, I've gotten it on a website. Good price too; about what you paid for it. I have to pay a bit more for it at the chiropractor so I'm not buying it there anymore as long as I can get it cheaper. I prefer the gel. WalMart has a product called FreezeIt which appears to be similiar but not the same. I think Target had that at one time also. But, I want the real thing.

From the site: "Ilex (Ilex paraguariensis) is part of the holly family of plants and grows in South America. The Paraguay Indians call it Yerba Mate and have used Ilex extract for centuries to enhance the effects of their balms. Ilex contains many wonderful compounds, similar to Green Tea, that provide antioxidants, amino acids, vitamins, and saponins." Biofreeze.com

That's great. Biofreeze has trickled down now to more affordable
levels. I got mine on a website for $6.99 a tube a year or so ago so I bought 3.

I don't get the terrible burning often (but I do get it when I eat potatoes), but summer seems to be more of a challenge.
I sometimes put the fan on too. That really cools them down with the Biofreeze on them.

I think the Ilex in that gel has therapeutic effects that other menthol gels lack. Ilex is yerba mate when used as a tea.
It is a potent antioxidant...more than twice a potent as green tea.

I think Alan will enjoy it!

Well, so far so good. Yesterday was a success.

A few minutes ago, (by the way, it's a horrible day here in Brooklyn, cold, wet, humid and just horrible, with the rain all day), he lay down next to me and his feet were jumping. I got off the phone, went and got the BioFreeze and applied it to his right foot (that's the one that is giving him problems lately).

I then did what I always do right before he takes a nap. I take my two elbows and go over his spine and he goes "oh my god, all the pain is going away".

This DID NOT WORK A FEW DAYS AGO, and that's when he was having a really bad neuropathy day (the weather went from hot to cold and back again), and no amount of my massaging helped him (but then this was BEFORE we got the BIOFREEZE).

So fast forward to today, and in five minutes flat, he is snoring his head off and his feet are calm.

Perhaps it's the combination of the Bio-Freeze and the fact that I massaged his spine.

But whatever it was, IT WORKED.

I don't know why the Methyl B-12 worked for me, and not for him, but hey, I'll take whatever I can take.


I think this BIOFREEZE is going to be a major help in this house.

Melody

My son and I have both used BIOFREEZE for almost a year for aches and pains, we also get it at the local pharmacy for $8-$9. I love it because the scent doesn't linger too long so I can put it on while I'm at work. I'm wondering if Jeff should try it on his knee. He has RSD in the foot/ankle of the same leg but his knee pain is not due to the RSD. I'm just concerned his leg may be to sensative. Has anyone with RSD ever used this?

As someone with rsd in her inner ankle/foot/calf there is no way I could tolerate this even on the knee. I bump my knee and it effects the whole leg and sends the pain so high. You may want to get others response on the rsd forum too. Has he tried a warm bath? Or maybe even epsom salt bath?
Melody hope you are finding it helpful and your husband too. I can see you are being a great care taker like usual.
I think Walmart for many things like otc meds and vitamins is much cheaper then cvs or a drug store

I don't know how it would work for RSD either. It is not really COLD.... it just has menthol in it which stimulate cold nerves which block the burning heat nerve signals.

RSD is so strange, and reactive, I agree with Daniella to ask around first. The cooling feeling goes away quickly, at least for me. It is great for knees and deeper pains too.

As I mentioned above, the Ilex in it is an antioxidant, and I think it is the major reason Biofreeze works better than other gels with just menthol in them.

Hi
I lurk and learn here a lot. I just had to comment on the BioFreeze. A few years ago there was a massage place close to me. A friend recommended the guy, said he had really been able to help her. So I went to see him. He used BioFreeze liberally all over me. I was neither hot or cold during the massage. I just felt wonderful. Nothing hurt for a change! My friend and he warned me that when I got home I would need a nap. Sure enough, I did. And that's when I got cold.

I think the stuff is great, and takes some of the pain away. Never occured to me to use it on my feet, but will try it.

Barb