How to use DMSO Gel

I've used DMSO once in a while for the past 20 years. I don't think it will help with your IT band problem. Second, I've never found it to be effective if not used within 48 hours of the injury. Third, it's pretty tricky stuff to use. I've given up recommending it because more people can't follow the directions on how to use it. I'd suggest you try yoga stretches, instead.

I'm willing to try ANYTHING at this point. I need to keep my scholarship and to do that need to be able to run. Running 2 miles every other day isn't going to help me. At least if dmso doesn't work I can rule it out. I have read that people have success with it and ITBS.

Do a search and find the horror stories of DMXO use,on this site.

9/10 times itbs is caused by distance runners training in the wrong shoes. Deal with the root cause(rotation from the hip/knee in relation to the lower leg) by slowing the rate of pronation a the ankle(aka use the proper stability/posted shoe) and strengthen the hip(glute med/max) and maintain flexibility. I bet if you did a one leg squat your knee rotates and caves right in medially.

You can also get IT band problems from oversupinating on that side as well, wearing worn out shoes, or running on the "wrong" side of the road too much.

DMSO is a band-aid, and what you need is a cure.

My experience with DMSO and IT band problems was pretty simple: it gave me a nice Rash, and didn't help. It's an analgesic (much like aspirin), but between the breath it gives you and the rash, there are much better options. Graston would be a good option: also, a good massage therapist fixed my IT problem. They worked my hip (the piriformis, glut. Medius, and tensor fascia latae are the source of your problem) and literally I was running the next day.

Chronic ITB is most likely a running form, shoe, or hip muscle imbalance. As the previous poster said, you are probably pronating.

This may not help you, but it might help others with the same problem. Stand in your running shoes. Step forward with the foot on the side of your ITB pain. Put the forward foot down, but keep your weight on the rear foot. Now, shift your weight over the front foot. Does your ankle rock inwards? If so, that's pronation. You need to fix it.

What works best for me is a Superfeet Black insert. Go to a running store. Put them in your existing running shoes and try the foot forward drill described above. Does it eliminate most of the pronation? If so, that would be a good place to start.

I usually have to add a small square of cloth between the hard part of the Superfeet insole and the soft upper part. I'll put about a 2 inch square piece of felt there on the inside of the arch. Sometimes, I have to overlap 2-3 pieces, but eventually, my foot no longer rocks to the inside when I put weight on it.

That should resolve the pronation. That may or may not resolve the ITB issues.

Meanwhile if you want to try a DMSO-type liniment, I'd suggest Thermaflex (a horse liniment), an OTC arthritis liniment, or Volteren Gel (a prescription anti-inflammatory).

They will help with healing but they don't address the underlying issue.

I've had it work out pretty well, actually. I was in a similar position to you a year or so ago and decided to just give it a go.

What I used it for: Tendons and muscles directly around shin were EXTREMELY tight (running through a stress reaction/fracture on the alter-g and still working out was a poor call). Could barely run.

How did it work: Better than the naproxin script the team doc gave me that was doing nothing but making me sh*t my guts out all day. Had to apply often.

Negatives: I smelled hooorriiible. Seriously, I didn't smell it, but good god it was apparently bad enough to avoid coming within a few feet of me.

Would I use it again? Yeah, probably. But I'd get a script for Voltaren 1% gel instead if I could. That sh*t is CLUTCH, plus you don't smell! Do make sure you don't get the super strong horse-quality DMSO, by the way.

…search the threads here??? there are so many with some good advice.

…try the pat strap??? it may work for you.

…try stretching??? again, this may help.

I'm still stretching and I get a few minutes of relief but it comes back. It's not super bad anymore but it's still there.

I've got all fairly new shoes that are neutral since I've had 2 gait analysis done at seperate places and they say I'm neutral. They all are the same brand of shoes that Ive run in for a few years (brooks ghost).

I've done A.R.T., physical therapy for almost 3 months, dry needling and massage therapy. I've been to 2 Ortho's and been on Mobic and voltaren gel and even tried Ionto (with the bandage looking thing). Nothing is making it go away. I foam roll, use a lacrosse ball on my tfl, stretch and do strengthening exercises 2x a day for almost 3 months and nothing is kicking it. Cortisone also didn't work. Tried running in flats and Nike free's.

I'm going to try graston on Friday with the hope that it may work. If it doesn't then I'm pretty much out of options. I honestly don't know what else to do.

If someone has any exercises they thank will help please let me know. You never know, it may be one I haven't been shown or found online.

I can tell you that as soon as I put the lacrosse ball on my tfl it causes the outer knee pain instantly.

Don't wrap anything or put anything on it after you apply it. It may transport anything like that into your bloodsteam.

You probably think I'm joking but I'm not.