Bone spurs can occur on different parts of the body and cause different symptoms. Heel spurs develop commonly in people who have foot deformities or disorders or in people who are overweight. Bone spurs can cause pain and disability in your foot, knees, shoulder or spine or neck. Some medical practitioners use medical-grade DMSO, scientifically known as dimethyl sulfoxide, an industrial solvent made into a cream to ease pain from bone spurs. Your doctor should order this for you and oversee its use; do not take it otherwise, since it's not approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for general medical use.
History
Dimethyl sulfoxide has a checkered past. The drug first became popular in the 1960s after surgeon Stanley Jacobs, M.D., one-time head of the Organ Transplant program at Oregon State University Health Sciences Center, began using it to treat arthritis, sprains and burns. Dr. Jacobs, a man who admitted he was "obsessed with DMSO," according to an article in the April 28, 1980 issue of "Time" magazine, championed its use for a number of medical purposes. Today, the only approved medicinal use of DMSO for humans is for interstitial cystitis and for organ preservation prior to transplant. In the July-August 1996 issue of "Alternative & Complementary Therapies," freelance writer Maya Muir that the most constant use of the solvent was for pain relief as a topical anesthetic. DMSO also reduces inflammation at the site. This benefit is applied to bone spurs by some practitioners. The drug is not approved by the FDA for use as a medically approved topical anesthetic. Though it can be obtained in gel, cream and liquid forms from health product outlets, it carries the warning that the product is intended for use as a solvent only, and its use for other purposes is the sole responsibility of the user.
Actions
DMSO works as an anti-oxidant as well as an anti-inflammatory drug and a pain reliever, according to Muir. She states that DMSO works quickly and that pain relief lasts up to six hours, although people with chronic pain may need to apply the topical solution for several weeks before they note relief. These claims have not been substantiated through clinical trials.
Type
Medical-grade DMSO, which is often mixed with other compounds such as aloe or other supplements, should be used to treat pain from bone spurs, rheumatologist Nathan Wei, MD explains on the arthritis-treatment-and-relief.com. Your medical practitioner should prescribe and order this for you, since most DMSO available in stores is not medical-grade but commercial-grade and could be harmful. Commercial-grade DMSO is not suitable for medical use, Wei warns.
Risks
When DMSO was first used widely, concern over side effects caused the United States Food and Drug Administration to halt clinical trials on the drug necessary to approve it for medical use.The drug is still sold for veterinary use, which doesn't have to meet the same guidelines as FDA-approved medications. In the 1960s, animals exposed to large amounts of DMSO appeared to have lens changes in their eyes, and one woman died from an allergic reaction to DMSO or other drugs she was taking. Potential side effects include headache, burning and itching on the skin and a strong garlic smell and taste. DMSO may also increase absorption and potentiate the effects of blood thinners, certain heart medications and sedatives, the American Cancer Society warns. Do not use this compound without first discussing its use with your medical practitioner, who should order only medical-grade DMSO and carefully supervise its use.
