I have suffered from RSIs for the past 5 years, and have been using Penetrex regularly for the past 2 years as part of my attempts to treat them. As anyone with RSIs know, these injuries are complex and poorly understood - it marks the beginning of an ongoing journey. In addition to my review of Penetrex, I will share some of my journey - maybe it will help someone else.
I'll get right to the point: Does Penetrex have a positive effect, and is that effect worth the money? In my opinion, yes! However, it is no magic bullet. Penetrex is just one of many factors which can affect an injury, and while I have found it decently potent, it will not single-handidly right all wrongs in the RSI universe. If the only change you make in life is to start using Penetrex, it is unfair to poorly rate it if trouble still remains. I think perhaps the abundance of rave reviews could set some people up for disappointment; the rave reviews are completely deserved in my opinion, just remember the context of the person writing it. There are too many unpredictable factors to ensure that Penetrex will be a good fit for absolutely every person. But I would say that your odds are good, and for just $20, it is among the cheapest experiments in treatment you'll ever make.
To those who complain about a lack of pain relief from Penetrex - I actually think the focus on pain relief is somewhat misplaced. I have always thought of Penetrex as a healing aid, and in that aspect I am very satisfied with its effectiveness. I have noticed some immediate relief upon application, but for me the difference has been in long-term recovery. You really do need to faithfully use it as directed to reap the maximum benefits. I don't need so much pain relief these days, as significantly less pain is being generated to begin with - something I am very grateful for. I don't know how exactly it works, but I'm aware that it does.
For people with allergies and sensitive skin, I have read of some folks reacting negatively to this cream. Unfortunately, nothing works for everyone. For myself, I have generally troublesome allergies and struggle with psoriasis and eczema. I developed contact dermatitis from using wrist braces, and can't wear them anymore. But for all the grief my skin gives me, Penetrex has only had positive effects on me. When in doubt, do a patch test.
I give this product 5 stars because, especially when you consider the cost of other treatments (and I'm not just talking about money), Penetrex delivers great bang for the buck. My experience with it leads me to believe that it is an inherently effective product backed by a reputable company. As I only seem to age in one direction - older - I anticipate being a customer of theirs for quite some time.
Still struggling with RSIs though? Penetrex is a wonderful start, but most of us probably need more on top of this. Here's a distilled list of what I have found most effective over my years of struggle. It is these things which mean I am now healing over time instead of getting worse and worse. Maybe some of these suggestions will help you. I hope so! This is not medical advice, so please talk to your doctor before doing anything crazy. Best wishes.
Alcohol - I could not believe the profound impact that even infrequent drinking had on my RSIs. It took me a long time to realize the correlation even existed. I've since quit drinking completely, and have improved significantly off this change alone. The takeaway - the occasional treat may still be punishing you chronically when it comes to what you eat/drink. Be mindful of what you put in your body!
Trigger point therapy - overuse of muscles can cause them to permanently tense up, shortening the muscles and leading to irritation of the ligaments. Pressure is how you get the muscle fibers to release. I've gotten profound relief from this. There are some excellent products on amazon for self-massaging pressure points. It's been a real game changer for me.
Exercising underused muscles - Releasing the tense overused muscles is just one side of the coin for me. I also need to exercise opposing muscle groups. For me, the best tool has been the flextend glove, which is available through their website. I was hesitant to buy it because it's expensive and their website is very ad jargony, but it gets to a point and you're willing to risk a big chunk of change just on the chance it helps. Well if part of your issue truly is muscle balance, the flextend helps a LOT. But like any exercise, you can hurt yourself using it. You don't need to go wild with the thing to get results! Workouts will sometimes cause me some irritation in the short term (cue Penetrex), but over the long term it has been very good for me.
Frequent breaks from irritating activities: You really, really need to step away from your work frequently throughout the day. I use the pomodoro technique - I work for 25 minutes, then break for 5 (get up, move around, stretch). Every 2 hours, it's a 20 minute break. I use the handy program Focus Booster, which is free, to keep track of my time. This is also a documented technique for improving productivity, so if you have a cool boss, you might be able to sell them on introducing this at your workplace!
Perfect ergonomics: If prices were bothering you before, you are really going to cry when it comes to this. As an example, I just spent over $600 on a new chair. That's the low end of the price spectrum you need to be looking in, if you work sitting down. And then there's the effort aspect - it takes time to habitually develop awareness of posture. But there's just no way around it - the best way to heal RSIs is to minimize the damage being done to begin with.
Mechanical keyboard: If you do lots of typing, having a mechanical keyboard in a standard layout is superior to having a non-mechanical keyboard in an "ergonomic" layout. It's very difficult to find an "ergonomic" mechanical keyboard and they are very expensive. I am not sure if it's really worth it to go there. I just went with a standard layout and am very happy with it. The Cherry Red switches are the best for RSI sufferers, and you can additionally install red (2mm) or blue (4mm) rubber O rings on the underside of keys to reduce travel distance. Many suppliers will pre-install these for you, though Amazon sells key cap removal tools and the O rings for cheap, if you want to go DIY. I also recommend using a ten-keyless keyboard design unless you really use that numpad - and even then, you might consider a stand-alone numpad. The reduced travel distance between the keyboard and mouse adds up.
Braces: While I used to swear by my wrist braces, I have grown to develop mixed feelings about them in the long run. I personally think they are best used as a short-term aid. They're best for when you're sleeping and during the most aggravating activities of the day, but be sure to give yourself significant "free time" if at all possible. If you're working with braces on, I think it's good to view them as a posture training tool more than anything else. Ideally, you should strive to reach a point where you can maintain good position without relying on the brace to enforce it.
I hope some of this information proved useful to my fellow RSI sufferers! Good luck!!
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Product Description
The Penetrex family: Your partners in joint and muscle therapy
 Penetrex Therapy Cream |  Penetrex Therapy Cream |  Penetrex Roll-On Gel |  Penetrex Hemp Cream | |
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Customer Reviews
|
80,169
|
80,169
|
8,853
|
468
|
|
Price
| $18.95 | $34.95 | $22.79 | $18.95 |
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Recommended Use
| Everyday comfort | Everyday comfort | Everyday comfort | Soothing comfort |
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Form
| Concentrated cream | Concentrated cream | Roll-on gel | Lightweight Cream |
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Application
| Topical | Topical | Topical | Topical |
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Size
| 2 oz | 4 oz | 3 oz | 2 oz |
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Active Ingredients
| Arnica, Vitamin B6, MSM | Arnica, Vitamin B6, MSM | Arnica, Vitamin B6, MSM | Menthol, Hemp, Arnica |
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Vegan & Cruelty-free
| ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
Compare with similar items
This Item  Penetrex Joint & Muscle Therapy – Soothing Comfort for Back, Neck, Hands, Feet – Premium Whole Body Rub with Arnica, Vitamin B6 MSM & Boswellia – Non-Greasy 2oz Cream |  |  |  | |
| Price | $18.95 | $17.98 | $18.95 | $12.47 |
| Price Per Unit | $9.48 / Fl Oz | $0.12 / Count | $9.48 / Ounce | $3.12 / Ounce |
| Delivery | Get it as soon as Friday, May 10 | Get it as soon as Friday, May 10 | Get it as soon as Friday, May 10 | Get it as soon as Friday, May 10 |
| Customer Ratings | ||||
| Pain relief | ||||
| Value for money | ||||
| Easy to use | ||||
| Scent | ||||
| Sold By | Penetrex | Amazon.com | Penetrex | MagniLife |
| active ingredients | Arnica, Glucosamine, Vitamin B6, MSM(DMSO2) | Ibuprofen,Acetaminophen | — | lavender |
| specific uses | Joint and Muscle Therapy | Pain Relief | — | — |
| form | Cream | Tablet | Cream | Cream |
| weight | 2 ounces | 0 pounds | 0.13 pounds | — |
| product benefit | Joint & Muscle Therapy | Pain Relief | — | Soothing |
| dosage form | Pads | Caplets | — | — |
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Works better the longer you use it.
I thought I would be a good candidate to leave a review because I buy and own every pain cream known to science and could give a difference in comparison and to other pain creams on the market and how they work. I have cervical degenerative disk disease, fibromyalgia and rheumatoid arthritis. If it is rated good then I buy it.There are a lot of pain cream on the market. Those that give instant relief such as Biofreeze, Icy Hot, etc. And those that provide some instant relief but work better the longer you use it. Examples include Blue Emu and Penetrex which are specifically for inflamation. It helps the nerves too by reducing the inflamation off the nerve. Penetrex and Blue emu are both more natural products that are better to use for a few weeks to see maximum benefits. You do see immediate results, enough to take the edge off but the longer you use It the better they work. This product is not a miracle but it does help. I'm only having to use it 1-2 times a day now instead of every 3-4 hours like when I first started two to three weeks ago. You need to give it time for maximum effects. I can't give the product 5 stars because it's too similar to Blue emu which is cheaper. It's also no miracle cure.. However It does work slightly better then Blue emu and the 4 ounce bottle lasts longer.Another surprising thing is that it does help my severe herniated disks, I'm scheduled for surgery. I was told nothing would help it. In all honesty it just reduces the pain from an 8 to a 6 to take the edge off but that in itself that is fantastic for someone with spinal compression and massive disk issues. It helps my arthritis too. The disks not as much but it does help. Blue emu does about the same though but Penetrex is a tad better but not enough to justify the cost difference in my opinion. $13 vs $36. But I've only been using it for about three weeks and I'm sure the longer you use the better because a few weeks ago I was much more stiff and in a lot more pain then I am now. Blue emu is only $13 for 4 ounces and Penetrex is $37 for 4 ounces. I think Penetrex works slightly better then Blue emu but not much. I do think it's overpriced. I do notice that the container of Penetrex lasts longer then Blue emu just because it's thicker and spreads more so that makes up for some of the price so I can get an extra 10 days approx out of Penetrex. Blue emu has no smell at all and Penetrex has a vague light peppermint smell.I notice if you severely overuse Penetrex it can make you slightly itchy. I have sensitive skin. By that I mean applying way too much and way too often otherwise there are 0 side effects. I used it today and no itch. Penetrex and Blue emu does not cool the skin like Biofreeze or ICY HOT, it's like using a lotion but it helps which is crazy how it reaches far enough to reduce inflamation. You don't have to worry about strong odors. It's hard to fathom that something that doesn't cool or heat the skin could help but they both DO. I'm not telling you which you should purchase because I feel Penetrex works better then Blue emu but just a little, not a big difference and the cost is steep in comparison although it also lasts longer. I will say that the company Penetrex does give a no questions asked refund if you are not happy you can request an immediate refund so they stand behind there product 100%. If you are in severe pain (stiffness and burning) like I was I highly recommend rotating ICY HOT or BIOFREEZE with either Blue Emu or Penetrex inflamation cream for maximum benefits. I think BIOFREEZE or ICY HOT will take more of the edge off to give the Blue emu or Penetrex time to really kick in. Both do work immediately but the longer you use It the better and you will notice you don't need it as often. Just as anti inflamitory meds work immediately , they also work better the longer you use them as does both Penetrex and Blue emu.When I first developed the herniation I had not heard of Penetrex. I was using ICY HOT and rotating with Blue Emu to maximize effects. I swore ICY HOT was better then Blue emu, at least somewhat better and cheaper. It took Blue emu time to really start helping, although it helped immediately to take the edge off but not a ton. Each day I noticed more relief. Then Google and Amazon brought me to Penetrex so I wanted to try it as it was the number one best seller. What I do right now is the days I have less pain I do Blue emu and days I have more pain I do Penetrex. When I run out of Penetrex I may stick to just Blue emu. A month ago I was in such bad shape I was using Blue emu and Icy hot in rotation every few hours and that's when I decided to buy Penetrex and started using ALL 3 in rotation. That may seem crazy but when you are in that much pain you will do anything. Now I'm only using Penetrex every few days and Blue emu daily unless I over do it and the pain flares up too much then I use Penetrex.Note: The box says to not use product after too much physical exertion or after hot baths which is confusing. I see that as not happening for me so I broke the rule but I was slightly paranoid. Lol. I take hot epsom salt baths twice a week. I did use this after my bath with no effects outside slight itching/warming feeling on my neck. Blue emu does the same only if I use after a hot bath. Seeing as these do not normally warm or cool on the skin but only happens after a hot bath for me is a little odd. Lol. But I didn't have any crazy side effects. I also use this after cleaning the house and haven't noticed any side effects. Only after my hot baths. A little warm on my neck after applying it which lasts for about 10 minutes..This was definitely the longest review I've ever written but I felt the need to share the difference in these creams and also explain some in how they work different from other creams that cool or heat the skin. The main reason is because I read too many reviews which did not even give the product time to work before saying it's a scam etc. I'm a real buyer and it's not a scam. It's no miracle either but it does help a good 20% of the pain for severe pain and at least 50% for mild to moderate pain. I find both Penetrex and Blue emu the best on the market you can buy followed by BIOFREEZE then lastly ICY HOT. My top 3 in order is #1 PENETREX #2. BLUE EMU, #3 BIOFREEZE. #4 ICYHOT. I read Sombra works good too But that's one I've yet to personally try. I think Biofreeze helps the muscles more and Blue emu and Penetrex helps the joints more but they help the muscles too. It does work immediately to take the edge off but again it takes a few weeks to see a better improvement and the improvement is deserving of 4 stars and if the price was lower it would get 5 stars.. But that's why to start out I recommend rotating with a cooling cream to give this time to see the best results.My mobility is better, stiffness and I can tell the inflamation is down. It helps more then my prescription anti inflammatory. I really hope this helped your decision and gave some insight in to the different creams.. . :)
Top reviews from the United States
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Reviewed in the United States on September 21, 2019
until I could decrease or eliminate this inflammation. So I ordered the small size
& when it arrived, I followedinstructions & massaged the appropriate
amount into my knee and surrouding tissues. Smelled good, easy to absorb. Then I went about my reading until about 2 hours later, a strange feeling came over me & I beganchecking for what was wrong. Then it hit me like a hurricane — my knee wasn’t hot, the swelling was reduced and the pain was much lighter. I massaged in some more, and y t again after another 5 hours. when I awoke, I got out of bed without my walker, could actually begin to see my kneecap where once was just a blob and I could walk. At physical therapy later that day, I did the Pilates Teformer was cercises, could pedal the bicycle wheel all the time way over and had range of motion of 123 degrees. I put on more cream cheese hen I got home & more before bed. I slept through the night. Today I was able to repot over a doz n pots of flowers,
cook supper, bathe myself, and even started work on a new quilt.
Look this could all be coincidental. It could be that my knee is finally beginning to heal on its own. But I personally believe (andI am an epidemiologist married to a board-certified MD) that something in this cream works on inflammation and lets me live a nearly normal, nearly painfree life just 3 minutes months after q complete knee replacement with partial bone replacement. If you have the money for a small size please try it on your inflammed area. It mike make all the difference in your life like it did in mind. And I will be glad to try and answer any questions
Size: 2 Ounce (Pack of 1)Verified Purchase
Can’t explain how but it works - please read
Reviewed in the United States on September 21, 2019
In June, I had a partial knee replacement removed and replaced with a total knee replacement. Surgery went textbook except my bone had deformed around the previous knee and much of my tibia (the larger, weight-bearing bone of the leg) broke off with the old knee. much prep work with spacers, new bone matric, etc had to be done before the new knee replacement could be evenly inserted and cemented. My quadriceps muscle was sliced longitudinally to allow access. For the first few days my hospital stay was great I walked, climbed stairs, had over 95 degrees range of motion. But massive localized inflammation set in on the 3rd day and because I have had 2 major stomach surgeries, I cannot swallow NSAIDS anti inflammatory drugs like Alleve, Ibuprofen, Naproxyn, etc., or even aspirin But my knee and legwere swollen to 44”from my normal size of 19-21”. The only medication that workedat all on the extreme painqnd swelling or this inflammatory response was a dangerous IV NSAID called toradol which I couldonly receive for 3 days while in hospital or risk losing my kidney funcion The anesthesiologists had to administer it. I was sent home with opiod pain pills but nohing for the inflammation. By the next morning my knee was back up to 44”, hot, unable o bend, painful to try usi g my walker or cruzches. In the next few weeks, we tried a trial ofCelebrex,prescription-only diclofenac cream, doubl doses of Curcumin. Nothing helped. The Orthopedic surgeon had no suggestions. My husband, an emergency physician, had no ideas. I became so desperate that I took Alleve orally for 2 days until my gut began bleeding. My sister convinced me to pook at over the counter creams, that there must be one that had found anvehicle to get thir product through the many skin layers which are actually designed to keep these creams out. I agreed that if I found somthing ith at least one major ingredient for whoch there was some science, I would try it Thank the Lord, I found Penetrex cream before I gave up. I knew that oral homeopathic doe s of Arnica worked well on bruises and the pain of broken bones. I knew that oral Botswelia and Oral Glucosamine have shown to provide some relief but this was all in antopical cream. And it is not cheap but I was out of options & really did not believe I would get wellReviewed in the United States on September 21, 2019
until I could decrease or eliminate this inflammation. So I ordered the small size
& when it arrived, I followedinstructions & massaged the appropriate
amount into my knee and surrouding tissues. Smelled good, easy to absorb. Then I went about my reading until about 2 hours later, a strange feeling came over me & I beganchecking for what was wrong. Then it hit me like a hurricane — my knee wasn’t hot, the swelling was reduced and the pain was much lighter. I massaged in some more, and y t again after another 5 hours. when I awoke, I got out of bed without my walker, could actually begin to see my kneecap where once was just a blob and I could walk. At physical therapy later that day, I did the Pilates Teformer was cercises, could pedal the bicycle wheel all the time way over and had range of motion of 123 degrees. I put on more cream cheese hen I got home & more before bed. I slept through the night. Today I was able to repot over a doz n pots of flowers,
cook supper, bathe myself, and even started work on a new quilt.
Look this could all be coincidental. It could be that my knee is finally beginning to heal on its own. But I personally believe (andI am an epidemiologist married to a board-certified MD) that something in this cream works on inflammation and lets me live a nearly normal, nearly painfree life just 3 minutes months after q complete knee replacement with partial bone replacement. If you have the money for a small size please try it on your inflammed area. It mike make all the difference in your life like it did in mind. And I will be glad to try and answer any questions
Images in this review
Top reviews from other countries
Marino
Excelente Producto!!
Reviewed in Mexico on May 25, 2022Size: 2 Ounce (Pack of 1)Verified Purchase
Amazon Customer
Great Product
Reviewed in Australia on April 22, 2024Size: 2 Ounce (Pack of 1)Verified Purchase
Irma Miranda Terrones
Excelente, si alivia el dolor de articulaciones
Reviewed in Mexico on October 24, 2023Size: 2 Ounce (Pack of 1)Verified Purchase
Lenine Bailey
An excellent product
Reviewed in Australia on February 5, 2024Size: 2 Ounce (Pack of 1)Verified Purchase
Abril
Caro, pero vale la pena
Reviewed in Mexico on July 28, 2022Size: 2 Ounce (Pack of 1)Verified Purchase
