Pain Relieving Spray?

[Cookeit]

I've been watching a lot of fencing DVD's.. and I notice that sometimes when a fencer complains of pain, his coach comes out and sprays the area down with an aerosol can.

Anyone know what this stuff is?


I can give specific examples if you guys have no idea what I'm talking about.

[Rabid Monk]

Could be one of a number of products.

Google gave me quite the list.

But I'll give you some advice:

Avoid anything that says "homoeopathic", "no side effects", or "Dr. Frank's".

If it says "natural" anywhere regarding ingredients, take a close look at the list. Cross-reference the product and ingredient to websites whose opinion you can trust.

You will want something with an analgesic (pain-killer), and possibly menthol or something similar to cool the skin.

Personally, I would forgo the sprays in favour of something that I know works and works well: Rub A535. It smells nice, too. Which is good, because the smell is strong.

Since you're not in Canada, PM me and I'll try to arrange to send you some if you want. Depending on the laws, of course (it isn't sold in the U.S., so I don't know if there's a legal reason or not).

[Sabresque]

Why, its "The spray" of course! It can cure any ailment. cuts, bruises, grief, suffering. Any situation can be solved by screaming "GET THE SPRAY!" and the magic spray fairy will charge onto the strip (often looks strangely like a russian or italian trainer.)

[Timberwolf_CY]

Yeah, one of my friends at my club uses that for her hand when it bothers her. It's a basically a numbing-spray agent. She uses it on her fencing hand after she's been fencing for a while. Apparently it's available OTC just about anywhere, so check your local retail store with a pharmacy or, failing that, a sports store like Sports Authority. I told her she needs to loosen her grip, and she says that's not what it is, but I rather doubt that. However she IS a C from New York, which makes her about a B here in St. Louis, so I would assume she knows more about what she's talking about than I do. She did say she doesn't have any particular ailments in her hand. Anyway, the spray numbs the hand up. I can't see how she fences like that, but she owned me, so whateverz.

[Cry_Me_A_River]

Originally Posted by Timberwolf_CY

Yeah, one of my friends at my club uses that for her hand when it bothers her. It's a basically a numbing-spray agent. She uses it on her fencing hand after she's been fencing for a while. Apparently it's available OTC just about anywhere, so check your local retail store with a pharmacy or, failing that, a sports store like Sports Authority. I told her she needs to loosen her grip, and she says that's not what it is, but I rather doubt that. However she IS a C from New York, which makes her about a B here in St. Louis, so I would assume she knows more about what she's talking about than I do. She did say she doesn't have any particular ailments in her hand. Anyway, the spray numbs the hand up. I can't see how she fences like that, but she owned me, so whateverz.

A spray that destroys nerve endings...SWEET!

[DonnaP]

Not sure which spray you may mean - not having seen the videos you reference, however, there are various cold sprays which is just cold in a can. Could work as a quick analgesic, though I don't see a large advantage to it if they are spraying it on muscles as the cold could reduce a spasm or have the opposite effect of tightening the muscle. Biofreeze also comes in a spray now - and is much more convenient than using the rub down gels. I use it on my patients and have had a lot of positive feedback for it's value with pain managment - especially for muscle strain. (At least neither of these destroy nerve endings that I know of??)

[Cookeit]

One bout where you see it used twice is the gold medal bout between Lei and Cassara on the "Best of Foil 2007" DVD.

Cassara gets it sprayed on both his hand and his ankle.

[tchwojko]

Could it be the same magic spray that pro football/soccer players use after a grazing* slide tackle that leaves them writhing on the ground and carried off in a stretcher magically brings them back to a complete recovery in mere minutes if not seconds?

*They'd surely lose a limb if the tackle actually made contact!

[mesulater]

Originally Posted by Timberwolf_CY

However she IS a C from New York, which makes her about a B here in St. Louis,

Could you explain this????

[Patrician]

It's definitely a cold spray you're referring to, as said, they cool down the area where you've hurt yourself and relieve some of the pain. It's very effective against bruises and sprains and such.

You can get it at your local hardware or sports store. Though be cautious and use a towel between you and the spray as its dangerous to your body to cool it down too fast. I'm sure you'll find instructions on the back of the can.

Good luch chuck!

[Medinilla]

Nothing like my red DEEP HEAT tubes mates

[rudd]

It's Deep Freeze or similar Basically just numbs and injured area so an athlete can continue with a minor injury.

[ACrimsonRapier]

Originally Posted by Timberwolf_CY

However she IS a C from New York, which makes her about a B here in St. Louis

Originally Posted by mesulater

Could you explain this????

I agree with that . . .
I'm from Chicago and go to school in California. The level of fencing in the midwest is, on average, lower than on the coasts.

[bigdawg2121]

Originally Posted by Cookeit

I've been watching a lot of fencing DVD's.. and I notice that sometimes when a fencer complains of pain, his coach comes out and sprays the area down with an aerosol can.

Anyone know what this stuff is?


I can give specific examples if you guys have no idea what I'm talking about.

Actually, I just looked in my duffle and I have a can of Solarcaine, which is exactly the type of product you discuss. I'd probably like something stronger though.

[Morale Officer]

Originally Posted by DonnaP

Not sure which spray you may mean - not having seen the videos you reference, however, there are various cold sprays which is just cold in a can. Could work as a quick analgesic, though I don't see a large advantage to it if they are spraying it on muscles as the cold could reduce a spasm or have the opposite effect of tightening the muscle. Biofreeze also comes in a spray now - and is much more convenient than using the rub down gels. I use it on my patients and have had a lot of positive feedback for it's value with pain managment - especially for muscle strain. (At least neither of these destroy nerve endings that I know of??)

Biofreeze works WONDERS!

[Timberwolf_CY]

Originally Posted by mesulater

Could you explain this????

Originally Posted by ACrimsonRapier

I agree with that . . .
I'm from Chicago and go to school in California. The level of fencing in the midwest is, on average, lower than on the coasts.

That's pretty much it. We do have B's and A's here in the Midwest, but they can't hold a candle to equivalent ratings from areas with more/better fencing populations. So if some one has stayed in St. Louis and earned their C here, they earned it fencing people who are not as skillful as elsewhere, so when some one with a C comes in from say, New York or Seattle, or other places, that C kills our C pretty badly, usually. It is worth noting though that this particular C had taken a break from fencing for a while, so she is rather rusty, but on a good night when she hasn't been busy she is probably the best foilist in the club, excepting some a couple of the coaches.

[passata_sotto]

Originally Posted by Rabid Monk

Avoid anything that says "homoeopathic", "no side effects", or "Dr. Frank's".

If it says "natural" anywhere regarding ingredients, take a close look at the list. Cross-reference the product and ingredient to websites whose opinion you can trust.

.

That is questionable advice imho. All three of my fencers go to a chiropractor who is also certified in acupuncture, homeopathy, and homeotoxicology. Several things that they use from him work quite well and are easily as safe and effective as otc products, if not safer. I certainly feel that natural ingredients are better than the majority of drugs that are available which is one of several reasons why we use alternative medicine.

ps acupuncture has done wonders for my 12 year old's wrist and hand problems resulting from fencing

[tchwojko]

Originally Posted by passata_sotto

That is questionable advice imho.

"Internet advice" and "questionable advice" are the same thing.

[Kramer]

Originally Posted by tchwojko

""questionable advice"

Older friend of mine, he is 60+, was a runner back when he was younger. He use to spray his joints with WD-40 and wrap them afterwards. He swears by it. He tried to get me to do it for leg pain but no way, that cant be healthy. He said it took out inflammation.

Just thought it was a interesting story, dont try this...

[Timberwolf_CY]

Originally Posted by passata_sotto

That is questionable advice imho. All three of my fencers go to a chiropractor who is also certified in acupuncture, homeopathy, and homeotoxicology. Several things that they use from him work quite well and are easily as safe and effective as otc products, if not safer. I certainly feel that natural ingredients are better than the majority of drugs that are available which is one of several reasons why we use alternative medicine.

ps acupuncture has done wonders for my 12 year old's wrist and hand problems resulting from fencing

I'm sorry, but, unless you're under serious time/situational constrants (extreme example - combat in Iraq), when is it EVER bad to double check something?