Will ointments like BenGay bring any relief to the aching muscles caused by SIJD?
Actually the ointments that get hot, like BenGay, contain methyl salicylate (oil of wintergreen). According to the PDR after you rub methyl salicylate on your skin you can find salicylate in your blood and in your urine. Methyl salicylate is in the same family as aspirin. Aspirin is acetylsalicylic acid. Aspirin is effective against inflammation because it inhibits prostaglandins. There are two types of prostaglandins and salicylate inhibits both types. As far as I know, cortisone is effective against only one type of prostaglandin. In any case, when you rub the methyl salicylate on the skin it is absorbed through the skin and has a local antiinflammatory action. This absorption can be inhanced with ultrasound.
