The DAV are the best. In the late ‘70s, the VA improperly reduced my disability rating to 10%. I sent a letter to the DAV explaining what happened and asking for help. A month or two later, I received a post card from a DAVer saying he would be representing me in front of the VA. A few months later, I got a letter from the VA saying that my original rating had been restored and that full back pay had been deposited to my account automatically.
I took some of that money and bought a lifetime membership!
Former chemist here. One thing to be careful with it - DMSO is an outstanding organic solvent (we used it in the lab all the time) and its main medical usage is for dissolving other complex drugs to carry them through the skin into your bloodstream, which it does more or less immediately. It’s a common component of medicated patches and other things like this.
So, take care with it - it will pick up and dissolve many other potentially nasty chemicals that may already be on your skin and so on and take them right into your body.
I have no desire to use it regardless of how well it might work for some. As soon as I read solvent, it brought me back to the parts cleaner at Aamco when I was building transmissions and the stuff disappeared into your skin as soon as it touched you. Benzene I believe along with other goodies.
I wouldn’t be put off by the word - “outstanding solvent” just means it is good at dissolving things. Water is among the most prolific solvents known, for example. Similarly, shop solvents are good at dissolving grease and oil but yes, bad to get on your skin.
DMSO is widely used in medicine, hence my warning - and the reason it is usually prescription (and with instructions to clean the area of application first).
The cyclic ring structure is common to many molecules vital for life, sure. That doesn’t change that benzene itself is toxic and a carcinogen.
Just because a specific molecular structure is toxic on its own doesn’t say anything about its toxicity when part of other chemicals. Look at it this way - chlorine on its own is deadly and has been used as a war gas. Sodium on its own is so reactive it will explode when combined with water. Sodium Chloride is table salt.
The third in the series is tomorrow, I skipped a week on vacation. I had this gel shot series on my left knee only about 2 years ago. I definitely remember the third! It seemed like the PA put the needle in from the side and tried to punch it through my kneecap from inside to outside! If they do that again, I might need to borrow a walker!
I do have a claim in, they agreed that my knees took a beating but it’s not in my medical record. It is in my medical record a few times and noted on my exit physical. My VSO submitted the original claim with reference to my medical record. She resubmitted for a higher level review again reference where in my record , so we will see! It is in black and white. Coincidentally, an old shipmate sent me a photo yesterday from a cruisebook depicting us uploading a 20mm gunmount. just leaping off these things, I paid the price! I’m the dapper young fellow to the upper right with my back turned.
