Hi gang, I suffer from arthritis and a few other hand ailments..I've been prescribed Ketoprophen, a very expensive RX only cream that is whipped up at a pharmacy.  It works but, it takes weeks of use and it doesn't always stop the pain. 

I found a roll-on by the makers of that "Head on" stuff.  It's called Stopain, roll-on.  It has Glucosamine and MSM included.  It is fairly smell free and tingles in all the right ways.  It can be used a many as five times a day with no particular side effects.  Can be found at Walgreens.  I got two for $9.99.  I keep one in my drum case and one with my practice kit.  I feel like a human again.

Drumming isn't the cause of my plight.....long time video gamer, arggg!  I know that's kid stuff.  I dig the brain activity and the competitiveness of gaming.  Unfortunatley it has taken its toll on my right thumb. Actually drumming makes it feel better so, I try to get in a couple hours of practice everyday. 

If anyone has hand ailments or knee problems while playing, this should help greatly!  Rock on~Kat

Ive heard good things about bio-freeze. How about blue-emu oil available at Walgreens, anyone try that also?.

Nothing works as well as a steroid injection for these sorts of pains... especially the tennis elbow. See your doc!

I take low dose aspirin every day, and that helps a lot with my various minor creaks and aches.