Arnica and the Management of Pain in Acute Musculoskeletal Extremity Injuries

This is an interventional treatment trial for Pain, Muscle focused on measuring Homeopathy, Pain Management, Musculoskeletal Extremity Injuries, Swelling Read More

Inclusion Criteria:

• Patient presents to the Emergency Department with an acute, soft tissue ankle or forearm injury
• ED Provider orders an X-ray for evaluation of injury
• Patient's initial pain score is of a 4 or higher
• Patient has noticeable swelling at the site of the injury

Exclusion Criteria:

• Patient is diagnosed with a fracture
• Patient has an allergy to ibuprofen
• Patient is already on a NSAID, acetaminophen, anticoagulant or oral corticosteroid therapy for chronic pain treatment (a NSAID given in triage or use for the current injury is allowed)
• Use of other concurrent complementary medicine therapy, e.g. massage, acupuncture, physical therapy
• Patient has been treated for this injury in the past
• Patient has a bleeding/bruising disorder
• Patient is pregnant or is lactating
• Patient has a liver or kidney disease, malignancy, infection, immunodeficiency or metabolic syndrome
• Patient is allergic to the Asteraceae family of plants (arnica, ragweed, chrysanthemum, marigold, or daisy are the most common)
• Patient is nonverbal, and thus unable to give a pain score
• Patient does not have a working telephone (required for follow-up call)
• Family requires foreign language interpreter during their ED visit