WD-40...Useful in Arthritis

I Thought this was interesting because my old hometown Doctor used to Swear by this! I forget the name of the chemical in WD-40 that helps your joints!

Can WD-40 oil cure arthritis?


PAT HAGAN






THOUSANDS of people around the world swear WD-40 has cured their arthritis.


Anecdotal evidence suggests there is a global craze for spraying the household lubricant on stiff knees, hips and wrists — even though it’s usually meant for jammed locks and rusty hinges.

Dozens of websites feature messages testifying to its unlikely success in easing joint pain.

Golfer Eric McKaig claims WD-40 ended his days of creaking, painful joints.

The 70-year-old retired sales manager from Stamford, Lincs, says: “It’s been an absolute godsend for me.

“WD-40 has given me a heck of a lot of relief.

“A few weeks ago, I was even running around the garden with my grandson. I haven’t been able to do that for about three years.”

The latest craze conjures up images of the Tin Man in the classic movie The Wizard Of Oz, oiling himself in the mornings to get going.

Reports that people were spraying the all-purpose lubricant on themselves first emerged around ten tears ago in the United States.

Now the manufacturers of WD-40 have been forced to issue a statement.

They say that although the spray has thousands of uses, treating stiff joints is definitely not one of them.

The company say: “WD-40 is not designed for use on the human body and has not been medically tested. If you are suffering from joint pain you should always seek advice from your GP.”






Self-sprayer ... Eric says WD-40 has been
a real godsend for him


WD-40 was originally developed in 1953 as a rust-prevention product for the aerospace industry. But it now has nearly 2,000 official uses and even has its own fan club.

On metal, it works by displacing water and grease, so that rust does not get a chance to seize up moving parts. Quite how it might work on human joints remains a mystery.

Some experts claim it is only a placebo effect, where the patients think they feel better after a quick spray.

On the other hand, the effect of massaging WD-40 into a sore joint could be what is providing relief.

Eric began getting stiff and sore joints about seven years ago.

The former professional footballer, who played for Nottingham Forest in the Fifties, had X-rays that showed his knees were crumbling.

He tried taking painkillers and supplements but found no lasting relief.

After playing golf in the day, his joints would seize up and become painful.

In the mornings, he had to sit on the side of the bed for a few minutes to gradually ease the stiffness in his legs.

Eric says: “My joints used to crack like a gun going off.”

Then golfing pal Ron Andrew, 78, let Eric in on his little secret.

He had experimented with WD-40 in his garage when the pain from arthritis in his thumb and knees became too much.

Eric says: “I sprayed my knees on Monday, then again two days later. I only used it twice.

“That was three months ago and I’ve not taken a painkiller or joint supplement since.”

Ron, who lives near Eric, tried the unlikely remedy three years ago.

He says: “There was a slope at my local golf course that used to really hurt my knees.

“But within a few days of spraying WD-40 it didn’t hurt nearly as much. I only sprayed it three or four times and I’ve been fine since. It was unbelievable.”






Arthritis ... example of problems


Arthritis expert Professor Robert Moots, from Liverpool University, said a lubricant similar to WD-40 is already used to treat stiff joints.

He says: “It’s called viscose supplementation and it’s injected into the joints.(Notice this!...the prescription cost more so they don't want you to use just the plain old WD-40)

“But by spraying the outside of the knee with WD-40 I doubt if any would actually get into the joint. I’ve no doubt people who use it do feel better but it’s probably only a simple placebo effect.”

Yet thousands of people around the world swear WD-40 has cured their arthritis.

One US fan said on a website: “My father-in-law swears by it.

“He is a retired air force mechanic and when his knuckles and knees get grouchy he squirts them with WD-40. He says it works every time.”

Another wrote: “I first saw WD-40 used for arthritis by mechanics on a regular basis back in the late Seventies. They claimed it worked and from what I saw it did.”






Well oiled ... glad if it can


No proper medical studies have been done to investigate the claims.

Most doctors warn against using it. WD-40 contains petroleum-related products that could irritate the skin.

Accidental splashes are supposed to be washed off with soap and water.

Despite this, it now has a strong following in Britain, especially in the golfing community.

Those affected by the age-related condition osteoarthritis are the anti- corrosive solution’s biggest fans.

Osteoarthritis affects millions in the UK.

By the age of 65, half of us will have it in at least one joint. It is the most common cause of disability among the elderly and is due to a breakdown of protective tissue, called cartilage, within the joints of the knee, hips, spine, wrists and shoulders.

As this degrades, unprotected bones begin to rub together, which triggers pain and inflammation.

The condition worsens because the body’s own repair mechanism tries to make new bone to replace what has been eroded.

The joints then become thickened and even more painful.

The only “cure” is an artificial replacement joint, commonly a knee or hip.

Most patients also rely on painkillers to cope with the agony, or supplements such as glucosamine to soothe their damaged joints. But Eric McKaig won’t bother with any medicine — he’s sticking to WD-40.

He says: “My joints don’t seize up and I jump straight out of bed in the mornings.”

WD-40 USES: 1. Protects silver from tarnishing. 2. Removes road tar and grime from cars. 3. Cleans and lubricates guitar strings. 4. Gives floors that 'just-waxed' sheen without making them slippery. 5. Keeps flies off cows. (I love this one!) 6. Restores and cleans chalkboards. 7. Removes lipstick stains. 8. Loosens stubborn zippers. 9. Untangles jewelry chains. 10. Removes stains from stainless steel sinks. 11. Removes dirt and grime from the barbecue grill. 12. Keeps ceramic/terra cotta ga
Another use...I use it to get knots and tangles out of my horses mane and tail...spray it on a knot that looks like you would have to cut out, and start working with it, it will untangle without having to cut it out!

WD-40, is the result of much testing. Noman clature is the name. (WD-40) W stands for water. D stands for displacment. Hence Water Displacment # 40.

Yes originally developed for N A S A to be used in the space race. There were 39 other W D's before # 40 finally was created. (odviously the first 39 didnt work as intended) Once # 40 was found to do the job, the originating scientist aquired the rights to and retired from N A S A opening his own company, since becoming a must (or nearly) in most every home and mechanics shop in America. Widely used around the world very few actually know what the W D is in W D 40 but now you do.

The recipe for this superlube has long been a closely guarded trade secret—until now. Wired sent a can to the lab and got the ingredients.

Mineral Oil
Seriously. WD-40 is mostly a mix of baby oil, Vaseline, and the goop inside homemade lava lamps.

Decane
WD-40 contains an abundance of alkanes—hydrocarbons that match the formula CxH2x+2, usually in a long, zigzagging chain. This one, C10H22, which is also a common ingredient of gasoline, helps WD-40 remain a liquid at cold temperatures. Decane doesn't freeze until around -21 degrees Fahrenheit.

Nonane
Another alkane. One reason these molecules are so handy here: Their hydrogen atoms don't hold a charge, so they can't connect to the hydrogen or oxygen in water, which makes alkanes water-repellent. WD-40, after all, stands for "water displacement, 40th attempt."
Our lab analyzed WD-40 with gas chromatography (GC) and mass spectroscopy (MS). GC separates chemicals based on size, boiling point, and other factors, releasing them one by one over time. MS then blasts the molecules with an electron beam and tells what's what by the mass of the ionized fragments.

Tridecane and Undecane
Freeze-resistant? Check. Water- repellent? Check. Contains an alkane that is the major product of the red-banded stinkbug's scent gland? Check! Many alkanes are naturally produced by living creatures. Undecane, part of the pheromone trail left by cockroaches and ants, is present.

Tetradecane
Another alkane! Zzzzzz.

Dimethyl Naphthalene
Here's the thing: This stuff (C12H12) comes in 10 forms, called isomers. One of them is a harmless hormone given off by potatoes. Another is used in high-performance engineering plastics. Our analysis can't determine which ones are present here, but if you're using it as a solvent, as is likely the case with WD-40, they all work just fine.

Cyclohexane
That cyclo prefix means that unlike standard alkanes, which come in chains, this one's a ring. The shape gives cycloalkanes a higher melting point. And huffing them will knock you out cold. (Or so we're told.)

Carbon Dioxide
The WD-40 company claims that by using this gas as a propellant, it avoids using smaller gaseous alkanes (possibly butane and propane), which can be hazardous to the environment. As if CO2 isn't.

Thank you, Rick152 for that research. I know a lot more now than I did previously, although I don't understand everything I know.

I've been thinking about it since reading Rick and horizon's posts. Probably a quick shot of WD-40 on a joint or two once or twice wouldn't really hurt a person. Every day ... well I'd have a problem with that because 1) that's a lot of chemicals, and 2) it would mean it's not working so what would I be thinking by doing that!

Rick152 can probably completely relate to my next statement: We probably ingest a lot more harmful chemical components each and every day traveling along So CA freeways. Am I right?




Los Angeles ranked as the most polluted city in the nation for all categories in the report, even though LA's pollution levels have dropped. (Credit: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency)

Not only that, Sebbie, but trust me, you would smell like a machine shop for awhile- I use WD-40, and P.B. Blaster solvents at the shop all the time, and when I get home from work, my wife can smell it before I come through the door!!

I still have arthritis in my knees and ankles, but I make the best of it-

sebtopdog said;
Rick152 can probably completely relate to my next statement: We probably ingest a lot more harmful chemical components each and every day traveling along So CA freeways. Am I right?

You are right. Even with the "controls" of late years we still have quite a bit of pollutants "stuck" in the air of the L A basin. As most know the L A Orange county basin is a sort of bowl that little allows winds to carry away said pollutants thus we tend to not "share" with most of the rest of the country from here. LOL. Fortunately for me I live in a part of O C that has very little in the way of these said pollutants accumulate. Much better way of life if you will. Sebbie if you want to PM me I will tell you where you can visit my shop and see / experiance this "clean air" part of the vast megalopolis we so live. (BTW the last of these places in So Cal especially the L A basin, it is so close but "feels" so far away)

I have heard the joint thing before. Although not mentioned here, the argument that it can't hurt you because it is food grade is often used. Some of WD-40's many products are, but WDS-40 itself is NOT approved for either direct or indirect contact with food.

From the MSDS sheet:

Emergency Overview:
DANGER! Flammable aerosol. Contents under pressure. Harmful or fatal if swallowed. If swallowed, may be aspirated and cause lung damage. May cause eye irritation. Avoid eye contact. Use with adequate ventilation. Keep away from heat, sparks and all other sources of ignition.

Symptoms of Overexposure:
Inhalation: High concentrations may cause nasal and respiratory irritation and central nervous system effects such as headache, dizziness and nausea. Intentional abuse may be harmful or fatal.

Skin Contact: Prolonged and/or repeated contact may produce mild irritation and defatting with possible dermatitis.

Eye Contact: Contact may be irritating to eyes. May cause redness and tearing.

Ingestion: This product has low oral toxicity. Swallowing may cause gastrointestinal irritation, nausea, vomiting and diarrhea. This product is an aspiration hazard. If swallowed, can enter the lungs and may cause chemical pneumonitis, severe lung damage and death.

Chronic Effects: None expected.

Medical Conditions Aggravated by Exposure: Preexisting eye, skin and respiratory conditions may be aggravated by exposure.

Suspected Cancer Agent:
Yes No X
3 - Composition/Information

http://www.wd40company.com/files/pdf/msds-wd494716385.pdf

I was on crutches for 9 mos with arthritis in my knees. Tried everything via the doc - p.t. cortisone shots, etc. Finally he shot my knees up with a drug called synovus. It was like giving an old car a lube job. Threw away my crutches 3 days later and that was 4 years ago. While they still ache slightly at times that shot sure did wonders for me.