If you've ever had jaw tension from TMJ, or muscles that ache after a long day, you probably wouldn't expect to have much in common with a professional athlete. But one of the most effective pain relief methods for everyday people actually comes straight from the playbook of pro sports - and yes, even the Boston Red Sox.
From the Dugout to the Doctor's Bag
Athletes put their bodies through incredible stress. Long seasons, double-headers, endless training - it all adds up. For years, team doctors relied on ketorolac, a prescription-strength anti-inflammatory, to help players manage pain and stay in the game.
But Here's the Catch
On the field, ketorolac kept players moving - but it came with a big downside. Taken as a pill or injection, it doesn't just work on a sore shoulder or tight jaw. It runs through the whole body. For athletes, that meant risking serious side effects. In fact, ketorolac became so notorious for causing gastrointestinal bleeding and kidney damage that the FDA eventually limited its use to five days max. Imagine trying to get through a full season like that.
A Smarter Way to Deliver Relief
So what if you could take the power of ketorolac but put it exactly where it hurts? That's where sports medicine started experimenting: topical application. Instead of circulating through the whole system, a cream or gel could deliver ketorolac right where athletes needed it - sore joints, tight muscles, acute pain - while minimizing the systemic risks of oral meds.
This shift wasn't just clever. It was a game-changer. Players could get the anti-inflammatory and analgesic effects locally, without the downtime or dangers that come from high systemic exposure.
From the Big Leagues to Everyday Life
Fast-forward to today, and that same innovation is available beyond the ballpark. TMJ tension? Shoulder stiffness from desk work? Tight calves after a run? A modern topical format makes prescription-strength relief practical for people who just want to feel better and get on with their day.
That's the philosophy behind KetroSkin Rx: reimagining an athlete's solution for real, everyday relief.
The Takeaway
Baseball taught us that how you deliver pain relief matters as much as the medicine itself. Pills flood your entire system. Topicals work at the source. For athletes, that meant more games played. For the rest of us, it means fewer pills, cleaner relief, and a smarter approach to managing pain.
Ready for relief?
Discover how we're making relief smarter, cleaner, and more targeted.
Shop KetroSkin Rx (Rx only) or our magnesium spray.
References
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FDA. Toradol (ketorolac) Prescribing Information. Boxed warning on GI risk, renal toxicity, and 5-day max usage.
https://www.accessdata.fda.gov/drugsatfda_docs/label/2013/019645s019lbl.pdf -
Strom BL, Berlin JA, Kinman JL, et al. Parenteral ketorolac and risk of gastrointestinal and operative site bleeding: a postmarketing surveillance study. JAMA. 1996;275(5):376-382.
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/8569017/ -
University of Illinois Chicago, Drug Information Group. What evidence is there for the 5-day maximum with the use of ketorolac? (summarizes 97 fatalities, boxed warning history, and study data). September 2022.
https://dig.pharmacy.uic.edu/faqs/2022-2/september-2022-faqs/what-evidence-is-there-for-the-5-day-maximum-with-the-use-of-ketorolac/
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