I have also been thinking of topical pain meds to take the edge off. I haven't tried but recently found this study that sounds too good.... 95% pain reduction! The test was double-blind, multicentre, randomised clinical trial with parallel group design. You can't get a higher standard of test.
Has anyone tried it.
Efficacy and safety of comfrey root extract ointment in the treatment of acute upper or lower back pain: results of a double-blind, randomised, placebo controlled, multicentre trial -- Giannetti et al. 44 (9): 637 -- British Journal of Sports Medicin
Apparently ointments have higher concentrations of active ingredients than creams. Some brands may not contain the genuine ingredient.
I think the brand mentioned here is the real deal, but not in my local shop
Absence of mutagenic effects of a particular Symphytum officinale L. liquid extract in the bacterial reverse mutation assay - Benedek - 2009 - Phytotherapy Research - Wiley Online Library
SpringerLink -