Has Anyone Used Voltarol To Help With Pain Relief

[emmie]

i have been advised to try it on my knees, as i have acute pain in both. Did it help at all?
I have had a X ray which has shown up Arthritis which i already knew i had but the pain is off the chart now. I can't take codeine because of side effects, but was told by GP to try the Voltarol and see if it helps.

[jennyjoan]

there are so many broken bones in my body ankle, 3 breaks in shoulder - a tube would do me once LOL

[Sqad]

Buenchico....indeed it does. -;)

[pixie374]

Emmie, is there anyone at all that you might be able to stay with after surgery?
You are nowhere near old enough to just tolerate it, especially as it is likely to get worse.

[bednobs]

they are less keen on doing knees is your age group nowadays emmie than they used tobe. the standard first line treatment is painkillers and physio, perhaps lifestyle changes too

[KJN]

I also have OE , in my right knee, had it for about a year and a half now.When the pain gets unbearable I call the doctor who gives me a cortisone injection in my knee. This helps very much. It maybe worth having a chat with your doctor about having an injection.

[Patsy33]

JJ, I was talking about Voltarol.

[jennyjoan]

ok Patsy - I have used Voltarol a lot. Bought from chemist and ordered some packs from Amazon but it didn't work for me.

[Khandro]

Voltarol site says ""Gently rub or massage in a small amount of gel into the skin to the painful or swollen area. An amount ranging in size from a cherry to a walnut will usually be sufficient.""

A walnut !! Looking at my 100g tube, 4 or 5 walnuts would fill it. Pretty expensive & a nice little earner for the company. The active ingredient of Voltarol is diclofenac. It's only a few chemicals after all, no magic involved.

[Giggsie]

I am going through the same with my left knee. I already have had my right knee replaced. Pain has been so bad last week I got an injection in my knee helped greatly. I take diclofenac which is the same as voltarol but in tablet form.
I was referred to orthopaedics so now on the list for a knee replacement. I have rheumatoid arthritis. The recovery after is not that bad gets better day by day. I was back driving after my 6 weeks. I have had no problems since. So I know what I am in for this time.

[pixie374]

A knee replacement generally lasts up to about 20 years. So it does depend on age to a degree. But also you want to be reasonably healthy, to go for surgery.
I don't honestly think that rubbing on a cream, goes much further than the actual skin... and, if the arthritis is due to wear and tear... physio may help a little (not sure there are many muscles that support the knees?)
But, as they suggested, surgery is probably the best option.

[emmie]

thanks everyone for the input, will see if voltarol helps if not then will have to wait to hear from the MSK clinician after Christmas as to a better way forward.

[davebro]

Flexiseq gel is supposed to lubricate the joint by external application & no "chemical" pain relief. I tried it on my ankle but it had no effect & again it is quite expensive if you need to use it continually.
My sister had the injections for knee pain a couple of years ago which did work but now seem to be wearing off.

[emmie]

the clinician said this might be an option to have a knee injection.

[emmie]

pixie, no one i could stay with, everyone i know either works, or is family who live 70 odd miles away

[rowanwitch]

The arthritis research council did a biggie study some while back
The most effective treatment they found was capsaicin cream which is based on the part of chilli that we feel as heat,( not everyone can tolerate it) I think flexiseq came. second it is expensive can't be prescribed and needs to be used long term. Football (diclofenac) gel in the stronger formulation was about middle of the list about the same as the tablet form. You can nightfall tablets over the counter it only the 25 mg. Strength and 3 per day on the packaging. Better to get them in higher dose from doctor with the extra but protecting meds that are recommended for long term Use.

A brace helps. (A lot).. But I found quad exercises to strengthen the knee joint were best of all. It still hurts but because the knee is stronger it doesn't throw extra weight into the other side which tends to aggravate the arthritis in my hips.

There have been a few smaller studies that show both extract of ginger (zinaxin) and curcumin not necessarily but sometimes in combination with glucosamine and chondroitin are also helpful. I seem to remember one trial was in people who had failed on conventional medicine.

[rowanwitch]

Football??! Voltarol

[rowanwitch]

Nightfall !!!still buy

[rowanwitch]

But protecting. Gut, I swear I typed gut!!!!!!

[bednobs]

You really can't buy it in tablet form òtc Any more rowan as far as I know

[Smowball]

This Voltarol is a gel yes?? Is it a freeze type one or a heat one?