Voltarol

[tempusfugi]

Is it considered ok to use Voltarol cream when taking Pred? I am confused as to whether it's an NSAID. I am hoping to use it on what is supposedly an artritic knee joint.

[DorsetLady PMRGCAuk volunteer]

The main ingredient is diclofenac which is a NSAID.. However used sparingly it might be okay, but have you tried other things for "OA" knee - like Flexiseq which is drug free - and is the one that Versus Arthritis often recommends, they did research into its effectiveness -

flexiseq.com/

There are other non drug items - all recommendations from others -

5Kind Hemp Lotion -

5kind.com

Naturalskinfactory -

naturalskincarefactory.com/...

Motorbikers Warrior balm -

motorbikers.cc/product/warr...

[tempusfugi in reply to DorsetLady]

Thanks vm, Dorset Lady. I have tried Flexiseq to no avail, unfortunately. A friend recommends Voltarol, as it works for her, so I thought I'd try it. Having bought a large tube of it, I have now become unsure on reading the information leaflet. I should have researched before buying!

I'll give it to her as a birthday present🤣Tempus F

[DorsetLady PMRGCAuk volunteer in reply to tempusfugi]

Not being rude, but you do need to follow the advice re flexiseq - it is quite specific -

flexiseq.com/pages/how-to-a...

[tempusfugi in reply to DorsetLady]

Not at all, DL. Quite understand your comment but I did read the advice re use of flexiseq carefully and followed the instructions. I must admit to being unsure about the diagnosis of arthritis because this all appears to have started since PMR began for me, over two years ago.

Both knees became painful at the back, so that kneeling for example was v difficult. I don't believe this to be a matter of Bakers Cysts. There is no doubt that the pain at the back has continued but the knees are swollen all over now (more with the right knee than the left). I have an x-ray booked at the local hospital for 20 June.

[DorsetLady PMRGCAuk volunteer in reply to tempusfugi]

Well hope you will get some answers following X-rays. Have to say flexiseq good for my shoulders - but think I found too late for knee - it was bone on bone -and did very little.

[tempusfugi in reply to DorsetLady]

Did you have a knee replacement, eventually, DL?

[DorsetLady PMRGCAuk volunteer in reply to tempusfugi]

Yes -July 2018 -brilliant result…

[tempusfugi in reply to DorsetLady]

Wonderful and great to hear. My brother had a knee replacement about 18 months ago and a friend's husband had the same. Both successful, thank goodness.

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to tempusfugi]

It's probably OK if you are just using it for one knee - it very much depends on the area and frequency.

[tempusfugi in reply to PMRpro]

Thanks, PMRpro. I think at the moment I will probably use it on my right knee, once during the night. No more than that. I tried it last night, following a cuppa about 0400 hrs and managed a few hours sleep after that.

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to tempusfugi]

If that is all it isn't likely to be a problem unless you are VERY sensitive.

[PMRCanada]

I’ve used Voltarin cream occasionally but recently discovered Tylenol Arthritis (Canada) which is long-lasting (8 hours) so I take one dose at breakfast with food when I have OA related knee pain (which pain is now breaking through as I lower my pred dose). I don’t take it daily, and always with food, but it does work well for my joint pain.

[tempusfugi in reply to PMRCanada]

Thank you PMRCanada. I hadn't heard of Tylenol so, on checking, discovered it is known as Paracetamol here in the UK. I wish that did have some effect for me but doesn't appear to make any difference. I think that is the same as Tylenol Arthritis but stand to be corrected, if not.

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to tempusfugi]

It is - and all these versions of a painkiller for a specific disorder are all the same but they often charge more!!! Marketing ... Tylenol arthritis is a modified release tablet - half acts immediately and the other half is release later to extend the effect, Paracetamol is used a lot despite there not being a lot of support for a good effect, Does nothing for me - unless taking a full dose of 1g in the early morning and the pain easing late afternoon is a result!!!!

[RachelJDH]

My Pharmacist says it is OK and he is quite strict.

[tempusfugi in reply to RachelJDH]

Thank you RachelJDH. It would be interesting for me to check with my Pharmacist too, I guess, though where I live we have constant locum Pharmacists. Still, shouldn't make that much difference, I guess.

[KASHMIRI1]

Hi! This is a bit of a late reply apologies not to have picked up this post earlier. I am on 5mg pred for GCA and use voltarol max strength for spinal stenosis problems. I was concerned about it but its been ok so far. My rheumy didn't seem to be to concerned about me using it.

[tempusfugi in reply to KASHMIRI1]

Hi KASHMIRI1, and thanks for your comments. I used Votarol last night for only the second time and had a good night, in comparison to the last few weeks. I am trying to work out a sequence of events to help me sleep and Votarol will certainly be a part of that, I feel. Comments, such as yours and others on this forum, are most helpful.

[Bcol]

Have to say that I never found that Voltarol or any of the various creams had any effect at all on my knees. The only things that helped/helps pain wise was Naproxen and Co-Codamol. Obviously Naproxen is off the table now. Dependent on the x-ray they might offer you a Arthroscopy to tidy things up inside and relieve some of the pain.

[tempusfugi in reply to Bcol]

Thanks Bcol, or is it Perfect Pete🤣 (have been reading some of your old posts, mainly because I had Carpal Tunnel Syndrome (CTS), relatively recently). Btw, have you had CTS problem resolved? I have had both my hands operated on for same. They are a lot better but not totally resolved.

Re Voltarol, you'll see by my reply to KASHMIRI1 above, that I'm hoping it was the cream that allowed me to sleep last night. Not sure, but will play it by ear. Nothing else has helped thus far. Co-Codamol hasn't worked for me but I have taken Tramadol, on and off, which did help with severe CTS pain. Thanks, too, for your thoughts on Arthroscopy, which I had to Google. Useful for future ref.

[Bcol in reply to tempusfugi]

Hi TF, definitely not Perfect Pete😀😀. CTS not resolved yet still waiting to get done. They did offer to send me out of area for it, but I'd rather stay with the people I know. It's a pain but copeable (is that a word? ) for the moment. It varies between pain, pins and needles or a feeling as if something is passing an electric current through my wrists and hands. Lost a lot of feeling in fingers as well. Upping my Pred dose would probably help but down to 0.5mg and don't really want to go down that line at the moment. Had a couple of Arthroscopy's which certainly helped in the short term, but as DL says when you get to bone on bone there's not a lot a lot you can do other than replacement.

[DorsetLady PMRGCAuk volunteer in reply to Bcol]

copeable [is that a word ?] -

Apparently- even if it wasn’t, we know what you mean 😊

PP? Why not….? 😉

[Bcol in reply to DorsetLady]

Why not?

[DorsetLady PMRGCAuk volunteer in reply to Bcol]

Why not call you Perfect Peter?

[Bcol in reply to DorsetLady]

Think she had the wrong glasses on!!!!

[DorsetLady PMRGCAuk volunteer in reply to Bcol]

The rose tinted ones…😂🤣

[Bcol in reply to DorsetLady]

Not sure she could see out of them at all!! 👀👀

[DorsetLady PMRGCAuk volunteer in reply to Bcol]

Methinks the gentleman doth protest too much….😏

[Bcol in reply to DorsetLady]

Hmm, it was the medication and test results she was talking about after all.

[tempusfugi in reply to Bcol]

Scuse me! Don't want to interfere with your conversation, DL & PP😂

[Bcol in reply to tempusfugi]

Feel free to join us🙂🙂. Are they going to x-ray both knees when you go later in the month?

[tempusfugi in reply to Bcol]

Funny you should say that, I think it's only the one. I bet if I ask for the other one they'll say no, we've only been asked to do the one!

[DorsetLady PMRGCAuk volunteer in reply to tempusfugi]

More the merrier… but you started it.. 😊

[tempusfugi in reply to DorsetLady]

Oooh! Ha! Ha!🤣