Generic Name: Voltaren Arthritis Pain Gel for Osteoarthritis (diclofenac-topical)
"I have been using the gel for many years, off and on, for pain. I always purchased it in Europe. So happy to see that it is available over the counter in the US now. I have never had any side effects. I highly recommend this product for pain. I am 78 years old."
"I have osteoarthritis in both knees but periodically my right knee flares up and a Baker's cyst forms behind the knee. I have been using the Voltaren Gel for 4 days now and I can definitely see the inflammation has gone down, and the stiffness is 80% gone. I was hoping to avoid a steroid shot, which is what I usually have to have in such instances. I think this has gotten me past that need, so I am very thankful, and I recommend the product. Costco now carries the product in a 3-tube package."
"I cannot take oral anti-inflammatories due to overuse when younger. Recently, my osteoarthritis in my right knee became so severe that I couldn't put any weight on it. The pain was incredible. Within hours of applying this gel, the pain and swelling decreased significantly. BUT... 10 days later, I developed an insane headache, high blood pressure spiked, digestive problems, etc. The pharmacist said 'no side effects'. I went from applying it throughout the day to only when I absolutely have to. Just saying... Be cautious if you've had issues with oral anti-inflammatories, as the topical diclofenac is absorbed and yes, there can be side effects that affect your whole body."
"My daughter was given this gel for her leg pain, but it had an adverse reaction for her. It burns her and she refuses to use it, so she gave me a tube for my arthritis in both my knees, my hip, back, and ankles. WOW! This is a dream come true. It seems to work immediately for me, and putting it on right before bed allows me to sleep all night because I have slight to no pain. I wake up, use it, and then my day goes by MUCH better. I'm going to try to remember to actually take it to work with me so I can apply it there. I keep forgetting. Praise God for allowing me to try this gel. I was leery at first but tried it anyway. I am TRULY amazed and will buy more and more and more. Thank you for this amazing discovery."
"Voltaren really helped for me. I have osteoarthritis and a lot of swelling in my left knee. I’ve been using it for three days, and the swelling is down, and the pain is almost gone, even though it said you need to use it for a week to see results. I have a bone spur, and it feels so much better. I’m able to move around like I haven’t been able to in a long time."
"I have every kind of arthritis! I find Voltaren Gel fantastic! I’ve tried everything, on my 2nd tube! I wish it would come in a bigger bottle, and a pump bottle versus the tube! Cream goes quick, I paid $12.99, go throw some coupons at us! Overall very pleased!"
"Broke a big toe in high school and had surgery to remove a bone spur from this same toe 20 years ago. Three nights ago, the occasional pain I felt in the toe was non-stop shooting pain. The orthopedist I saw yesterday took X-rays and said I had severe osteoarthritis in the first joint - not the big joint at the base of the toe. He said the long-term fix is fusing that joint. He also said the joint is too small to inject. He prescribed diclofenac (brand name Voltaren) gel. Yes, gel. You rub it on and around the joint with pain 3-4 times a day. It’s really made a difference - I slept 7 hours solid last night. Still have pains but they are about 50% less severe."
"Voltaren Gel was prescribed years ago when it was a prescription, and I did feel pain relief in my knee, but my stomach hurt a lot from it. I tried it now that it is over the counter, and there is a little help with my knee, but major all-day migraine and sweats from using it."
"I have had right hip pain for two years everyday all day, hurts worse when I sit down at work, then get up from my desk and try to walk. I had started to limp. I tried Naproxen, Celebrex, Lodine, Cymbalta, and Tramadol, but nothing took the pain away. I had an MRI and went to see a spine doctor, no one could tell me why I had the pain. Upon walking into a physical therapy office, the receptionist told me about Voltaren gel. I had my doctor prescribe it, and after the third day, I realized the pain was not as bad, and by the fifth day, it was barely noticeable. This is a miracle. I use a small amount of gel in the morning and maybe another small amount before I go to bed."
"I use Voltaren for a painful knee. After applying it daily by hand, I began to notice an amazing improvement in my arthritic hands, the fingers of which were misshapen. They began to straighten! Thank you for my almost perfect 80-year-old hands!"
"I'm basically a very hard sell when it comes to taking ANY medicines, but pain is a great motivator. Oral NSAIDs have given me some minor distress in the past. A friend turned me on to Voltaren Gel. I used it on my knees, neck, and lower back. This is as close to a miracle as I have experienced in my 50 years of arthritis-producing activities. The best part is that dosing is applied directly and only to the problem areas, so consequently much less ends up in your system overall than if taken orally. Win. Win."
"I have arthritis in my ankles, knees, sacroiliac area, and hip. I also have fibromyalgia. It hurts so much I can barely move. Whenever I have pain, I use Voltaren Gel. This stuff is a lifesaver. It helps me regain my joint flexibility, and I can move and walk around again. Also, I am not crying out in pain. My life was horrible before Voltaren Gel. Now, I have a normal life again and can manage my symptoms."
"As a former athlete, I am now suffering from osteoarthritis pain and stiffness due to multiple injuries and trauma caused by playing football. My shoulder pain is so bad that some days I can't lift them high enough to wash my hair or put on my coat. My physician sent me for an MRI, and the results show there is very little cartilage left, basically 'bone on bone'. I am in my early 50s and am trying to hold off getting replacements for a few years. I take Percocet when needed, Cymbalta, and recently started using Voltaren gel. Initially, I applied 4g on my entire shoulder area, and within 15 minutes, it began working, as I started to not notice as much pain. The pain relief only lasts 2-3 hours, and the prescription needs to be written to reflect 4g four times a day."
"I have been using Voltaren for some time now and it brings me immediate relief. My muscles seem to be affected by the arthritis I have, and the Voltaren helps those muscles to relax and not knot up on me. I love the stuff!"
"I use Voltaren gel for my arthritis. However, I also have fibromyalgia and use it where I have the most pain, primarily the nerve 'bundles' in my neck and upper back. I have a pain in my shin that wakes me up at night, and have rubbed Voltaren on that area and it gives me 100% relief. I've also rubbed it on my jaw in an area where I have a back tooth that is inflamed. And it also relieves the pain. I am so happy with this medication...thank you Novartis."
"I have arthritis in my neck, back, and knees. I also have chronic pain from repeated abdominal surgeries. I have muscular pain too. Voltaren Emulgel is amazing. My son played hockey to a Jr A level and had to quit due to chronic knee pain from arthritis (he is only 23) and it has helped us both a great deal. We have had no side effects and we use it for major flare-ups as it is not intended for long-term daily use. We each get a big tube, even though some might find it pricey, you don't have to use a lot, it lasts a long time. The relief it provides is priceless. You should not take it with oral anti-inflammatories and ask a doctor before use if you have any medical conditions and/or take medications (even natural remedies). Great product."
"I am so excited to find a website with comments confirming what I've suspected - Voltaren gel is a miracle! I've tried everything for a whiplash injury - physical therapists, joint injections, steroid injections, chiropractors, NSAID pills - but did not find my solution until this gel. I put it on my neck at night and wake in the morning gloriously pain-free."
"The smell of Voltaren Gel is, in my opinion, atrocious, like men's cheap aftershave. Especially hard to go to sleep smelling it, seems to take forever to dissipate. That being said, I've only been using this since yesterday, and I do notice the pain in my knee has improved a bit. The warnings are scary, but a cortisone shot did not help me at all, so I'm trying other avenues. I'm optimistic about the gel, I like the fact it's a topical treatment allowing you to focus directly on the joint bothering you. If I continue to notice my pain lessening, I'll stick with it. Now, if they could just do something about the aroma."
"An amazing drug! FINALLY relief! Have had shots, lidocaine pads, OTC, scripts. NOTHING really provided relief! Can't recall the last time I was pain-free! Podiatrist prescribed for plantar fasciitis. Relieved it as well as OA in knees... small amount twice per day, pep in my step... finally!"
"I just started using this and obtained pretty immediate relief for my knee replacement knee and my other knee with osteoarthritis. I’ve had a difficult recovery from complete knee replacement surgery. Because of severe pain, I haven’t been able to continue my PT exercises. Voltaren allows me to do the exercises with quite a bit less pain. I hope that no bad reactions."
"I find that right after I open a new tube, the gel works great on my knees, but within about 4-5 days, the same tube has lost a lot of its strength. I recommend buying the smaller tubes to keep the strength up. Another person who I know also noticed this and thought it was just him, but I have been using it for over a year now and the regular strength and the extra strength are both less effective after the seal has been opened for 4-5 days."
"I am a waitress and have osteoarthritis in my knee and moderate foot pain due to overuse on the days I work. I love this stuff and call it my magic gel. It doesn't take the pain 100% away, but it reduces it to a low enough level that I can sleep. Without it, I am up for hours twitching and wiggling, trying to find comfort after a long day. The scent is mild after a few minutes, and so is my pain level. After a particularly painful day, I may apply it twice. I don't need this every day, so a tube will last me several months. At $30 each tube, it does add up, but since I don't need it nightly, I manage the expense."
"Shortly after using Voltaren Gel, which did work on my pain, I started getting sores inside my mouth. After checking everything in my diet and realized the only difference was I started using Voltaren. I stopped, and they went away within 2 days. I cannot say medically if it is a coincidence? Maybe if someone else gets it, they will see this message."
"I had a bad reaction to this medicine; trouble breathing, tight throat, cold hands and feet, increased pulse, strong headache, then fatigue. It was very frightening, but did go away after several hours."
"I woke up one morning 6 months ago with severe lower back pain. Since I have stomach problems and am unable to take oral NSAIDs, narcotics, or Ultram, I tried Lidoderm patches without success. Then I read about Voltaren gel in Arthritis Today magazine and asked my doctor for it. It has worked well and this is the only way I am able to sit without severe pain."
Pennsaid, Licart, Flector Patch, Solaraze, ... +4 more
Pennsaid, Licart, Flector Patch, Solaraze, ... +4 more
