Hi Sweatpea, Yes, I have had success with 'Cura-Heat Penetrating Arthritis formula with Capsaicin' I have just been diagnosed through an MRI, so I have been blindly trying everything to reieve pain. This has helped several times. Gelled Ice packs have helped the pain the most. I use 2parts water to 1 part rubbing alcohol- put in freezer bag-get the air out-put in a 2nd freezer bag-put in freezer. It is a bit sloosy when you use it, so it confirms to by lower back. Hope you are having a good day~

I use Voltaren Gel for my pain. I have had arthritis for 36 years. (Since I was 17 years old) I have had one knee replaced when I was 50, the other knee is almost there. My Osteo Surgen prescribed it. Talk to your Doctor about it. You may have to wait for your arthritis to advance further and the over the counter aids no longer help. The gel has been a godsend for my knee pain. It works in about 15 minutes. It drops my pain dramatically. Of course a Vicodin or a Norco help too. :)

I use Voltaren Gel for my pain. I have had arthritis for 36 years. (Since I was 17 years old) I have had one knee replaced when I was 50, the other knee is almost there. My Osteo Surgen prescribed it. Talk to your Doctor about it. You may have to wait for your arthritis to advance further and the over the counter aids no longer help. The gel has been a godsend for my knee pain. It works in about 15 minutes. It drops my pain dramatically. Of course a Vicodin or a Norco help too. :)

I use Voltaren Gel for my pain. I have had arthritis for 36 years. (Since I was 17 years old) I have had one knee replaced when I was 50, the other knee is almost there. My Osteo Surgen prescribed it. Talk to your Doctor about it. You may have to wait for your arthritis to advance further and the over the counter aids no longer help. The gel has been a godsend for my knee pain. It works in about 15 minutes. It drops my pain dramatically. Of course a Vicodin or a Norco help too. :)

I use Voltaren Gel for my pain. I have had arthritis for 36 years. (Since I was 17 years old) I have had one knee replaced when I was 50, the other knee is almost there. My Osteo Surgen prescribed it. Talk to your Doctor about it. You may have to wait for your arthritis to advance further and the over the counter aids no longer help. The gel has been a godsend for my knee pain. It works in about 15 minutes. It drops my pain dramatically. Of course a Vicodin or a Norco help too. :)

Thanks for your replies. Keep well

I have yet to find any otc pain reliever that helps. Capsaicin is just too painful!
Voltaren Gel is only that helps and i also have had RA since teens. But it can upset your tummy if you like me, took too much motrin for pain with out eating like i should have.
So my vote is for it as only gel so far that works....if talking about RA Pain and even helps with fibro too! But i also use electric throw on sofa at night and in my bed..it seems to help with pain as well. Good luck happy holidays

DEAR AKNEEZ DO YOU HAVE TO HAVE A PERSCRIPTION FOR VOLTAREN GEL????? MY KNEES HURT AND I STILL DO ALOT OF EASY EXERCIZE FOR MY LEGS AND I WALK SOMETIMES IT ACTUALLY GOES AWAY OR NOT as PAINFUL I HAD AND EXRY AND THEY SAID I HAVE IT IN RIGHT KNEE AND MY TORN ROTARY CUFF THAT HEALED ON ITS OWN BUT NOW FILLED WITH ARTHRITIS. ALL THE DRS. WANT TO DO IS GIVE ME STRONG PAIN PILLS "NO THANK YOU" I ALREADY TAKE XANAX FOR MY ANXIETY AND PROZAC. MY WHOLE BODY ACHES ESPECIALLY WHEN I WALK IN THE COLD AND IT HAS BEEN COLD IN cA. 29* DEGREES. I FEEL LIKE I WALK LIKE A DUCK NOW. KNEES SWELL IT ALL SUCKS. THANKS ZZZ

I think it's good you are trying to avoid medications as much as you are able.

I used a topical cream once and it had capsaicin in it and it made my skin itchy. I didn't like it.

I sometimes use menthol rub or stick which is cooling. "Icy hot" is a brand we have over here.
I don't know if you have "toms of Maine". Stuff over there but they make a nice muscle rub which Smells lovely. It's all natural. It has a warming effect.

I would suggest dietary changes if you haven't already.
Some people notice improvement if they eat Gluten free. No grains such as wheat, barley, rye.
An elimination diet may help if there is a certain food that increases inflammation.
Processed foods, sugar. dairy, wheat Etc. it's worth trying. If you haven't done so. And give it a couple of weeks. Keep a food diary and take note of any changes.

All the best to you.

@zzztop Yes it is a prescription gel. I have one knee replaced already and the other one is going be done this summer. I'm a teacher and I'm going to wait for summer vacation.What a great vacation plan right?

I was prescribed with a pain cream last month which is a compound formula mixed by the pharmacy. I don't have a name or even what pain relief medication it contains but it does help better than anything I've tried. It can be used up to 4 times a day. The bottle says: *CDBCL()A CRE{}. The prescription was filled by an out of state pharmacy and mailed to me. It is covered by my insurance.

Hi since reading this post I would like to warn you of the danger to your stomach of taking anti-inflammatory drugs. I had some bad pain in my ribs and I was prescribed Naproxen tablets. I only took them for about ten days and they gave me a stomach ulcer. I suffered terribly for about 4 months and lost a lot of weight. I got gallstones and had to have my gallbladder out,proberly due to the weight loss. I suffered GERD and Oesophaghitis after this which was suffering on a large scale,struggling to eat and being sick. I then got gastritis which has just got more painful. Altogether Ive been suffering for over 3 and a half years. Taking those Naproxens was the worse thing that ever happened to me. My mum and my brother have taken them but always have ant acid tablets with them. Anyway Im stuck like this and arthritis runs in the family,Im not sure what I can take for pain now. I would say the gels are proberly safer for the stomach.

Hi, I'm new here, but my experience is that if you have pain and think it is from arthritis, go to a good rheumatologist. I went for the first time 6 months ago, after being in pain for about 3 years. He prescribed Voltaren and it has been a godsend. I'm on blood thinners for another condition, and can't take any of the nsaid medications, so I have been free paining it - but the Voltaren, has really helped a lot. The key for me was getting to the correct physician for help.

My rheumatologist prescribed Volteran and it worked good for a while. Recently my arthritis pain increased and the Volteran wasn't helping. My doctor prescribed a compound formula cream for arthritis pain. (See my reply #11) If you try other topical gels and creams that stop working, talk to your doctor about a compound formula for pain relief. It doesn't mask the pain completely but certainly helps me to manage it much better.

I have used Aspercreme. It has aspirin in it which is considered an NSAID for inflammation in a joint. Sometimes I iced the joint first then put the creme on before going to bed. It worked prettty good for me.