I've used Salon Pas, patches, spray & cream. It works somewhat. I do live in Ca where medical marijuana is available the creams with high CBD content also offer relief. Trish

Try Voltaren Gel for joint pain. Available by prescription only. Tylenol is no better than placebo for osteoarthritis so ask your doc for tramadol. Ask him for a prescription strength NSAID like Meloxicam or Lodine which is so much better than Aleve in terms of strength and gentleness on the stomach. My current rheumy calls Aleve garbage. I know you can't take it now but ask yours for something better when he says it's okay to take an anti inflammatory again.

Ooooh. I've taken Lodine. Seriously screwed up my tummy :(
Good news is my CRP and ESR are down from last check, so at least it looks like the plaq is doing its job.
Here in Tejas they don't cotton to progressive things like medical maryJ, yet. I've had another person recommend Voltaren as well, so thats certainly on my radar. I did grab a jar of Sore no More and that seemed to help a little on muscle pain. Didn't do diddly for the osteo.
The doc did say that OA and RA often go hand in hand (so to speak). That has me more worried than RA at this point TBH. Apparantly the pain I've been having has been almost all due to OA and not RA. And at 43, that seems damn unfair :P
Its not excruciating pain, but it annoys me and just when I think things are looking up because of the plaquenil, i'm reminded there's RA's ugly cousin lurking and laughing.

I use some topical oils; Majorum is okay, Cypress works pretty well, Frankincense works very well. At least for me. Those are all "essential oils"....whatever that means. Also with the Frankincense when you finish rubbing it in with a finger (very expensive so you'll use sparingly) i run the finger under my tongue with the residue of the oil and it mellows the anxiety that comes with the pain. Yeah, the same oil brought as a gift to the Christ child by the wise men. Hope you find something that helps.

I started using a topical pain cream in May for my hands that does help some-I also live in CA tho-here is the blend anyway:
arnica,peppermint, juniper,cannabis.Not cheap but worth it cause it helps.
I used Voltaren last year, and although it helped I had a rare side effect and had to quit using it. Switched to aspercreme that helped a little but not as much as what I'm using now.

i went through a spell of this when I had to take long term high dose antibiotics for recurrent pneumonias - I hope your numbers come down quickly!

I did not like either meloxicam or lodine and I took both. I had side affects from each one and I did not from naprosyn. i would have to say that there must be about what 28 prescription and non prescription nsaids collectively? and if you are lucky enough to not be allergic to them, some cause side affects and some don't. it will not work to take a poll or ask as it is all particular trial and error. I have been on about 15 of them. :) so feel yourself around until you find the one that is your go to.

I do however like naprosyn which is prescription strength aleve and my rheumatologist likes prescribing it to her patient population that can take nsaids and I don't recall her ever referring to it as garbage. I love naprosyn/aleve as if it also comes in non prescription strength, great, that way if you are traveling or what not and forget the high test you can buy the low test and double your dose til you get to your prescription strength :)

when it comes to nsaids, each body is as particular as we are with biologics and nsaids. I have been taking naprosyn for 10 years and it has never elevated my kidney or liver numbers and it helps with small to moderate inflammation. I have worked in and out about 14 other nsaids and none works for me like naprosyn. my other family favorite is 800 mg motrin. i crush it in applesauce as I can't swallow the horse pill.

i also use voltaren and it works moderately well.

Depot

ICY HOT is my topical of choice. Doesn't take the pain away but takes the edge off

Biofreeze is great stuff as well. Comes in gel or roll on!

Lots of good suggestions.
Of course we all respond different.
My husband picked up the Australian miracle arthritis cream for me. Sat there for longest time as lord knows I've tried to many OTC products to recall.
Desperate one morning opened it & put it on my feet.
Actually provided some relief.
Money back guarantee so it states.
I'm a Motrin 800 patient. Seems to be the one that provides the most relief for me. Comes in 600mg also.
Can be hard on the stomach.
OTC Motrin is not the same as prescription. Some docs do not like prescribing the 800s, even my PM. Not for daily use, other existing conditions can make it a no no for some.
Interesting how we all respond so different.
Nasprosyn seems to be a favorite yet doesn't do near enough for me.
I'll try it every now & again hoping that changes.
Nothing helps like an anti inflammatory for me.
There are patches & topicals. Good to have options.
Wishing you luck.
Sammy

Naprosyn, Naproxin, Aleve... all the same drug, essentially. I could never take Naprosyn. It makes my eyes puff way out.

If you have concerns about your kidneys, be sure to keep your BP in check. Seems there is a real and important connection between those two things. Not sure which comes first.

I had to see a nephrologist for years due to a seeming mishap with Methotrexate. After that, I did not take any NSAIDs for years. I do take some now, but am very careful because it is hard on the kidneys.

By the way, ask your doc about taking Krill oil (way better than "fish" oil). It is supposed to be a good defense for the kidneys too.

Lastly, stay away from that hot topical cream, Capzasin. That stuff is horrible. It burns so bad, you will want your RA pain back instead.

Came across something new recently called LivReleif.
Similar to Voltaren cream but all natural botanical anti-inflammatories.
It's supposed to have a breakthrough delivery cream that penetrates 75% better than anything else on the market.

I don't personally find the botanicals strong enough so I've been putting the Voltaren ontop. Makes it soak in better.

Apparently you can get the base cream LivDerma at compounding pharmacies and have it mixed with the anti-inflammatories of your choice. I haven't checked it out yet but definitely thinking of trying it with a 3% diclofenac in the LivDerma base cream. On my to do list.

In Canada LivReleif is avail at major pharmacies and drug stores. They have a few different ones so make sure you get the blue one for pain due to inflamation.

Interesting Lynn.
I know Canada has different OTCs then here in the U.S.
I've used compound for prescription topicals.
Only thing is very expensive as the pharmacy does not take insurance. In fact have not found one that does around here anyway.
For that matter not sure insurance covers it.
Aunt had best insurance I've seen in years & hers did not cover compound topical.
I'd much rather use one if its one area of pain then putting another pill in my system.
Thanks for sharing. Sammy