6įor more superficial joints, though, Voltaren® Gel delivers a good dose of medication, while sparing the gastrointestinal tract from the harshness of NSAIDs - which are known as “gut burners,” because many people just can’t stomach ibuprofen. The shoulder, hip, and spinal joints are notably quite deep. The medication gets diluted as it penetrates deeper into tissue, and a meaningful amount can only get into joints if they are just under the surface of the skin. When the FDA refers to joints that are “amenable to topical treatment,” what do they mean? Is an amenable joint friendly and easy-going? No, just accessible: a pain-killing gel is useful only for joints that are not covered by a thick layer of muscle (like the shoulder). Why is Voltaren mainly for joints, and only some joints?

Other popular pain-relief ointments have never shown much potential, like the “spicy” ointments like tiger balm or Arnica creams (Traumeel, T-Relief). Topical salicylates (cousins to aspirin) have been around for ages, and may even work better than Voltaren for some people and purposes. Voltaren is the most famous topical pain-killer, but it’s hardly the only one. Other topical pain-killers like topical salicylates, Tiger balm, and arnica I do not sell it or profit from writing about Voltaren in any way. is an independent reviewer of pain treatments. This is an appealing treatment idea that actually works reasonably well: what a pleasure to be able to say that! 5 It is undoubtedly one the best of the OTC pain-killers. Voltaren cream is a topical anti-inflammatory medication, NSAID “Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug,” usually pronounced “en-sed.” and FDA-approved to treat osteoarthritis in “joints amenable to topical treatment, such as the knees and those of the hands.” 1 The evidence shows that it “provides clinically meaningful analgesia,” and quite safely, a claim that has been repeatedly validated by extensive testing over many years now. Think of Voltaren® Gel as “ibuprofen in a gel.” It’s actually the drug diclofenac, but ibuprofen is a much more familiar drug name in North America, where the product is still relatively new. Arnica creams are largely useless, especially the homeopathic preparations. The spicy-hot creams (Tiger Balm etc) won’t work miracles but may have some surprisingly benefits. The salicylates are likely effective but have more safety concerns (salicylate poisoning isn’t rare).

Other topical analgesics are a mixed bag. The evidence shows that it “provides clinically meaningful analgesia.” So this product actually works and gets a pass from skeptics and critics - a rare thing in the world of pain treatments! In the US, this drug is FDA-approved to treat osteoarthritis in “joints amenable to topical treatment, such as the knees and those of the hands,” but it probably also works for some other painful problems, such as some repetitive strain injuries and back pain. It’s an anti-inflammatory cream, so it can be applied only where you need it, instead of soaking your entire system with a medication, avoiding or dramatically reducing common side effects like indigestion, as well as some serious safety concerns associated with oral diclofenac. Voltaren® Gel (topical diclofenac) is a particularly safe and useful medicine.

Knee pain cream voltaren