Voltaren gel, did it help?

[Guest guest]

hello,

I have an autoimmune/connective tissue disease, and have been having a lot of

newer pain in my joints, especially my fingers and wrists. My Rheumatoid factor

blood test was negative a while back so I don't think I have that. I guess it is

just all-around joint/muscle

inflammation that comes along with this disease.

I can't get into my rheumatologist for another few weeks, but he called in a

prescription for Voltaren 1% gel to put on the worst joints. I've been using it

for a few days, and it hasn't helped all that much. I was wondering if anyone

here has tried it and had any

advice or experience that they could share?

I guess it is an NSAID (aspirin I think?) and my pharmacist said that I should

stop taking any other NSAIDs with it, like Motrin. The problem is that nearly

all my joints hurt, my hands are just the worst. But my neck, shoulders, and leg

(more muscular in there) hurt

continually also.

And the instructions say it should only be used on hands and feet. I'd like to

take a bath in it lol

I can and do still take the hydrocodone and soma, but I'm wondering if I'd be

better off just going back to ibuprofen (by mouth) instead of this, since it

would at least cover all of the bases.

I guess I'm wondering, if anyone knows, if the Voltaren topical gel takes a few

weeks or something to really start working? If so I guess I would stick with it

and see; but if it doesn't, then I would probably think about switching back to

normal OTC motrin, with

the hydro and soma of course.

Any experience with it or tips would be really appreciated. Thank you!

Katlin