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Voltaren gel patches anyone?

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Rheumatoid Arthritis
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Posted 8/10/2009 2:02 PM (GMT 0)
I went to my rheumy last week and in an awful flare and going through our list of options, the patches came up. At this point, I'm on a Medrol dose pack, but can feel the joint pain coming back, and he told we would do another dose pack and then I had my choice of the cortisone shots or the patches.  I'm just wondering if anyone has used these with success? I'm trying to avoid the needles if possible.

Thanks!

Posted 8/11/2009 1:02 PM (GMT 0)
I have tried the Voltaren gel and it works eh so so. It helps but it doesn't help eliminate the pain completely. I am not sure how the patches would work but if it's like the gel, then if I was you, I would go for the cortisone injections. Usually with the shots, they do a series of 3 and they (in my opinion) last alot longer then any topical creams/gels. If you still want to do the patch, try the patches and if they don't work then you can still have the option of the shots.
Posted 8/11/2009 1:54 PM (GMT 0)

Hi Sherry,

The rheumy told me the Voltaren is quite expensive for whatever reason, so I think I will go with the injections, thanks for your input!

Posted 8/11/2009 9:42 PM (GMT 0)
Yikes! The injections!? Good luck
Posted 8/12/2009 11:47 AM (GMT 0)
Where are you getting the injections? I am starting to feel like a pin cushion myself! LOL
Posted 8/12/2009 11:32 PM (GMT 0)
If I'm not improved after I return from vacation, the injections will be in my hips shocked Camama, I know!! Just the thought makes me cringe!
Posted 8/13/2009 1:00 AM (GMT 0)
Ohhh I've never had them in the hips but that doesn't sound too good! I have had injections in my SI joints, my neck and my fingers. Out of the 3, the SI joint was definately the most painful. Some doctor's offices will offer sedation so if the thought scares you to be awake for the injections, maybe ask your doc if you can be slightly sedated.
Posted 8/13/2009 4:27 AM (GMT 0)

Hi I've tried the patches, unfortunately they didn't work at all, as for the injections I can't have them as I need them in my ankle and foot joint and they wont do them for fear of bursting the tendions!!! shocked    But you just have to try everything and anything I think until you find what helps you.  Good luck with them though, I've had them in my elbow and boy they smart!!!! shocked

Peggy

Posted 8/13/2009 1:54 PM (GMT 0)
Thanks Sherry! Where are the SI joints?? The fingers don't sound too frightening, however thouts of the neck etc just send me over the edge, the sedation sounds right up my alley! :-) I get IM shots for my B12's but those are in the arm, but I think these cortisone shots are a whole different ball game shakehead

Peggy...I can only imagine that the elbow would smart!!!!!!!!! shocked

Posted 8/13/2009 2:56 PM (GMT 0)
The SI joint is the joint that holds your hips in line with your spine. I only had 2 injections and after the second one, they stopped giving them to me because it wasn't helping. The ones in the neck are not bad at all (probably because I lost feeling in the area). I can hardly feel the needles until they start to administer the cortisone/lidocaine then it sort of burns up and down my arms. But not painfully so. Usually they will numb the area up a bit with lidocaine first before administering the cortisone. I've had a lot of issues with my hands: tendonitis, arthritis, cysts in the joints and trigger finger. So the shots that I get in my finger depends on what I am getting them for. If it's for the cysts, yep oh boy do those hurt - because they have to go INTO the cyst! But not for the other things.

But if you ask about the sedation, they might give you some valium to help calm you down. You will need a driver though since you won't be able to drive afterwards. I was extremely terrified when I started getting injections in my neck and they would of gave me sedation if I wanted it. They kept telling me that it wouldn't hurt and they reassured me. So after I got my first injection, I realized that they were right so the other ones weren't as awful. I've had 6 injections in my neck so far.
Posted 8/23/2009 4:38 PM (GMT 0)
wow
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