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Question about Flexor Patches, Voltaren Gel, and other diclofenac products

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Chronic Pain
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Posted 11/11/2011 3:54 PM (GMT 0)
Hi,

I was given some free samples of flexor patches and voltaren gel. Both have diclofenac as their active ingredients. I tried both yesterday, and neither seemed to help.

However, I have considerable muscle tightness in my trapezius and assumed that they would make a difference.

I left the patch on for just a few hours as it kept shifting and bunching up. I then tried the gel, but washed it off before going to bed, about one hour after application.

Can anyone who has had success with either of these products, or something similar containing diclofenac offer any suggestions? Do I need to keep them on much longer before they are effective? Or will they just not work for muscle tension resulting from radicular issues?

Thanks.
Posted 11/11/2011 4:34 PM (GMT 0)
I would say use the Voltaren gel sparingly, a little will do, I used to do mine before bedtime when
needed at night, sorry I don't know about the flexor patch...others will come by with more info on these...
If these don't help maybe let your pm doctor know...many well wishes in hope you find something that can help...
Keep us posted...
Posted 11/11/2011 6:46 PM (GMT 0)
Cogito a couple of my friends have had great results with Voltaren gel. One uses it on her hands and wrists for carpal tunnel syndrome and the other one uses it on her knees. Both have been very happy with the results. I do not know anything about the patches.

Take care.
Posted 11/11/2011 7:44 PM (GMT 0)
Diclofenac is an NSAID, just like ibuprofen or naproxen. It will help primarily with pain and inflammation, rather than tightness.

I've used Voltaren but it didn't make much of a difference for me. It is approved for use in the hands, wrists, and knees. I was using it on my hip, and it's not clear if the structures there are too deep or if it just didn't work for me. FWIW, I responded more to ice than to Voltaren.

You mentioned before you got some Lidoderm patches. Have those worked at all? I recently got some and find they are really effective for muscle/myofascial/soft tissue pain.
Posted 11/11/2011 8:25 PM (GMT 0)
Hi Heather,

I'm not sure if the lidoderm patches have helped either, which I find confusing. I would think that an infusion of lidocane would make a relevant difference, but not even the skin beneath the patch gets numb. My guess is that the patch does not transfer enough medication to make a difference.

I just put another flector patch on a few minutes ago and will see if it helps this time.

One other thing that baffles me is that my prescription service lists the voltaren gel, 100mg tube at $250 retail price. But it can be purchased from amazon and elsewhere for about $30.
Posted 11/11/2011 10:53 PM (GMT 0)
My doctor was under the impression the Voltaren was very expensive, but its retail price on drugstore.com is $41 for a 100g tube. Not sure where all the price confusion comes from. I'm surprised to see you can buy it on Amazon, although it is OTC is most other countries.
Posted 11/12/2011 12:23 AM (GMT 0)
Hi Cogito,

I have the same issue - trapezius tightness with radicular pain. Voltaren gel does nothing for me...Deep Heat gel does help a little, but my main relief comes from massage and ultrasound therapy.

Hope you find something to help you. No tightness is good, but I find tightness in the lower part of my trap. more frustrating than tightness in most other places because I just can't stretch/work it out on my own.

Laura
Posted 11/12/2011 1:19 PM (GMT 0)
Hi Cognito,

I use the Voltaren gel on my back and neck for arthritis. It seems to work okay for me. But everyone is different.

I also use the lidoderm patches on my back and neck. I noticed that the 12 hours I have mine on I don't notice anything. But on the 12 hours that its off the skin at least feels numb. I don't really think it penetrates deep enough at least for me.
Posted 11/12/2011 7:45 PM (GMT 0)
Thanks for the feedback.

It is frustrating how many products' efficacy is unclear. I've tried the voltaren gel and patches and maybe they help a bit. But probably no more than just a motrin.

I might keep trying with the gel since it can be purchased (somehow?) via amazon w/o prescription. But other than opioids, massage, and ice, nothing else has made a difference.

I had high hopes for my second round of trigger point injections (on the 7th), but they didn't do as much. The first round successfully reduced pain in one location, but the next set haven't made much of a difference elsewhere.

I woke up today in pain and after a sip of coffee, just didn't feel up to dealing with it. So I went back to bed and dozed for 5 hrs (until 1pm). My wife is not very happy with me today.
Posted 11/12/2011 10:14 PM (GMT 0)
I find ice to be one of the best helps too. It gives me more relief in my hips than anything else, and can bring my back pain down a bit too. It seems silly that little old ice does more than these expensive Rx meds, but it's the truth. The problem with ice of course is it makes me cold!!! I'm quite a sight with ice packs on both hips, all bundled up in blankets.

If ice helps your back, you might want to give the Voltaren a good chance, since it's also an anti-inflammatory. I think the dosage is 3-4 times a day for at least an hour before you wash it off. That's a bunch of applications, but worth a try to really give it a chance to work.
Posted 11/12/2011 10:26 PM (GMT 0)
Hi again Cogito,

I had a look on a couple of Australian online pharmacy sites, because it's OTC here... They do ship internationally so I wonder if it's worth your while investigating postage and whether you're actually allowed to have it posted from Oz? A 180g tube here is about US$30

Laura
Posted 11/13/2011 5:30 AM (GMT 0)
I use a similiar compounded creme. It has ibuprofen, ketaprofen, amiltriptyline, ketamine and carbamazepine. I have used it for almost 8 years and it works great for me. I can use it anywhere. I use it mostly on my tailbone and it works great. The only bad thing is it is very sticky. I go to a compounding pharmacy and it is level 2 on my insurance plan so middle of the road as far as copays go. I do not know the percentage of each but my pharmacist does obviously so if anyone wants it let me know. I would assume any compounding pharmacist probably would either know or could find what percentages to use. I know when I moved here I had no idea how much and my pharmacist figured it out.
Posted 11/13/2011 5:50 AM (GMT 0)
Arthrotec is the most effective NSAID i have used and it gave me no GI adverse effects due to the added agent called misoprostol which protects the lining of the stomach. it's ingredients are Diclofenac and Misoprostol. i think it can take you farther than a topical. Misoprostol is available in generic form to be administered with any NSAID.
Posted 11/13/2011 8:48 AM (GMT 0)
I had voltaren gel when I tore my rotator cuff and it worked amazing for me.  I had to wait for it to dry before I could lean against anything but it helped a lot with the pain I had and it's worked on my dad's swollen joints 'cause of his arthritis.  At first I thought it wasn't doing anything, it took a few times using it before it actually seemed to start working.
Posted 11/17/2011 6:12 PM (GMT 0)
I have used oral diclofenac, flector patches and/or a compounded cream containing diclofenac at various times throughout my journey through chronic pain. Of all the NSAIDS, it seems to work the best for me - and both the cream and flector patches have been helpful. As for the patches themselves, they are meant to be work for 12 hours - and I usually start to get relief within the first hour, but your milage may vary. In my experience with a number of different NSAIDS (and other meds for that matter) - is that everyone responds differently. Try out a few different ones until you find what works for you.
Posted 11/17/2011 11:31 PM (GMT 0)
Hi, I was just greeted with some great news this afternoon, my insurance carrier called today and informed me that both the Volteren and diclofenac have been approved by my pharmacy carrier indefinetley  which made me so very happy.  Turns out the volteren worked very well with relieving the pain in my fingers, and I had such a time trying to show and tell my pm doc how to go about getting them approved that on my regular visit yesterday, I stayed and walked her through the entire process and after a couple of trys, she got it. 

Seriously, I had gotten 2 sample tubes of the volteren and loved it, now I dont have to worry about running out, as for the diclofenac, she advised me since I have a low to no tolerance for NSAIDS, she gave me extended release at a low dosage.   I for one am hoping it helps as my bone density test was not good, not good at all.  So good luck to all of us that are trying it, taking it, and tolerating it.  (well both its).

Take care,

Kathy/nini

Posted 11/21/2011 1:47 AM (GMT 0)
in recent research for a friend i learned that Clinoril or "sulindac" has less of a stomach lining adverse effect but is more on the potent end with diclofenac in analgesic effect.
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