I have always used topicals on my gastro's advice-- usually Ben Gay arthritis formula because it contains 30% salicylate but no camphor which tends to reek. Keep moving as much as possible & keep up your calcium + vita D intake. Heating or cooling the joint can also help-- this is pretty much trial & error on the patient's part to find out if one or the other will relieve the pain. Heat usually helps me. Just beware not to use heat in combination with any of the otc lotions that have warning labels against this! / Old Hat (nearly 30 yrs with left-sided UC; currently on 3 X 3 Colazal daily for July flare in descending colon, which is responding)