Diclofenac for Osteoarthritis User Reviews

• Twe...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• July 9, 2013

Diclofenac "I have been on every NSAID there is, both prescription and non-prescription. Finally, a doctor suggested I try Voltaren. I've been on it for about 8 years now, and it has helped me keep my narcotic usage to a minimum. It helps the severe osteoarthritis pain in my joints along with the muscle pain I have."

• Lot...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• August 10, 2019

"The diclofenac is a miracle drug for arthritis, but with all the side effects and my age of 66, I am afraid to take it 2x a day every day. So I only take it like every 3 or 4 days and take aspirin and Tylenol on the days off. I also am on narcotic pain meds that do absolutely nothing. I get a steroid shot every 3 months, I wish it was every 2 months because that's only how long the shots last. I hurt everywhere, every joint and under all my skin with inflammation. I can barely walk or get up from sitting or laying and have not been shopping or to church in years. The relief I get from diclofenac lets me get around my house and clean up and cook."

• Mar...
• April 25, 2012

Diclofenac "I started taking Voltaren back in October for osteoarthritis of my knees, right hip, and left hand. I also have bursitis and piriformis syndrome in my right hip as well as Achilles tendonitis in the right foot. I take 75mg two times a day. My knees are so bad that I had to have Synvisc-One injections as well. Combined, I have been able to work my 12-hour shifts as an RN. I still have pain that's about a 6-7 after working three 12-hour shifts in a row, but I would not be able to work at all without the Voltaren. I am looking to have my knees replaced in the near future. The only side effect I have had is stomach upset if I do not take it with food and some mild constipation. I would recommend this medicine to anyone."

• Amy...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• April 2, 2015

Diclofenac "I have severe osteoarthritis in both knees, and arthritis in my back and shoulders. My doctor prescribed Voltaren because I built up a resistance to ibuprofen and Aleve. I've been in pain for so long I forgot what it was like to be pain-free. A little nervous over the long-term side effects, so hoping I can get the weight off so I can be medication-free. Just thankful to be able to move and do things I love without pain."

• GGM...
• October 12, 2012

Diclofenac "I have osteoarthritis in my hands, elbows, knees and feet, and some days the pain was so bad I didn't want to move. The first day I took Voltaren I felt full pain relief. It's a wonderful pain medication. I like that it's not a narcotic. Thank you, Voltaren. I have my life back."

• Anonymous
• January 23, 2009

Diclofenac "I've been on this now for 5 months, and it is by far the best pain medicine out there. No high feeling or anything like that. If your doctor has you on Celebrex and you don't feel any relief, ask him for Voltaren. You will most certainly feel the difference. If you are on it for any length of time (like me), then every so often you'll have to have blood work done to check your kidneys and liver to make sure they are functioning right as this medicine can cause problems with that. For me, everything is good to go so far. I swear by Voltaren."

• Suc...
• March 30, 2016

Diclofenac "38-year-old female, suffered severe neck pain for about 5 years with no success in any type of treatment (massage, spinal reflex, nerve pain specialists, etc.). I have spent a small fortune on my neck pain. I have finally self-diagnosed as osteoarthritis after feeling sand-like grit in my neck and a few internet searches. Thought I would try Voltaren and magic. Only need to take 50 mg once per day and no neck pain. Highly recommend."

• Sam...
• Taken for 10 years or more
• February 28, 2013

Diclofenac "I have tried a dozen different medications but none as effective as this. I tried Celebrex last year and was in so much pain after three days I went back to my Voltaren. I take 100mg twice a day that helps me work and function normally."

• Anonymous
• December 17, 2011

Diclofenac "MD recommended that I take this medication for 4 weeks, 75 mg twice a day. He warned me that most people stop taking the medication after two weeks because they feel much better. I have been taking the medication for 3 days and this is the best that I have felt in six months. I will definitely follow his instructions and continue for 4 weeks in hopes of feeling even better. No more pain in the hip, no more pain when rising, no more sharp pain when walking, or leg tenderness when trying to sleep. I was recently diagnosed with osteoarthritis."

• Ler...
• August 11, 2011

Diclofenac "This medicine has been wonderful for me. I have bad arthritis in numerous joints. I just take one tablet with food in the morning (75mg/day), and it makes all the difference in the world. I have not experienced any side effects yet and have been taking this medicine for about 9 months."

• Geo...
• February 12, 2013

Diclofenac "I've taken Voltaren for over 25 years 3 times a day. For 5 days before each of 4 complete joint replacements, I had to quit taking it since it is a slight blood thinner. Each time I got very stiff with painful joints. I've tried most of the other arthritis NSAIDs, and none work nearly as well. My Dr. runs a liver function test every 6 months."

• Jef...
• June 8, 2016

"I take 75 mg of diclofenac twice a day for osteoarthritis predominantly in the knees. I am a 44-year-old male employed full-time and spend long periods of time on my feet quite frequently. I cannot say enough how much this drug improved my life. My knee pain was getting so bad I thought I was going to need replacement surgery. I can take long walks and run up the stairs again. One caution is to make sure you eat with food and drink plenty of water throughout the day. A glass of milk and a banana does the trick. It will give you an upset stomach if you don't."

• dog...
• May 13, 2016

"I'm a 58-year-old woman with osteoarthritis and pain in my knees. Tried a lot of things that didn't work including other NSAIDs, shots, tramadol, but have been on this for about 2 months, and it is a lifesaver. I am able to walk 2-3 miles a day with minimal pain, walk up and down steps, and sleep better. I haven't noticed any significant side effects -- perhaps very mild constipation. I will be deferring the knee replacements for a while thanks to this drug. I take it twice a day, 75 mg."

• Anonymous
• December 5, 2010

Diclofenac "I am 46, female, with osteoarthritis in one knee - had an arthroscopy last year that seemed to just make things worse. I have tried the Synvisc injections - no help. It was getting to the point where I was sitting most of the day to avoid the pain and stiffness. Even swimming was painful. I would have to take at least 800mg of Motrin to feel the tiniest bit of relief. Tried Oxycodone and Vicodin - nothing except sleepiness. Started taking Voltaren a few days ago - the generic diclofenac - 50 mg 2x a day. Wow - I am so surprised how well this is working! I am moving around with little pain and only a small amount of stiffness now. No side effects so far. I am so grateful my doctor suggested this - I am happier now!"

• Cal...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• December 1, 2019

"I have taken this drug for over 3 years. Not daily, but as needed (maybe once or twice a week). I am not able to take narcotics, so my doctor prescribed this for my neck arthritis, back spasms, and a frozen shoulder. This med took away at least 90% of the pain from all of the painful areas. I never had any of the reported side effects like stomach pain or diarrhea (and I have preexisting stomach issues). This is a game-changer for me because it's the only thing that has worked."

• ann...
• February 12, 2013

"I have horrible joint pain for someone my age (58), and there isn't a joint in my body that hasn't hurt at some point. I have taken more ibuprofen over the years than I could ever count. A year ago, I started taking Celebrex because I'd heard that for some people it's a miracle. In that year, I have had total knee replacement (left knee), then two more 'revisions' on the same knee to get rid of an infection. Just weeks ago, I came to the conclusion that Celebrex just wasn't getting the job done for my pain, and of course, I did not want to take narcotics. I did a lot of research (the reviews on this site were immensely helpful) and decided to give Diclofenac a try. It has been fantastic, and I feel better than I have in years."

• Gor...
• July 20, 2015

"I have had severe to moderate knee and ankle pain from osteoarthritis and was taking two 50 mg of tramadol a day to get through the day at work. Then a co-worker told me about diclofenac and how it was a wonder drug for him, so I asked my doctor to let me try the drug. I have taken other anti-inflammatories before, but they didn't seem to help, but this drug has been fantastic. I have been able to work out again, and it has really reduced the amount of knee and ankle pain I get. I take two 75 mg tablets a day and have not had any side effects, and I have been taking it for about 3 months. I would recommend this drug to anyone who has arthritis pain."

• fin...
• October 19, 2008

Diclofenac "I have been on all kinds of pain medicines and have had injections in my spine and hip to help relieve the pain from my arthritis, but nothing has worked as good as this. I know there are risks with this medicine, but for the relief I got, the benefits more than outweigh the risk. This stuff works."

• Ama...
• December 11, 2015

Diclofenac "I am 38 years old with 4 small kids. I've recently been diagnosed with osteoarthritis in my hips and most likely my knees. I was also having significant shoulder and heel pain. Within 2 days of starting this medication, I would say I was 75% better. Now, after 1 month, I feel better than I have felt in years. I am amazed that 1 medication can work this well. I have not noticed any side effects."

• mil...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• May 18, 2016

"I have cervical osteoarthritis extending from C5-T1. My pain had increased to the point where I had to have two radiofrequency (RF) neurotomy procedures performed to varying degrees of success. Pain returned, so I tried Percocet 5/325 2x a day for a month but only provided temporary relief until the dose would wear off. I became concerned about opiate dependency, so I made the decision to stop. Started Diclofenac 75 mg ('551' on one side and a fancy 'R' on the other) 1x a day and had a SIGNIFICANT reduction in pain after just two days. Bloodwork shows that it does mildly elevate my liver enzymes (ALT of 60) and has slightly lowered RBC, WBC, and platelets, which is a common side effect. Benefits outweigh the risk at this point, so I will continue."

• fri...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• October 29, 2015

Diclofenac "I have tried 3 other medications, and this is the only one that worked well for me. All others were either too strong, causing stomach pain, or they would help for a few hours, then the pain would come back. Moving around was easier, and I had no side effects from this medication. Answer to my prayers!"

• mic...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• February 22, 2013

Diclofenac "Night pain from knee osteoarthritis - a burning on the medial side - sometimes bothers me at night, particularly if I have been active during the day. If I get up and walk around for a few minutes, sometimes the pain vanishes. Otherwise, I apply Voltaren gel - about the size of a small grape - over the sore place, and the pain goes away pretty quickly. I occasionally apply Voltaren ahead of time if I know I'm going to be on my feet a lot."

• Fra...
• June 18, 2010

Diclofenac "I have been taking Voltaren for the past 6 years in conjunction with omapromazin. I would not have been able to walk, sleep, or enjoy life. It is only now, after having two knee replacements, that I no longer need to take any medication. I think Voltaren is a way to enjoy life again, without pain. But for me, I am happy to have the new knee replacements."

• sch...
• November 12, 2009

Diclofenac "Voltaren is a fabulous drug. I have osteoarthritis of the spine and hip and carpal tunnel syndrome. After taking Voltaren for 3 days, 50 mg once a day, I am no longer limping, and the inflammation in my hands has gone down. I am back to hiking, swimming, and piano playing. What a relief."

• Gil...
• October 7, 2016

"I've been taking diclofenac 50 mg once a day for many years. If I forget for any reason, the pain immediately returns. I am now 60, and the arthritis in my fingers is getting worse, but as I can take up to 3 tablets a day, I can just increase my dosage. I recently recommended diclofenac to a friend's 90-year-old mother, she had immediate relief and was so thankful."