Diclofenac and Swelling: What Users Say

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

For Osteoarthritis "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."

• pie...
• November 2, 2013

Diclofenac for Osteoarthritis "1 pill twice a day. Voltaren effective until it caused severe swelling of my entire legs and hands. The increased edema put pressure on my bursa in both hips and on the nerves leaving my groin and going into my legs. All of this pressure caused electrical shocks in my thighs. I took a diuretic, but it didn't remove the fluid from my thighs."

• pie...
• November 2, 2013

Diclofenac for Osteoarthritis "1 pill twice a day. Voltaren effective until it caused severe swelling of my entire legs and hands. The increased edema put pressure on my bursa in both hips and on the nerves leaving my groin and going into my legs. All of this pressure caused electrical shocks in my thighs. I took a diuretic, but it didn't remove the fluid from my thighs."

• who...
• May 16, 2015

For Osteoarthritis "The drug works great. Helped on first dose, but man, the side effects are horrible: severe swelling, major weight gain, want to sleep all the time as I have no energy, stomach pain, etc. Not sure which to deal with... pain or side effects, and if you have asthma, it affects that as well. What to do? Maybe I will try what I saw someone on here said: take for 3 days until I can't take the side effects anymore, then stop and resume when pain is severe, so good for pain. Wish there was something like this without side effects. For pain, it is a miracle, side effects are horrible. Wish I had checked side effects months ago."

• Joh...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• January 28, 2014

For Rheumatoid Arthritis "My doc had me try diclofenac after bad side effects from piroxicam. The pain management with diclofenac is marginal at best for my arthritis and causes severe swelling in my feet and ankles, but I'm now having to take a diuretic because of it."

• Car...
• October 12, 2017

Diclofenac for Muscle Pain "I was misled by a person working in the pharmacy I visited and asked if Cataflam is an NSAID, as I am allergic to these medications. I was shown that it does not say so on the package. One Cataflam taken caused my eyes to itch and swell within 2 hours. It was only then I had the good sense to check online for myself to see that it was."

• Fra...
• August 29, 2009

For Osteoarthritis "I was prescribed this along with tramadol (Ultram) to deal with pain associated with hip and knee arthritis prior to my hip resurfacing procedure. The combination worked very well for me, although I still needed a cane. I also got some cortisone injections in my knees, which were miraculously helpful. Since the surgery 1 month ago, I've been able to discontinue the tramadol and now only take the diclofenac occasionally (1 a day, 2-3 times a week). However, it does make me a bit lethargic, and I notice that my legs do swell and I seem to urinate less volume (sorry for the details). I do recommend the diclofenac, however."

• Ouc...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• March 17, 2022

For Osteoarthritis "Was prescribed diclofenac gel for osteoarthritis pain and swelling. I used the OTC gel as prescribed for 4 days, by which time the pain was at least 3 times worse and the swelling doubled - my knee looked like a grapefruit. Discontinued use, the swelling subsided and the pain ebbed back to the original level. This cure is much worse than the disease."

• Sam...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• September 16, 2021

Diclofenac for Osteoarthritis "DO NOT USE THIS GEL AND EXPOSE IT TO THE SUN FOR AN EXTENDED PERIOD. I have used this for several years for hands and knees as needed. I recently used it on both hands and went golfing (Florida) for about four to five hours. That evening, I had serious itching on the backside of both hands. Then, my ungloved hand swelled up and was very uncomfortable. I tried ice, then cortisone cream, but it was no help. The next day, I took prednisone, and in two days, the symptoms went away. I mentioned this to another golfer who told me he had the same experience on his knee that resulted in skin coming off!"

• Tan...
• July 27, 2020

For Pain "My hand hurts like crazy, still having swelling too. No help at all for me."