Voltarol or tiger balm for joint pain relief?

Not directly answering your question (sorry) BUT I hope it's okay to share my experience of getting rid of joint pain in case it helps someone-else. I was developing pains - mainly in my hips, shoulders and hands. Just got the usual advice from GP (pain killers / ibuprofen cream etc). On the advice of a friend, saw a naturopath and he told me to give up dairy products - which I was VERY reluctant to do but agreed to give it a try for 2 weeks, and all the pain disappeared. It was like a miracle. I now eat dairy-free / vegan replacement products (making sure I get my calcium elsewhere) but if I ever stray back onto dairy (e.g. can't resist a bit of cheese) the pain starts up again - only a little, and then increasing if I don't stop. It's hard in the beginning and then it just becomes a way of life and much easier (and no pain). Definitely worth trying.

Biofreeze is amazing! And it is completely natural. I had an accident many years ago and my knee often keeps me awake at night. But Biofreeze puts a stop to the pain very quickly. The only down side is that it is light blue in colour and you have to be careful not to get it on the carpet as it can be hard to clean out. Do try it.

turmeric, worked wonders for my husband. His knee specialist was very surprised how long he managed to delay the replacement surgery, he now recommends it to patients but of course it doesn't work for everyone and is quite expensive. We take 2000mg a day

The nurse at our local GP told my OH Tiger Balm is better than most of the rub in pain relief creams.

I have arthritis in knees and hands, especially thumbs and now take Turmeric (Natures Best). Just niggling now. Wouldn’t be without it. Apparently Indians do not develop bad arthritis because they use turmeric in everything. The tea is nice too

Not at all impressed with the Voltarol,Have used it for three consecutive nights now,Hardly any difference,but will carry on because otherwise it’s a waste of £10!! I have been taking Tumeric for a long time,but that does not really seem to help. Will be trying some of the suggestions on here so thanks very much for your advice and opinions.... I might go down the apple cider, honey and cinnamon route.....

I was using over-the-counter ibuprofin gel when the Morton's neuroma flares up in my right foot. It had very little effect but my GP prescribed a 10% strength gel (brand name is Phorpain). The difference is amazing. It really is effective for me so may be worth a call to your surgery to ask about the higher strength stuff.

I and many of our friends swear by www.just-soaps.com/muscle-and-joint-gel-60ml-1565-p.asp

My DH has tried many things and now finds Fenbid gel helps his joints.

DH has a daily tablet of turmeric and swears by it...

I had forgotten about Tiger Balm! Will try on my arthritic toe (or maybe it's Gout? - think treatment is same either way!) tonight. When I lived in Singapore as a child, our Amah used Tiger Balm for all aches. pains, bites, stings etc
Thanks for reminding me!

My main problem is with my neck which is particularly troublesome at night. I’ve tried Tiger Balm with good results but much prefer Deep Relief. This is a gel which combines levomenthol with ibuprofen. It’s not expensive and really works for me. The levomenthol makes the whole area very cold straightaway and then the ibuprofen kicks in later. For me the only disadvantage is that my shoulder length hair can get very sticky!

Some years ago I had a painful joint (can’t recall where) and the GP prescribed Voltarol tablets for a short while and they were very good. She said gels are pretty useless for joint pain, though ok for muscles and skin.
Anyway when arthritis developed I started taking glucosamine and chrondoitin, and have never stopped. They keep pain and stiffness away, apart from occasional flare ups.

I’ve tried most of the items mentioned (Voltarol, mint-powered gel etc., hot-pepper-powered paste) for my arthritic knee, with varying results. Recently I ordered knee patches which were advertised on Facebook - 'Heaven Knee Relief Patches'. The ingredients are: wormwood, reticulate millettia, saline cistanche, davallia mariesii, chain fern, wild celery, safflower, spignet, corydalis, and borneol. They all seem to be used in Chinese medicine, about which I don’t know much, but am keeping an open mind. Will be happy to report, once they arrive…

I also bought these, not cheap, have been using them for a couple of months and not at all effective and I didn’t realise you have to take two at a time!!

I also recommend the Glucosamine and Choindroiton, which I was told to start taking about 10 years ago by an orthopedic Surgeon.
I had pain in my knee which was so bad, I was limping but after taking a high dose, within 3 months the pain had totally gone. I take them every day snd have recommended to a few people, who were amazed to get the same results.
Definitely worth a try!

Have you tried Turmeric as a Golden Paste or Capsules. It is supposed to be very good. There is also CBD oil (needs to be good quality from a reliable source) which you can use as a topical balm or as drops/capsules which can be very effective. There is no "high" involved and is perfectly legal.
My ASD grandson has been helped with the CBD Gummy Bears which help his speech and behaviour enormously. Honestly, if I hadn't seen it for myself, I wouldn't have believed it. His Health Workers/Therapists/Educationalists are aware and are encouraged by the results.

Yes Icanhandthemback Tumeric in capsule form is what I take.I also did try the cannabis oil paid about £80 for it but ended up giving it to my daughter-in-law because I got no effect from it....

I have just bought some locally produced organic apple cider vinegar and I’m going to try that with a mixture of cinnamon and honey and hot water. I will drink it through a straw because the vinegar can attack the enamel on the teeth....

DH uses 'dog oil' from Holland and Barrett. This will not interfere with any medication.

I hope this helps someone, as an alternative to medications.

In my 50s I had to give up all exercise because of the pain and huge swelling in my knees which were being regularly drained and sometimes injected with steroids. I tried everything then on the market and also an elimination diet on which I lost 1.5 stone and I was low weight before I started. Nothing helped but then a gym with a pool opened very near me and I joined in order to exercise in the water, though I could ill afford the fees. The swelling and pain in my knees began to fade and within a year I was swimming with ease and even able to walk to the gym and back. I returned to work, swimming every day before work at 6.30 am and 7 am at weekends.

Thanks to present circumstances I have had more pain this last year than for 2 decades and am longing to get back to regular swimming to sort it all out.

I have Polymyalgia Rheumatica and OA in knee so cannot use NSAID... was recommended Flexiseq by PMR forum.. its brilliant and OTC at Boots or Amazon. The other recommendations are Arthriex from Boots, also OTC: it took about a month to work. Just fantastic. Glucosamine 1500 mgm and specifically used for knee arthritis. Good Luck?

Glad this question was asked as it made me look in the cupboard for Tiger Balm and found China Balm and have put it on as my knee very painful awaiting x ray in May.

Tbh I found Deep Heat as good as anything.

Shinamae please ask your GP this question, not us.

We do not know why you have joint pain, nor are we qualified to tell you what to use.

My stiff knees reacted favourably to two large glasses of water, drunk in the course of the forenoon, which told me I wasn't getting enough liquids in the course of a day.

I feel I can safely recommend you try my cure too, but anything else is a matter for your G.P.