Any topical arthritis cream that works for arthritis in hips, legs, shoulders, etc?

Here is a good overview from Mayo Clinic.

https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/osteoarthritis/in-depth/pain-medications/art-20045899

Oh poor lady. Arthritis pain is miserable.

I would do a couple things. 1st do some research on how alkalizing her system is achieved. Lemon water is a good way to cut the bodies acid. Apple cider vinegar with local honey is another really good option, I make a kind of lemonade drink with it and sip throughout the day. This will help internally to reduce the inflammation and high acidity that arthritis lives on, helping reduce her pain. Be sure and get a good quality apple cider vinegar with the mother in it.

For external relief my mom uses a patch called salonpas on her knees and her shoulder, she had a torn rotator cuff that has been repaired, she buys them by the case so she doesn't run out. You can leave them on for 8 hours and they are a gentle deep warmth. I used them on a sore muscle and I was quite impressed with the warmth and pain relief. I keep them around now. I have food and external product sensitivity and I have never had a problem with my skin.

I hope you find something that helps her, that just wears you out being in pain.

I would definitely seek advice from doctor and consult with a pain specialist. Also, watch the aspirin. My grandfather had terrible arthritis and got very ill from too much aspirin once.

When I recently had a knee injury, a friend gave me something called Biofreeze. It's a topical roll on that really seemed to help my pain, but, not sure that would be helpful to someone with extreme pain. My physical therapist really helped me with pain too. Has she had physical therapy? Before my pain got better, I had considered accupuncture. There is also something called dry needling. You can check it out. It's a procedure that's designed to help with stimulating pain relief.

My 90-yo mom has bone-on-bone in her knee and is otherwise very active. I recently took her to the pain clinic and it was recommended a compounding pharmacy make a topical cream that is basically a prescription-strength mix of anti-inflamatory plus pain med. It works pretty well and it doesn't affect her stomach from taking anti-inflammatories. I would get an appointment with a pain clinic as they can give you other options. Also lidocaine patches can be found over the counter. I don't find the non-prescription topical creams do much for me (I have OA in my CMA joints in my hands).

Durbin, have your Mom's doctor prescribe Voltaren Gel [warning, its expensive]. My Dad had tried everything under the sun but as soon as he tried Voltaren Gel he knew he had a winner :) For him, it was worth every penny.

We've always gone for the nonmedical options first.  My father drank apple cider vinegar with honey for years.  Although he was diagnosed with arthritis, it never bothered him.

I bought an arnica salve once when I was having knee pain, but it's so long ago I don't remember if it helped.   It's another partially natural remedy.

Another concept to evaluate is food choice.   Some foods can intensify arthritic pain.  

https://www.arthritis.org/living-with-arthritis/arthritis-diet/foods-to-avoid-limit/

https://www.arthritis.org/living-with-arthritis/arthritis-diet/best-foods-for-arthritis/best-foods-for-arthritis.php

You might also check out foods with resveratrol.   

https://www.livestrong.com/article/345014-what-foods-are-high-in-resveratrol/

Scholarly articles:
https://www.google.com/search?ei=nZVmXfLAEOewtgXLu6voDg&q=resveratrol+for+arthritis+pains&oq=resveratrol+for+arthritis+pains&gs_l=psy-ab.3...3644.10525..10874...0.2..0.140.2706.26j5......0....1..gws-wiz.......0i71j0i67j0j0i131j0i10j0i22i30j33i22i29i30.EtDnllTZLQ0&ved=0ahUKEwiyg7yD6aXkAhVnmK0KHcvdCu0Q4dUDCAs&uact=5#spf=1567004199984

There is much "chatter" about CBD oil being helpful for pain - specifically arthritis and neuropathy pain. It has also been used to mitigate pain from cancer and cancer treatments. You might want to do some research to determine if you think it appropriate. Some doctors dismiss it immediately whenever it gets mentioned and other doctors will recommend it.

Mom's doctor recommended Voltaren and mom found it helpful, years ago when I broke my ankle I liked Myoflex. I think any of the OTC topical analgesics are worth a try.

We were actually encouraged to use DMSO as a topical solution and it worked. I don't believe it is sold in normal stores. We bought our at a feed store.
Read up on it online before you buy it if you decide to try it. You might even check with your PCP.
there is also a product called "PENNSAID". It is by prescription only. And it is very expensive. $3500.00 for a 3.8 oz. container. You should check with your PCP to see if there is a free sample you could try. since we got ours I have seen it in smaller containers. It is not rubbed onto the skin but is patted onto the aching spot.

I just read rocketjcat's comment about paying $50 a tube, holy smoke that is pricey!! How big is this tube? Is that a typical price down there? (I paid less than half that at my Canadian drug store)

arnica oil

Essential oils, specifically doterra deep blue, diluted with fractionated coconut oil.

My hub's physical therapist recommended a high concentration of menthol in an over the counter cream. He does not like the creams, nor the odor.

A friend uses a heating pad, but it is not recommended in the elderly....can cause burns.

I use ice, sitting or laying on a gel ice pack until it loses it's cold. Often helps me fall asleep as the pain subsides. Takes some fortitude to tolerate the ice at first.

Gentle massage helps too.

Sitting in a warm bath of epsom salts helps too.

The best rubbing cream I have found is called Flexall, made by Chatham Inc at Chatttanooga Tennessee. Not cheap, but heaps better than Voltaren etc. Here it’s about $35 for a 16oz bottle, and lasts a long time.

Heat is soothing, especially low-filled hot water bottles to take to bed, but cold is supposed to work better. I just don't have Sendhelp's fortitude! I've never had safety trouble with hot water bottles, but you can fill them yourself for your mother, put them into an absorbent cover or towel and then into a plastic bag if you want to take extra care. NSAIDS like Nurofen are great anti-inflammatory drugs, but about 10% of people have quite severe adverse reactions of stomach damage (including me).

Because of my NSAIDS problem, I use Turmeric (which is a respectable natural anti-inflammatory) in the morning, plus when I become uncomfortable. For maximum effect, make up a batch of powdered turmeric, black pepper, and ginger in proportions 7: 2: 1. It doesn't have to be exact - I put tablespoons of each into a large jar and then shake the jar. Then use a teaspoon-full of this, mixed in a cup with yoghurt or anything else that helps you to swallow it. It works very well unless the pain is too intense, then I go for codeine and bed. It tastes pretty dreadful, but you get used to it. There’s an expensive commercial version called Turmerix, with added snake oil, but ordinary turmeric/black pepper/ginger works just as well and is very cheap. A kilo of turmeric from the local restaurant supply place costs me $8 for the cooking version or $18 for the stuff they say is top-of -the- range (presumably harvested by virgins). The black pepper and ginger are also cheap as long as you don’t get a tiny packet in the supermarket. A few people report loose bowels with it, so it might be worth trying a little first and having some imodium in stock, but it doesn’t bother me. I hope it works for your mother, and send best wishes to you both.

We are temporarily Living in Italy. Husband found a great topical here. Active ingredient is diclofenac dietilammonio. ( I think that's diethylammonia.) Don't know if is legal in U.S.

We keep spray as well as gel form of biofreeze here for topical application. Lidocaine and menthol. Cheapest I’ve found is on Amazon. Also, for tight budget, the cheapest way to purchase lidocaine for topical is the generic or store brands of the blue Ocean Potion sunburn gel. Neither is used with heat, as part of the anesthetizing properties.

Hi Durban, you really should try essential oils mixed with eucerine cream and coconut oil or cera ve cream and coconut oil. I find all my recipes on Pinterest for arthritis creams /pain creams/nerve pain creams etc..my mother (83)has severe OA and RA everywhere in her body and my pain creams really help her! I use my mom for my true tester on everything I make because she has so much pain and she is honest with me about if they truly work or not.I use young living essential oils because I know they are 100%EO not fake! I have helped my aunt (64)going through stage 4 coloncancer with nerve pain in her feet due to chemo and a friend of hers (81)with cancer and with very intolerable pain from shingles that I haven’t even met yet ( he told my aunt I have taken his pain levels down from an 8 to a 3 with his shingles., so I’m just saying maybe to try these websites for knowledge and recipes to help naturally with pain levels on your mom and loved ones. I will pray for her🙏
1) pinterest
2)young living
3)Dr. Josh Axe (luv him)
I hope I have been some help to you!
sincererly,
Karen

Askin her doctor or a pharmacist.

I’ve heard that capsicum cream is very good. It contains chilli. I find lying on a cooling mat helps my hip when I can’t sleep in the night due to the pain. I take Gabapentin which is for nerve pain and Paracetamol when the pain is bad.

Baby aspirin is probably not strong enough for the pain. If she can take antiacid with a higher dose of aspirin it should help better. Otherwise a 5% lidocaine prescription patch . You can get it at a drug discount if your insurance does not cover it.

I have severe pain from Fibromyalgia and the best thing I have found is Biofreeze. It comes in cream, roll-on and spray. I get it online from $8 - $10 per tube. Also comes in pump bottle which is the most cost effective. I use maybe twice per day bu sometimes four times per day. Usually get at least 50 percent relief. Good luck.

Aspircream -- but do ***NOT*** use capsicum because it can burn very delicate elderly tissues.

Aspircream works very well. So do lidocaine patches you can get those over the counter or by prescription.

Bio Freeze works for me when I have a sore back or knee.
I have not had much luck with Aspricream but that's just me.
Lidocaine worked well for a few friends of mine. If you need stronger than the over the counter one that is 5% but you can get higher you have to "look out side the box" for the higher % . Go to the section of the store that sells condoms and there is a product that will desensitize.....The lidocaine in those products is almost 10%.

By the way when you say she "seems in constant pain" what are the indications? At some point some people will complain about pain even if there is little pain. If she is active and doing day to day activities I would not worry much. If she stops those activities that would be a concern. Pay attention to facial cues. Grimace, furrowed brow are two indications.
Would she be a candidate for something like a cortisone injection that might help? Then again you do not want to cause more pain by trying to alleviate some.

My Dad found Blue Emu spray to be a great help. The emu oil helps the body absorb the actual pain reliever. His relief was almost instantaneous when spray was applied. He was 101 when he passed and had gone through several years without Celebrex after he suffered a major GI bleed after years of use.

Lidocaine 5% works, but costs about $1000/mo! In Canada it is over the counter for about $15/tube, so may be worth a trip to Canada to buy it, or perhaps go on line to order it. My husband is Canadian, so I've been able to supply myself w/ osteoarthritis and my mom.

Voltarin is a prescription pain reliever cream. She can't take meloxicam? It's a tiny prescription pill that is an anti-inflammatory arthritis pain reliever. It works for my mom better than Tylenol arthritis. Her doctor can prescribe a cream but if it doesn't work, tell him, toss it & keep trying until one does work. Good luck!

I have arthritis in my hands and knees. I also have plantar fasciitis. For the arthritis, I use Voltaren 1% gel that is prescribed by doctor. For plantar fasciitis, I have a compounded pharmacy preparation that includes Neurotin, Lidocaine, and a few other medications that my podiatrist prescribed.

Some folks do well with the OTC preparations with capascin (hot peppers) that increase circulation to the area. Those irritate my skin too much.

Heat helps loosen the joints as well. My hubby likes a hot shower in the morning for his back arthritis.

Cold helps with pain after exercise. I have used a cold solid rubber ball that I keep in the freezer to "roll on" sore points.

Also, physical therapists remind me that "motion is lubricant". I find my stiffness is worst in the morning, but moving helps "loosen" it up. Try gently moving all her joints in all directions in the mornings (called passive range of motion, Your mom should move all her joints in all directions throughout the day (called active range of motion which also works her muscles). You can also ask a doctor to write prescription for physical therapy to learn exercises that she can do that will help strengthen muscles and protect her joints.

For me Zim's Max Freeze Pro works better than BioFreeze, comes in roll on, gel or spray.

I also use Topricin My Fibro Cream, it is a lotion you can use on face, no odor. Check out the Topricin website as they have a variety of pain creams etc.

Mom can't take most pain meds but found Tylenol helped a lot during a spell with acute back pain from degenerative disk.

I use BenGay, Icy Hot, Aspercream and for a prescription, Voltaren Gel will work as it numbs. I was given a roll-on "freezer" for pain that came from HomeHealthCare or Home Hospice.

If your mother is 91, she is certainly entitled to HomeHealth and St. Lukes also does Home Hospice. Look into it and ask what they have for pain.

I use the aspercreme lidocaine roll on and spray....it’s not prescription strength but it does give some relief....I’m only 64 but have osteoarthritis very bad....and live in so much pain and it gets worse every day.....but I keep moving, do pool exercises as well....can’t take Rx nsaids, if I do, I’m doubled over in stomach pain and have horrible diarrhea.....but that’s just me.....blessings to all.....hope your mom can find some relief....

I found that Salonpas work very well for me. You can get either the patches in different sizes as well as a roll on.