• Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. They are used for all forms of arthritis and other painful hip conditions. Most NSAIDs are taken orally, but topical preparations are available, such as Voltaren Arthritis Pain Gel and Pennsaid.
Voltaren contains an effective nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medicine which is clinically proven to relieve arthritis joint pain. With 4-times-a-day use, you may start to feel relief within a few days. You should feel significant pain relief within 7 days of continuous use.
If osteoarthritis of the hip causes aching pain and limits your ability to move without discomfort, your doctor may recommend an over-the-counter pain relief medication. Many doctors recommend acetaminophen or nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), which include aspirin, ibuprofen, and naproxen.
"Don't use Voltaren gel on your back, hips, or shoulders. According to the National Library of Medicine, Voltaren gel hasn't been studied for use on the hips, …"
Voltaren gel, which is the form that is applied topically (to the skin), is most useful for osteoarthritis of the knees and hands. It has been available by prescription since 2007, but the FDA just gave the manufacturer the green light to sell it (under the name Voltaren Arthritis Pain) over the counter.
Medications that can help relieve osteoarthritis symptoms, primarily pain, include: Acetaminophen. Acetaminophen (Tylenol, others) has been shown to help some people with osteoarthritis who have mild to moderate pain. Taking more than the recommended dose of acetaminophen can cause liver damage.
With hip arthritis, the pain is mainly felt in the groin, and occasionally in the outer thigh and upper buttock area. Pain can get worse after standing or walking for long periods of time or after a period of rest (waking up in the morning). Stiffness in the hip makes it difficult to move the hip or rotate the leg.
People may experience some or all of these symptoms including: pain in or around the hip joint, groin area, buttock or front thigh that can be worse when moving or doing activities. stiffness in the hip, often in the morning or after resting. locking, sticking or grinding of the hip.
Osteoarthritis (OA) of the hip is one of the most common forms of arthritis. This condition can cause pain and stiffness that present challenges to simple routines, from putting on shoes to getting out of a car, and may limit more active pursuits.
Over-the-counter pain relievers such as acetaminophen (Tylenol, others), ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin IB, others) and naproxen sodium (Aleve) may help ease your hip pain. Ice or heat. Use ice cubes or a bag of frozen vegetables wrapped in a towel to apply cold treatments to your hip.
For osteoarthritis of the knees, ankles, or feet using Voltaren® 1% gel: Adults—Apply 4 grams (g) to the affected skin areas four times a day (a total of 16 g each day). However, the total dose should not exceed 32 g per day over all affected joints.
Walking boosts blood flow to your cartilage, giving it the nutrients necessary to provide cushion to the ends of your joints. Start out with 20 to 30 minutes at a time, three to five times a week, then gradually increase the time and frequency to build up your endurance.
There is no cure for any type of arthritis, but there are ways to treat the pain and other associated symptoms.
The Bottom Line. Ultimately, the best defense against any disease, including OA, is a healthy lifestyle. Diet, exercise, sleep, managing stress and whether you smoke, or drink can have a tremendous influence on overall health, and the health of your joints.
Untreated osteoarthritis will continue to progress and worsen over time. Arthritis cannot kill you, but it can cause serious pain and discomfort in your life. The treatment of arthritis is a quality-of-life issue, but is not life-threatening.
While it is not “curable,” it most certainly is treatable using activity modifications, medications, and/or injections. If those interventions don't work, hip replacement surgery often will relieve the pain associated with hip arthritis. Osteoarthritis of the hip results in pain, stiffness, and joint deformity.
Wake Forest Institute for Regenerative Medicine (WFIRM) scientists have created a promising injectable cell therapy to treat osteoarthritis that both reduces inflammation and also regenerates articular cartilage.
Osteoarthritis affects each person differently. For some people, osteoarthritis is relatively mild and does not affect day-to-day activities. For others, it causes significant pain and disability. Joint damage usually develops gradually over years, although it could worsen quickly in some people.