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module menu icon Joint pain

Joint pain

Joint pain is common, and can have a variety of causes,1 including injury (such as a sprain or strain) or arthritis. There is a range of products that you can confidently recommend to customers affected by joint pain, including topical NSAIDs. This module will give you an understanding of osteoarthritis (the most common form of arthritis in the UK)2, and advice you can give customers suffering from strains or sprains. It will also help you to confidently recommend Voltarol Osteoarthritis Joint Pain Relief 1.16% Gel (Diclofenac diethylammonium) and explain to customers how to use it to help manage their joint pain.

Osteoarthritis
Scroll through each of the boxes below to find out more about osteoarthritis, and warning signs to listen out for that might need referral to a GP.

Definition

Osteoarthritis is a condition that can cause stiff and painful joints. The most commonly affected joints are the knees, small joints in the hands and the hips.2 Customer experience of the condition can vary and over the counter medicines are available to relieve the symptoms.

Lifestyle changes

Mild symptoms of osteoarthritis can sometimes be managed with lifestyle changes such as:

  • Losing weight (if obese or overweight) to reduce pressure on the joints
  • Regular exercise to improve muscle strength and general fitness3
  • Using devices such as supports/braces and wearing suitable footwear with shock absorbing properties to relieve pressure on the joints3.

Symptom control

In addition to the lifestyle changes, those affected by painful osteoarthritis can be given advice on products available to manage their pain.

  • Analgesia is the main method of symptom control
  • Paracetamol and topical NSAIDs such as diclofenac can be used (either individually or concurrently) and are recommended ahead of oral NSAIDs/opioids
  • Rubefacients are not recommended
  • Other options such as capsaicin cream are available on prescription for those with osteoarthritis of the hands or knees.4

Refer

If a customer has symptoms such as a painful swelling of a joint that they can’t move (possibly with a fever) then refer them urgently to their GP or local A&E department. You should also refer customers with ongoing symptoms who have not had a previous diagnosis to their GP.1