I received a complimentary sample of Voltaren Gel prescription strength arthritis pain relief gel. All opinions are my own. While I don't have arthritis, I do have joint pain and swelling in my knees, wrists, and left shoulder. Recently, I further injured my left shoulder causing additional swelling and pain. I ordinarily use an over the counter topical gel that relieves pain with lidocaine and menthol. What I find interesting about Voltaren Gel is it numbs my pain within minutes, without the strong odor I'm accustomed to dealing with when using topical gels. In contrast, my go-to pain reliever has a distinct, strong odor. I'm also still sore for hours after application. Depending on the night, I may use cold packs in conjunction with my usual pain reliever. Interestingly enough, this wasn't the case with Voltaren. I'm really not certain what the active ingredient is but it's effective in short bursts. That is, it allows me to sleep in peace. However, it wears off by the time I wake. I haven't used it long nor have I tried it on anything other than my injured shoulder. I'm pleased with the results and am looking into purchasing more once I use this tube.
