Creams

Arrietty87

Hi I’ve got osteoarthritis and I take tablets and have cream, but I’ve noticed that the cream called capsican is no longer working for me, has any one else Found this happens with creams , as I’ve tried other creams the doctor has given me before, and he said this is the last one he knows of for osteoarthritis and it should be working because it’s the best one

[Deleted User]

Hello @Arrietty87, welcome to the online community, it's lovely to have you here.

I see that you have been using capsaicin cream for osteoarthritis but it has stopped working for you. I hope it's not a silly question but is your cream still in date? Or could it be a change in the other medications you take that has caused your pain to get worse?

I have had a look for studies on the long-term effectiveness of capsaicin but couldn't find anything beyond 8 months of use for OA. So it would be good to see if any other members have experience with using capsaicin long-term.

Here's a page with information on capsaicin cream:

https://www.versusarthritis.org/about-arthritis/complementary-and-alternative-treatments/types-of-complementary-treatments/capsaicin/

And this is information from the NHS website:

Capsaicin cream

If your pain is confined to a particular area of your body, you may benefit from using capsaicin cream.

Capsaicin is the substance that makes chilli peppers hot and is thought to work in neuropathic pain by stopping the nerves sending pain messages to the brain.

Rub a pea-sized amount of capsaicin cream on the painful area of skin 3 or 4 times a day.

Side effects of capsaicin cream can include skin irritation and a burning sensation in the treated area at the start of treatment.

Do not use capsaicin cream on broken or inflamed skin, and always wash your hands after applying it.

Please do keep engaging in the online community, it's good to talk :)

Best wishes, Sarah (moderator)

Arrietty87

Hi thanks for the reply ,ive checked the date and it is fine and I’m still on the same medication as before, I’m thinking the arthritis has become worse because it feels different from before.