TREATMENT OF PAIN WITH TOPICAL DICLOFENAC

1 . A method for applying topical agents to a knee of a patient with pain, the method comprising providing a topical diclofenac preparation to the patient and informing the patient to:

apply a first medication consisting of the topical diclofenac preparation to an area of the knee of said patient to treat osteoarthritis of the knee of said patient, wherein the topical diclofenac preparation comprises a therapeutically effective amount of diclofenac and 40-50% w/w dimethyl sulfoxide;

wait for the treated area to dry; and

subsequently apply a second medication consisting of a topical medication, which is other than said first medication and is selected from the group consisting of an NSAID, tretinoin, minoxidil, a corticosteroid, to said treated area after said treated area is dry, wherein said subsequent application occurs during a course of treatment of said patient with said topical diclofenac preparation.

2 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein said diclofenac preparation comprises about 45.5% w/w dimethyl sulfoxide.

3 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein said therapeutically effective amount of diclofenac is 1.5% w/w diclofenac sodium.

4 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein said diclofenac preparation further comprises ethanol, propylene glycol, glycerine, and water.

5 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein said therapeutically effective amount of diclofenac comprises a pharmaceutically acceptable salt of diclofenac selected from a sodium salt, a potassium salt, a diethylamine salt, or an epolamine salt.

6 . The method according to claim 5 , wherein said therapeutically effective amount of diclofenac comprises diclofenac sodium.

7 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein said step of subsequently applying comprises subsequently applying said second medication, which is an NSAID.

8 . The method according to claim 7 , wherein said topical medication other than said first medication comprises a medical compound or composition in an amount sufficient to induce a desired biological, pharmaceutical, or therapeutic result, wherein the result relates to alleviation of a sign, a symptom, or a cause of a disease or disorder or condition, or any other desired alteration of a biological system.

9 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein the topical medication other than said first medication is tretinoin.

10 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein the topical medication other than said first medication is minoxidil.

11 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein the topical medication other than said first medication is a corticosteroid.

12 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein the signs and symptoms of osteoarthritis are treated.

13 . A method for applying topical agents to a knee of a patient with pain, said method comprising providing a topical diclofenac preparation to the patient and informing the patient to:

apply a first medication consisting of the topical diclofenac preparation to an area of the knee of said patient to treat osteoarthritis of the knee of said patient, wherein the topical diclofenac preparation comprises a therapeutically effective amount of diclofenac and 40-50% w/w dimethyl sulfoxide;

wait for the treated area to dry; and

subsequently apply a second medication consisting of a topical medication, which is other than said first medication and comprises an NSAID, to said treated area after said treated area is dry, wherein said subsequent application occurs during a course of treatment of said patient with said topical diclofenac preparation.

14 . The method according to claim 13 , wherein said therapeutically effective amount of diclofenac is 1.5% w/w diclofenac sodium.

15 . A method for applying topical agents to a knee of a patient with pain, said method comprising providing a topical diclofenac preparation to the patient and informing the patient to:

apply a first medication consisting of the topical diclofenac preparation to an area of the knee of said patient to treat osteoarthritis of the knee of said patient, wherein the topical diclofenac preparation comprises a therapeutically effective amount of diclofenac and 40-50% w/w dimethyl sulfoxide;

wait for the treated area to dry; and

subsequently apply a second medication consisting of a topical medication, which is other than said first medication and comprises a corticosteroid, to said treated area after said treated area is dry, wherein said subsequent application occurs during a course of treatment of said patient with said topical diclofenac preparation.

16 . The method according to claim 15 , wherein said therapeutically effective amount of diclofenac is 1.5% w/w diclofenac sodium.

17 . A method for applying topical agents to a knee of a patient with pain, the method comprising providing a topical diclofenac preparation to the patient and informing the patient to:

apply a first medication consisting of the topical diclofenac preparation to an area of the knee of said patient to treat the signs and symptoms of osteoarthritis of the knee of said patient, wherein the topical diclofenac preparation comprises a therapeutically effective amount of diclofenac and 40-50% w/w dimethyl sulfoxide;

wait for the treated area to dry; and

subsequently apply a second medication consisting of a topical medication, which is other than said first medication and is selected from the group consisting of an NSAID, tretinoin, minoxidil, a corticosteroid, to said treated area after said treated area is dry, wherein said subsequent application occurs during a course of treatment of said patient with said topical diclofenac preparation.

18 . The method according to claim 17 , wherein said diclofenac preparation comprises about 45.5% w/w dimethyl sulfoxide.

19 . The method according to claim 17 , wherein said therapeutically effective amount of diclofenac is 1.5% w/w diclofenac sodium.

20 . The method according to claim 17 , wherein said diclofenac preparation further comprises ethanol, propylene glycol, glycerine, and water.