I have arthritis in every bone of my body. Be careful with Voltaren and all other drugs containing ibuprofen. Some people are allergic to ibuprofen. Read carefully the package insert with the list of possible side effects. My mother took Vioxx and Celebrex for arthritis (active ingredient in both is ibuprofen). She had a ruptured bowel with no warning. I got hives on my torso after trying each of those two oral drugs for a while. My doctor then suggested Voltaren because it is a topical drug, not an oral one, but after a few weeks on it, I had hives again. So it definitely can get into the blood stream. For top-of-foot arthritis, I would look for a good podiatrist. He/she might suggest a orthotic or a more supportive and better-cushioned shoe. I swear by New Balance sneakers, and their more expensive ones are their best. I find them better than the shoes sold by foot doctors in their offices. The Brooks brand is also good. If the tongues of your sneakers always slip sideways, perhaps you are pronating. You can find sneakers for that problem if you search for it on the New Balance website or talk to them. Drugs can’t cure everything, and all drugs have side effects.