I only take Flexeril when I am miserable and I am ultra sensitive to medication. I can only tolerate 1/2 of a 5 mg at the time. The Voltaren gel is for joint pain, BUT, my doctor recommended it for fibromyalgia. It helps me with that too. I apply the Voltaren Gel and then use a heat pack (Bed Buddy on Amazon). If I am miserable I will take 1/2 a Flexeril. I have never heard that Flexeril can stop working. It has always worked for me. I get in flareups that can last for days. Try and lower your stress as much as you can, eat healthy, no caffeine or Aspartame (makes Fibro worse), a massage helps if I am not in a whole lot of pain where I can tolerate it and stretches in the morning because I am so stiff. I have a lot of arthritis and I also have both Thyroid Diseases which pushes the arthritis. It's important to move as much as possible, BUT, when you need to stretch out and rest do it. I empathize. Prayers right now.