Sorry to disagree, but diclofenac definitely hasn't been stopped in the UK - I've been getting it quite easily.
It is a drug that has some slightly more severe warnings than some of the other NSAIDs, but they all have potential problems and they all have potentially quite strong benefits. You do need to be monitored while on them though - both for effect and for side effects.
As for the gut effects - again, pretty much all of these NSAIDs will hit your gut hard eventually - sooner than later in some people. However there are stomach protecting drugs, and slow release forms of them so it makes it possible to keep on taking them. It is definitely worth asking your doc for stomach protecting drugs if you thing you are starting to have problems before you give up on them completely.
