Viscosupplementation injection therapy with hyaluronic acid – A proven treatment to reduce the knee pain caused by osteoarthritis.
Osteoarthritis (OA) is a chronic degenerative, or “wear and tear,” a condition that affects nearly one in six Canadians and commonly occurs in the knees, hands, and hips. There is no cure for OA, but treatment options are available to help reduce pain, improve function, and, in some cases, delay disease progression.
Knee OA pain can impact your daily activities, ability to exercise, and for some, it can interfere with a good night’s sleep. The pain caused by knee OA is often felt during weight-bearing activities, particularly when climbing stairs, or bending.
A healthy knee joint contains synovial fluid, a viscous liquid that lubricates and cushions the joint, protecting it from damage. Synovial fluid also has anti-inflammatory and pain-relieving effects. The process of osteoarthritis, though, results in changes to the quality of your synovial fluid, which is believed to contribute to joint pain. Supplementing an arthritic knee joint with hyaluronic acid (HA) will restore the viscoelastic and pain-relieving properties of your natural synovial fluid.
Reducing Knee Pain with Injection Therapy
How is HA administered?
Administration is via a single injection into your knee by a medical doctor. Often, a local anesthetic will be injected first for numbing purposes, followed by injection of the HA gel. The entire process will take about 5 minutes.
How soon after injection will I feel relief?
Most will start to notice relief of their knee OA pain two weeks after the injection, with continued gradual improvement over the following four to six weeks.
How long will the effect last?
Effective pain relief is typically achieved for 6 months, but some will experience relief for up to one year and, on occasion, even longer. The treatment can be safely repeated up to twice a year as long as it remains effective.
What are the side effects associated with injection?
The most common side effects after injection are mild to moderate transient knee swelling and discomfort. This can be mitigated, though, by restricting your weight-bearing activity for 5-7 days post-injection. If present, it can be simply treated by applying ice and taking acetaminophen and/or an anti-inflammatory as needed.
