All knee injections carry a risk of infecting the knee joint. This can happen if there are germs on the needle that is used for the injection. Joint infections are very rare, but they can cause serious problems.
Temporary pain or swelling in the knee joint may occur after receiving hyaluronic acid injection. Call your doctor if the pain or swelling in the knee persists or becomes worse after receiving this medicine.
Some examples include: Cartilage damage: Because there are repetitive injections into one area, the cartilage of the bone can become weak, causing it to break easier or become more inflamed than before. Joint infection: Similar to cartilage damage, the more injections into one area, the weaker the area can get.
Hyaluronic acid injection for the knee is usually considered a safe procedure, but like any medical procedure, it may carry some side effects and risks. The most common side effects of this procedure include mild swelling and pain at the injection site.
It is recommended that you refrain from any high level activities using your knee for approximately 48 hours. Routine activities including walking are permitted. Occasionally individuals with dark complexions may experience some skin discoloration locally at the site of the injection.
How long the effects last varies. Some patients report pain relieving effects for several months following the injections. If the injections are effective they may be repeated after a period of time, usually 6 months.
You may be able to have a hydrocortisone injection into the same joint up to 4 times in a year. The number of injections you need depends on the area being treated and how strong the dose is. If you have arthritis, this type of treatment is only used when just a few joints are affected.
Generally, use cortisone for a sore, swollen knee. Hyaluronic acid or Platelet-rich plasma is our preferred long-term choice. Finally, you should always perform injections with ultrasound to make it more accurate.
Treatment with knee osteoarthritis injections ranges from a one-time injection to weekly injections for three to five weeks. Pain relief is usually obtained by four to 12 weeks, and the effect has been shown to last for up to several months. The treatment can be repeated as necessary.
The gel injections tend to be effective for about 50% of patients, but for those that it works well for those patients tend to see improvement in VAS scores for at least 4-6 months.
Some individuals experience significant pain relief and improved knee function, allowing them to resume regular activities with less discomfort. However, it's important to note that knee gel injections are not a cure for arthritis, and the results may be temporary.
There's concern that repeated cortisone shots might damage the cartilage within a joint. So doctors typically limit the number of cortisone shots into a joint. In general, you shouldn't get cortisone injections more often than every six weeks and usually not more than three or four times a year.
If these options do not work, a doctor may recommend surgery. The two types of surgery for knee OA are partial knee resurfacing or total knee replacement. Surgery can also pose risks and complications, such as infection or nerve damage.
Hyaluronic acid injection is used to treat knee pain caused by osteoarthritis (OA) in patients who have already been treated with pain relievers (e.g., acetaminophen) and other treatments that did not work well.
Steroid knee injections are usually injected three to four times a year as the effects last for 6 to 12 weeks. Hyaluronic acid takes three to four weeks to see the effect on pain relief after the initial injection. The effects last for two to six months, after which the injection needs to be repeated.
SYNVISC is a viscosupplement injection that supplements the fluid in your knee to help lubricate and cushion the joint, and can provide up to six months of osteoarthritis knee pain relief with three injections.
Over-the-counter nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medications, also known as NSAIDs, can effectively reduce pain, swelling and stiffness associated with knee arthritis. These medications are readily available and typically well-tolerated by most patients.
Administered as a series of 3 injections directly into the knee (one every 7 days), GELSYN-3 works to increase the levels of healthy hyaluronic acid in the affected joint. The hyaluronic acid in GELSYN-3 safely reduces joint pain and stiffness.
Derived from the pitcher plant (Sarracenia purpurea), Sarapin is an all-natural and safe alternative to corticosteroids and NSAIDs. Given by injection, Sarapin is a non-toxic, natural substance that doesn't accumulate in the body and isn't processed by the liver.
Injections to Reduce Inflammation and Promote Healing
Knee replacement alternatives, such as stem cell therapy, platelet rich plasma therapy (PRP), and Corticosteroid injections can alleviate pain stemming from overuse, injury, autoimmune disorders, and degenerative arthritis without surgery.
Do not strain your knee joint for two days after receiving this medicine. Avoid activities such as jogging, soccer, tennis, heavy lifting, or standing on your feet for a long time. Temporary pain or swelling in the knee joint may occur after receiving hyaluronic acid injection.
Several nutritional supplements have shown promise for relieving pain, stiffness and other arthritis symptoms. Glucosamine and chondroitin, omega-3 fatty acids, SAM-e and curcumin are just some of the natural products researchers have studied for osteoarthritis (OA) and rheumatoid arthritis (RA).