Hyaluronic Acid Injection Synovial fluid contains a unique component called hyaluronic acid, which cushions and lubricates the joint during activity. As people age, the hyaluronic acid can break down, causing the synovial fluid to become thinner and less effective as a lubricator and shock absorber.
You'll likely receive a cortisone shot, also called a steroid injection, as a first-line treatment. Cortisone shots are effective for many patients in quickly reducing inflammation and pain directly inside the joint, but they come with a few precautions.
If you have tried all other nonsurgical treatment methods and your pain continues to limit your activities, viscosupplementation may be an option. In this procedure, a gel-like fluid called hyaluronic acid is injected into the knee joint.
Synvisc-One® (hylan G-F 20) is an 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.
What it is: Hyaluronic acid (HA) is a natural lubricant that breaks down in joints affected by osteoarthritis. HA injections — also called viscosupplementation — help replace the lubricant lost to breakdown. Different brands have different dosing schedules, usually one injection per week for three or five weeks.
Side effects and risks
However, some people may have pain, stiffness or swelling in their joint after the injection. There's also a small risk of infection. If you notice any symptoms after the injection, tell the person treating you.
More common, but still rare, side effects can include temporary facial flushing, a temporary flare of pain and inflammation in the joint, temporary skin lightening when the shot is near the surface and the person has darker skin tones.
"It (corticosteroids) costs around Rs 800-Rs 1200 whereas one injection of visco-supplementation costs nearly Rs 14,000,'' said Dr Maheshwari. According to Dr P K Dave, head of the department, orthopaedics, Rockland, "Visco-supplementation is more effective and has less side-effects.
The corticosteroid begins to curb inflammation within a few hours. The relief usually lasts from several weeks to several months. Injecting a large joint, such as your hip, or in the spine is more complex. Your doctor may use imaging technology to help guide the needle into place.
High-Intensity Exercises – For those with knee osteoarthritis, high-intensity exercises such as sports and deep lunges can exacerbate the condition.
Unfortunately, we don't fully understand the reasons OA progresses or have therapies to effectively stop the progression. For OA in general, the most helpful advice is to maintain an ideal weight, avoid overusing joints that are damaged and follow a plan of exercise that strengthens the muscles supporting the joint.
INVOSSA INJECTION
Testing so far shows a single injection of the treatment provides pain relief and increased mobility for up to two years and it might be one of the first treatments to decrease the progression of osteoarthritis. It could also reduce the need for surgery to treat the condition.
Over-the-counter nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), such as ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin IB, others) and naproxen sodium (Aleve), taken at the recommended doses, typically relieve osteoarthritis pain.
Coverage will be provided for one dose per knee and may NOT be renewed. Coverage cannot be renewed. Osteoarthritis of the knee Administer 32 mg as a single intra-articular injection to the affected knee(s).
Activity. You can resume normal activities but avoid anything strenuous that puts excess strain on the joint for 48 hours. Do not take a bath or soak the site for 24 hours.
Medicare will cover knee injections once every six months if they are medically necessary. The injections are covered under Medicare Part B and subject to the annual Part B deductible. X-rays are required prior to Medicare approval. As mentioned above, there are many different injection treatments for the knees.
Original Medicare (Part A and Part B) and Medicare Advantage plans (Part C) can cover cortisone injections for pain relief and arthritis.
Hyaluronic Acid
Over time, it became clear that the effects were limited. Unfortunately, in Australia, the use of Hyaluronic acid injections is no longer covered by Medicare due to studies showing a very short term benefit. Courses can cost over $500 and last up to 6 months.
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.
Generally, if the first shot doesn't work, we may inject the same area again after 6-8 weeks. However, if a second shot doesn't work, we don't recommend a third shot. But, you can have multiple cortisone shots in different parts of your body.
Cortisone shots are a type of corticosteroid. Corticosteroids are manufactured drugs that closely resemble cortisol, a hormone your adrenal glands produce naturally. Healthcare providers sometimes refer to corticosteroids by the shortened term "steroids."
Genicular nerve radiofrequency ablation is a minimally invasive treatment for knee pain due to osteoarthritis of the knee, and can significantly reduce pain, especially for adults who are 50 and older.
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.
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.