In the USA, thousands of adults live with the daily pain of osteoarthritis in joints, essential parts of the body for movement. The disease itself is not exclusive to this group of joint tissues, but it is in the knee where it affects Spaniards the most.
More than 30% of people over 50 years old have knee osteoarthritis, and when looking at those over 65, the numbers grow dramatically to 80%. This is a condition that causes physical discomfort, but also psychological distress because it prevents people from performing everyday tasks such as going to the bathroom or getting in and out of bed normally.
For cases where pain is persistent, there is an osteoarthritis treatment that involves intra-articular injections.
Hyaluronic Acid Injections in the Knee
This is a treatment for osteoarthritis that has been used in hospitals for over a decade. Hyaluronic acid in the knee is a method based on injecting gel with beneficial properties. Using a syringe, it is applied to the affected joint. The process involves a slight injection into the cavity present in all joints. This space allows for the accommodation of synovial fluid, which serves as a natural lubricant against impacts and movements.
The benefits produced in the knee from its administration are immediate. The injections help ease the pain of osteoarthritis and eliminate the stiffness in the damaged joint.
How to know if I need treatment
There is no simple answer to this. Many doctors say it depends on the symptoms. Normally, other treatments are tried, and the progression is monitored. In cases where patients do not see an obvious improvement, they may try treatment with injections.
How it works in joints
The hyaluronan is naturally produced in the body within the synovial fluid of joints. This viscous, thick fluid surrounds the joint and protects it. Laboratory hyaluronic acid is a gel with similar characteristics and functions to the one produced by the body. The gel reduces joint friction. Administering the product allows joints to move smoothly.
People with osteoarthritis have very thin and less viscous synovial fluid, which causes pain when movement occurs in the affected area. Injecting hyaluronic acid into the knee replaces and restores the natural volume in the joint.
The way hyaluronic injections are administered into the knee is in an outpatient setting. No hospitalization is required, and it is very quick, with minimal pain during the product application.
To fill the joint cavity, a syringe and fine needle are used. The procedure is simple and quick, although depending on the patient’s symptoms, it may sometimes be necessary to repeat the process for several weeks. A typical case could involve receiving an injection every week for five weeks. In some cases, it may even be less frequent to repeat the process.
For knee osteoarthritis treatment, there are several brands of hyaluronic acid:
- Hyalgan
- Orthovisc
- Supartz
- Euflexxa
- Synvisc
All compounds distributed by pharmaceutical companies have slight differences in their composition, although according to studies by Dr. H. Ralph Schumacher Jr., a rheumatologist at the University of Pennsylvania, and his published research, there is no evidence showing greater or lesser effectiveness for any of the mentioned products.
Benefits of Knee Osteoarthritis Treatment
Here again, there are different viewpoints. According to some specialists, hyaluronic acid as a treatment for knee arthritis and osteoarthritis has not yet demonstrated its validity. Some claim that its properties are similar to those obtained by administering a saline placebo. However, many patients surveyed report noticing a reduction in pain. This is something that, from the perspective of people with joint issues, is very important.
The conclusion is that one should not be swayed by optimism or pessimism. Finding a treatment for osteoarthritis that reduces pain and improves movement is a matter of trying different alternatives. Ultimately, it is recommended to consult with the doctor who oversees our medical history. They are the best person to know the latest techniques and determine if they are applicable to our condition. Talking to them may open the door to the beneficial possibilities of hyaluronic acid in the knee.
Hello, I have early-stage osteoarthritis in my knee. I am 57 years old, and the doctor recommended this injection, but would one every six months be the right approach? Or would it be better to try exercises in the pool? Your post is very helpful.
Hello Perla, many people find hyaluronic acid injections for knee osteoarthritis very effective. Obviously, every case and person is different, but if the doctor has seen that it could work well for you, it’s very likely that you’ll have good results. Typically, you will recover mobility and relieve knee pain quite a lot. Some people don’t find it effective, but to know that, you first need to try the injection. If a professional has examined you and recommended it, the best thing is to follow their advice.
It’s a very simple treatment that works very well for cartilage degeneration. It’s definitely worth it.
Exercise is also recommended, at least in many cases, but talk to your doctor, and you’ll get better results. Strengthening the muscles that support the knee is always very beneficial for reducing stress on the joint. Perhaps the best approach for osteoarthritis is a combination of both. The better the muscle strength, the less friction and wear on the cartilage.
The downside is when the cartilage tissue is already damaged. Strengthening the legs takes time, and if you have early-stage osteoarthritis with discomfort, it’s possible that some exercises may be uncomfortable or that the pain may not go away. If hyaluronic acid works for you, it will make a huge difference, but like many treatments, it depends on how your body responds.
If you can afford the price of hyaluronic acid injections every six months, follow the doctor’s advice. Maybe you won’t need it as often, or maybe you will. If you do exercises, the frequency may decrease, but the specialist can give you direct advice based on your case.
Don’t be afraid. I’m 59 years old, and I’ve been using them for two years, meaning I’ve had two injections and am about to get the third. You can’t imagine how much my health has improved. The effects last a year, and I have a sister who gets them every two years; she’s 68 years old. Unfortunately, in our country, this medication is not available. I hope this information is helpful. I’m at your service.
After an arthroscopy, if my knee is frozen, will hyaluronic acid injections help?
My pain is so intense that I see great hope in the hyaluronic acid treatment I will be receiving. The doctor has informed me, and I hope I don’t have to get it every 6 months but once a year.
The exercises must be guided by a specialized therapist for good recovery.
After arthroscopy, my knee is frozen. Will hyaluronic acid injections help?
Hello… I was diagnosed with early osteochondritis in one knee… I play basketball, and it’s been difficult for me to go back to training… How is hyaluronic acid applied? Is it just one injection, or are there 3 injections (one per week for 3 weeks) as someone who has already done the treatment told me? Thank you.
Hello, I’m looking for Hyalogic hyaluronic acid, the box is green, and it says “Hyaluronic Acid for Joints” with nothing else. (This is the one for joints.) The red box says it’s for eyes, skin, hair, etc. I would like to find the other one. Please let me know if you will have it. Thank you.
Hello, my orthopedic doctor advised me to get hyaluronic acid for advanced patellofemoral chondromalacia. It’s been 8 hours, and the truth is I’ve noticed a change. My problem was that I was limping on my left knee, and according to the surgeon, it was either a prosthesis or to inject plasma into my knee. I did the three sessions, and it only relieved the pain but didn’t fix the limp. I hope my orthopedic doctor is right, and after the hyaluronic injection, I’ll stop limping.
He is an orthopedic doctor.
Hello, I am 41 years old, and the doctor said I have wear and tear in my knees, that I have little fluid, and that hyaluronic acid through mesotherapy can help me. But the truth is that my knee no longer hurts, it just cracks a lot. You can hear the creaking. How often should I get this injection?
I have a question. My mother was injected with hyaluronic acid in one knee and she fell the next day. Could this affect what was injected or is the pain only from the fall? Thank you.
What happens if the hyaluronic acid is not injected properly into the joint cavity? What consequences would it have?
Hello, I am a soccer player and I have osteochondritis in my knee (internal femoral condyle). The orthopedic doctor recommended a hyaluronic acid injection. My question is, is it better to apply only hyaluronic acid or would adding stem cells improve the treatment?