Osteoarthritis is the most common form of arthritis in the knee. Symptoms of osteoarthritis in the knee is pain, swelling, stiffness and decreased mobility. A viscosupplement injection is offered at OPTIMAL Pain & Regenerative Medicine® to help patients living in the Dallas, Arlington and Fort Worth, Texas area get back to the life they love.
Who Suffers from Osteoarthritis of the Knee?
The chance of developing knee osteoarthritis increases after the age of 45 since it is a “wear-and-tear” form of arthritis. Even though this knee condition is linked to older individuals, young people can also suffer from osteoarthritis because of family history, obesity or from an injury.
Symptoms of knee osteoarthritis includes pain that increases with activity, swelling, stiffness, decreased mobility and feeling of warmth in the joint.
The diagnosis for this condition will begin with a physical exam from a physician. X-rays and MRI scans may also be used. If an individual is diagnosed with this knee condition, an osteoarthritis knee treatment called a viscosupplement injection may be administered to alleviate pain.
What is a Viscosupplement Injection?
A viscosupplement injection is an osteoarthritis knee treatment that acts as a lubricant for the knee joint. The injection is a dose of hyaluronic acid that is injected into the knee and into the synovial fluid. This gel-like fluid acts as a lubricant to enable the bones to move smoothly over each other and as a shock absorber for joint loads. Individuals with knee osteoarthritis have a lower than normal amount of hyaluronic acid, so a viscosupplement injection may help facilitate movement and reduce pain.
A viscosupplement injection is an ideal osteoarthritis knee treatment for individuals with mild to moderate knee osteoarthritis. This injection may be especially useful for individuals who have not responded to a traditional osteoarthritis knee treatment such as physical therapy, weight loss, pain relievers and cortisone or steroid injections. Individuals with severe knee osteoarthritis may be not a candidate.
Depending on the product used, an individual can expect to receive one to five shots over an extended period of time. The greatest pain relief benefit may not be felt for several weeks. A viscosupplement injection is performed quickly with few side effects. Some patients may experience pain, warmth and slight swelling at the injection site immediately following the procedure.
If you are interested in a viscosupplement injection as your osteoarthritis knee treatment, contact the physicians at OPTIMAL Pain & Regenerative Medicine®.