In this procedure, a gel-like fluid called hyaluronic acid is injected into the knee joint. Hyaluronic acid is a naturally occurring substance found in the synovial fluid surrounding joints. It acts as a lubricant to enable bones to move smoothly over each other and as a shock absorber for joint loads.
Implantable shock absorber provides superior pain relief and functional improvement compared with high tibial osteotomy in patients with mild-to-moderate medial knee osteoarthritis: A 2-year report. Cartilage. Published online February 23, 2023.
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.
UNM Researchers Inject Patients' Own Fat Tissue to Alleviate Pain. In a novel study, University of New Mexico researchers have shown that injecting a patient's own fat cells into arthritic knees is more effective at reducing pain and preserving function than other treatments.
The procedure—called autologous chondrocyte implantation (ACI)—takes healthy cartilage cells from the damaged knee, cultures them in a lab for four to six weeks, and then injects the new cells into the damaged joint for regeneration with the surrounding cartilage.
On MDsave, the cost of a Gel One Injection ranges from $1436 to $3159. Those on high deductible health plans or without insurance can shop, compare prices and save.
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.
The idea behind these injections is that they will temporarily restore the natural function of the knee by injecting a substance which will provide cushioning and reduce bone-on-bone contact. Individual responses vary, but many patients experience months, if not potentially a year or more of relief.
What is SYNVISC? 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.
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.
As knee arthritis progresses, the knee becomes much looser and more unstable. In some cases, this is mild. In other cases, it is substantial enough that cause the patient to fall. Patients who have bone-on-bone arthritis and are starting to fall because of it should strongly consider surgery.
Non-Invasive Treatments
Ice and over-the-counter pain medication like acetaminophen or ibuprofen can help. Sometimes physical therapy or a guided exercise program can provide bone-on-bone knee pain relief by strengthening the muscles that support the knee, particularly the quadriceps.
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.
Regenerative Stem Cell Therapy
Stem cell knee therapy is becoming a popular alternative to knee replacement surgery. Through a method known as autologous transplantation, the cells are extracted from the patient's bone marrow or fatty tissue, processed, and immediately injected into the damaged knee.
Unfortunately, the effects of osteoarthritis of the knee can't be reversed. But treatment and self-care can help relieve your symptoms and slow your condition's progress.
Minimally invasive knee replacement is performed through a shorter incision—typically 4 to 6 inches versus 8 to 10 inches for traditional knee replacement. A smaller incision allows for less tissue disturbance. In addition to a shorter incision, the technique used to open the knee is less invasive.
Over-the-counter pain relievers, such as acetaminophen (e.g., Tylenol) and ibuprofen (e.g., Advil and Motrin), are commonly used to ease knee pain. Topical analgesics such as muscle rubs can also be used for temporary pain relief.
Over-the-counter medications — such as ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin IB, others) and naproxen sodium (Aleve) — may help ease knee pain. Some people find relief by rubbing the affected knee with creams containing a numbing agent, such as lidocaine, or capsaicin, the substance that makes chili peppers hot.
Viscosupplementation of joints other than the knee(s) will be considered not reasonable and necessary and will not be subject to coverage. Imaging procedures performed routinely for the purpose of visualization of the knee to provide guidance for needle placement will not be covered.
However, it is worth noting that repeated or frequent usage of cortisone injections can damage the tissues and cause unwanted side effects. Enter – PRP, or platelet-rich plasma. PRP injections offer a viable alternative to corticosteroid injections, without all of the nasty side effects.
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.
It is recommended that you refrain from any high level activities using your knee for approximately 48 hours. Routine activities including walking are permitted. The most commonly reported side effects are temporary pain, swelling and/or fluid accumulation in the injected knee.
All knee injections carry a risk of infection. This risk is slightly higher with steroid injections than with other drugs because steroids weaken the immune response within the joint. Repeated steroid injections over a long time period can also weaken the joint cartilage.
The people who do seem to respond best to hyaluronate knee injections are of normal weight and have only the beginning stages of osteoarthritis. The injections are most effective in people with just mild to moderate arthritis.
There's no cure for osteoarthritis, but the condition does not necessarily get any worse over time. There are a number of treatments to help relieve the symptoms. The main treatments for the symptoms of osteoarthritis include: lifestyle measures – such as maintaining a healthy weight and exercising regularly.