The chronic pain and swelling on your knee due to arthritis is unbearable. However, you are not ready to go for surgery and do not want to spend the rest of your life, relying on medication for pain relief. Wait! Hyaluronic acid injections or viscosupplementation can provide an alternative method of management. If you are looking to find a pain management specialist in Clark, University Pain Medicine Center is here to help.
This non-invasive option helps restore the fluid that lubricates the joints to help you move without discomfort and pain. Let us have a close look at the procedure and its benefits to help you understand how you can get relief.
Understanding Viscosupplementation
During viscosupplementation treatment, your doctor injects hyaluronic acid into your knee joint. Hyaluronic acid works to help lubricate the joint similarly to how the synovial fluid produced by your body works. If you have osteoarthritis of the knee, this condition reduces the synovial fluid level, causing the joint to have a limited range of motion, swelling, and pain.
Additionally, viscosupplementation helps slow down the progression of arthritis, helping you avoid knee replacement.
Am I a Good Candidate for Viscosupplementation?
Dr. Demesmin and his team at University Pain Medicine Center understand the importance of designing a treatment plan that delivers on your expectations. During your consultation, your doctor will assess your knee dysfunction and pain level and start by putting you on conservative treatment plans including physical therapy and anti-inflammatory drugs. If these fail to offer relief, viscosupplements will be the next course of action. The method is useful if your osteoarthritis has not degenerated severely to a point where bones are rubbing against each other.
Viscosupplements are also useful if your condition worsens due to injury or in response to activity. If your doctor establishes that your condition has lasted for years, it may be too late to use viscosupplements, and you may have to go for a knee replacement.
How Long Does Viscosupplementation Offer Relief?
There are various viscosupplements brands in the market and your doctor will first establish your goals before prescribing one for injection. You will be placed under local anesthesia to ease pressure and sensitivity on your knee as the medication sets in. After injection, you can expect to get relief from pain for 9-12 months. Your doctor recommends incorporating physical therapy after injection for better results. Exercises help muscles build strength for enhanced function and pain reduction.
What are the Side Effects of Viscosupplementation Injections?
Viscosupplementation treatment has minimal risks. When your doctor is giving you the injection, you may feel some discomfort and the site of injection might have some redness and swelling. There is minimal risk of infection, with less than one patient out of 1,000 reporting complications.
It is worth considering viscosupplementation to help regain mobility and reduce pain if you are suffering from mild to moderate pain of the knee due to osteoporosis. Dr. Demesmin and his professional team at University Pain Medicine Center can help determine if this treatment option can work for you. Schedule a consultation today to learn more about viscosupplementation.
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