Viscosupplementation Treatment for Arthritis

What is viscosupplementation treatment for arthritis?

During viscosupplementation treatment for arthritis, your doctor injects hyaluronic acid into your joint. This thick fluid may help reduce pain and swelling in your arthritic joint (most commonly, your knee).

The bones that make up your joints usually have a cap of cartilage on their ends. This cartilage helps ensure that your bones move smoothly against each other. This cartilage has a fluid coating that contains hyaluronic acid, which works like a lubricant and shock absorber in your joint.

In osteoarthritis (“wear-and-tear” arthritis), this cartilage cap breaks down, causing the bones of your joint to scrape together abnormally. People with osteoarthritis generally have less hyaluronic acid in their joints than they should. All of this causes symptoms like pain, stiffness, and swelling. The idea behind viscosupplementation is that replacing this hyaluronic acid may help reduce symptoms.

Why might I need viscosupplementation treatment for arthritis?

You may have already tried other treatments for your arthritis, like over-the-counter pain medications and corticosteroid injections. If you still have significant symptoms, viscosupplementation might be a good option to help reduce your pain, stiffness, and swelling. The treatment seems to work best in people with mild or moderate arthritis. The treatment may particularly make sense if you are trying to delay getting surgery on your joint.

Generally, doctors use viscosupplementation to treat osteoarthritis, but the technique may also benefit people with certain other kinds of arthritis, like rheumatoid arthritis. You can talk to your doctor about whether it is an option for your type of arthritis.

Hyaluronic acid injection is not a treatment option for arthritis in all types of joints. The knee is the standard injection site, but you might also be able to get it for arthritis in your hip or possibly in another location.

What are the risks for viscosupplementation treatment for arthritis?

Most people don’t have any problems from viscosupplementation, but a small percentage of people do have problems.

The most common problem you might encounter is a flare-up of your arthritis just after your injection. This might cause additional pain and swelling in the short term. Doctors are still learning about the best techniques to help reduce the chances of this complication.

Less common risks include:

• Bleeding
• Allergic reaction
• Pain at the injection site
• Infection (you should delay your injection if you have any active infection in your joint to help prevent this)

There is also a chance that the treatment will not effectively help your symptoms. Talk to your doctor about all your concerns. Your own risks may vary according to your medical conditions and where and how often you get injections.

How do I prepare for viscosupplementation treatment for arthritis?

Talk to your doctor about all your medical conditions. Tell your doctor about all the medications you take, including over-the-counter medications, like aspirin. Take all of your medications as normal, unless your doctor tells you otherwise.

The day of your procedure, you can eat and drink as you normally would. Tell your doctor about any new symptoms, like fever. You may want to wear loose clothing so that you can easily expose your joint. Your doctor might give you other instructions about what to do before your procedure.

What happens during viscosupplementation treatment for arthritis?

Viscosupplementation is a relatively quick procedure that you probably can have done during a normal office visit. In general:

• Your doctor will clean the area where you’ll have your injection.
• Usually, your doctor will inject a local anesthetic into the area around your joint, so you won’t feel any pain or discomfort in the area during the treatment. Your doctor might use an anesthetic spray instead.
• In some cases, your doctor might use imaging so that he or she can inject into exactly the right spot. Your doctor might use ultrasound or another device that shows continuous X-rays.
• If you have excess fluid in your joint, your doctor might remove a small amount of fluid before beginning.
• Your doctor will inject the hyaluronic acid into the joint space using a needle attached to a syringe.
• A small bandage will be applied to your injection site.

You doctor can give you an even more specific idea of what to expect. Depending on the type of product you use, you may not need another shot, or you might need one to four more spread out over the next several weeks.

What happens after viscosupplementation treatment for arthritis?

You should be able to go home shortly after your procedure. Ask your doctor if it is OK for you to drive. For about 48 hours, you should avoid standing for long periods, excessive walking, jogging, or lifting heavy weights.

Some people have slight pain, warmth, and swelling right after their procedure. These symptoms usually don’t last long. Using an ice pack may help. Tell your doctor right away if these symptoms don’t go away soon, or if you have severe warmth, redness, pain, or high fever. Follow all your doctor’s instructions about medications and follow-up care.

Make sure to keep all of your future appointments. The procedure may not work effectively if you do not receive the full series of injections.

You should not expect your hyaluronic acid injection to relieve your symptoms immediately. It may take several weeks before you begin to notice a difference. Your relief from symptoms may last for several months.

Next steps

Before you agree to the test or the procedure make sure you know:

• The name of the test or procedure
• The reason you are having the test or procedure
• The risks and benefits of the test or procedure
• When and where you are to have the test or procedure and who will do it
• When and how will you get the results
• How much will you have to pay for the test or procedure