Viscosupplementation

What is Visco-Supplementation?

Visco-Supplementation is also called hyaluronate. It is a naturally occurring protein that forms normally when in the joints. It is elastic and helps to lubricate and cushion the joints. It is FDA-approved for Osteoarthritis.

What is the Visco-Supplementation Procedure?

The latest therapy that is used by patients with osteoarthritis knee pain. Many people suffer from knee pain. It has recently been given to individuals with osteoarthritis who have not responded to traditional methods. A lubricant or gel-like liquid called Hyaluronic acid is injected to mimic the joint fluid.

How can it help Arthritis?

There are several things that Hyaluronate does in the body. It is thick like a jelly so it lubricates while also cushioning the joint. When you have arthritis in the knees, the liquid becomes very watery and thin which makes it hard to act as a cushion or lubricate the joints. The second thing that the Hyaluronate does is stimulate the joint to produce more naturally. The third thing that it does for arthritis is to discourage any inflammation from forming.

What to expect after the injection?

After the injection, you will notice a decrease in the intensity of pain in your knees. It will also increase the mobility in the joint.

How frequently will you need the injections?

A single shot can relieve the pain for up to six to eight months. The procedure has been known to last up to three years.

Is the procedure safe?

It has been used successfully for over ten years and has been well-tested and safe.

What are the possible side effects?

A small percentage have experienced swelling, stiffness, and pain at the injection site. These symptoms have only lasted a few days. There may be possible bruising around the injection site. Only one in ten thousand cases experienced joint infections after an injection.

How quickly will it work?

For most patients, it takes about 48 hours to start noticing a difference. You can return to work immediately and conduct your normal activities normally. It is recommended that you do not do any running or any other strenuous activities for the first 48 hours and that you ice the knees in 10-minute intervals every couple of hours. Some patients have felt relief in a day and most will see full results around a month after the injection.

Who is eligible for the procedure?

Individuals with stage two or three osteoarthritis can decide to get the injection. For the best results and the most improvement, it is best to get the injections early on. You will have a better response rate if you get it early on and it will start to protect your joints and slows down the effects of arthritis.

Does my weight affect the effectiveness of the procedure?

Yes. It has a huge effect on the effectiveness of the procedure. If you are overweight, there is a lot more pressure on your knees, which causes the injections to be less effective. For every pound of your weight, you are asserting 3 times the pressure on your joints per step. Therefore, by losing ten pounds, you take 30 pounds of pressure off of your joints.

References

Majumdar, S. (2010, Dec 21). Now, reduce knee pain with ‘visco supplementation’. DNA: Daily News & Analysis Retrieved from http://search.proquest.com/docview/821281014?accountid=458

Study supports two potential mechanisms for visco supplementation in osteoarthritis. (2006, September 26). World Disease Weekly, 1032. Retrieved from http://find.galegroup.com/gic/infomark.do?&source=gale&idigest=87a5e50e0352e3f93d62f2d282f90188&prodId=GIC&userGroupName=uphoenix_uopx&tabID=T004&docId=A240627810&type=retrieve&PDFRange=%5B%5D&contentSet=IAC-Documents&version=1.0