Viscosupplements for OA of the Knee: Help for Achy Knee's as we get older

Here is a familiar scene to many Americans over the age of 50. You play softball and afterward. along with that cold beer is an ice bag over that bad knee. Perhaps you walk 18 holes on a sunny afternoon, by the time you get to the clubhouse you are feeling that knee pain. Certainly blame it on getting old but what can you do?

If you are like most people a few Advil or Aleve and ice quieted the pain of osteoarthritis in your knee. You bought more time. The knee pain will probably come back. So what are your options? You can try a steroid injection. Cortisone shots commonly cause a temporary flare in pain and inflammation for up to 48 hours after the injection. After that, your pain and inflammation of the affected joint should decrease and can last up to several months. However, the injected cortisone medication can crystallize inside the body. The crystals can cause pain and inflammation that is worse than the pain and inflammation caused by the condition being treated.

There are viscosupplements which are doses of hyaluronic acid that are injected into the knee and into the synovial fluid. This is a relatively new form of treatment for knee pain. Its level of effectiveness in pain relief varies from person to person. People with osteoarthritis of the knee have lower levels of hyaluronic acid in their synovial fluid. The aging process reduces the levels of synovial fluid. The amount that does remain in the joint is often thinner and less effective than the synovial fluid in healthy joints. The fluid is not able to protect the cartilage and bone from grinding and damage as well as it once could.

Where do we get hyaluronic acid? Hyaluronic acid is often made using sterilized rooster combs, the fleshy crown on top of a rooster’s head. People who have a known or suspected allergies to chicken, poultry, and eggs should avoid receiving viscosupplements derived from avian sources in order to avoid a potential allergic reaction. There are some newer synthetics coming to market. The more popular ones are Synvisc,Orthovisc, Euflexxa, and Supartz. Depending on the condition of the knee, the benefits can last from a few days to more than 6 months. It is important to note that the effects of the shot are temporary. They do provide relief from knee pain due to osteoarthritis, which is a good thing if you have

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