Orthovisc Injection

Orthovisc Injection.

Loss of hyaluronic acid appears to contribute to joint pain and stiffness, and orthovisc can solve this issue. Joints resemble gears, and they work their best if they are well lubricated. In a healthy joint, a thick substance called synovial fluid provides lubrication, allowing bones to glide against one another.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approve hyaluronic acid injections (also known as Orthovisc and viscosupplementation) for treating osteoarthritis of the knee. And many some doctors have used the therapy on other joints, such as the hip and ankle. Additionally, lab and clinical research suggest that hyaluronic acid may do much more than simply re-grease a creaky joint.

Hyaluronic acid or Orthovisc injections are treatment options doctors can offer when a patient is no longer able to control osteoarthritis pain with ibuprofen or other nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), or the patient is unable to tolerate these drugs. The treatment regimen for hyaluronic acid usually involves receiving one injection in the affected joint per week for three to five weeks. Many patients appear to get at least some relief over time.

Even more good news indicates that injecting Orthovisc may coax the joint into increasing its own production of this important substance, which may in turn help to preserve cartilage. Additional studies suggest Orthovisc can slow the osteoarthritis down.

If you are experiencing the pain of osteoarthritis and would like some pain relief, it’s time to give Orthovisc a try. Contact the pain specialists at Integrated Pain Consultants. Their staff of incredibly passionate and knowledgeable pain specialists will help you find a way to pain relief and finally begin living a full life once again.

Viscosupplementation works by artificially supplementing the fluid in the joint which increases the viscosity or thickness of the lubrication. After proper sterilization, a needle is placed into the joint under live ultrasound or fluoroscopic guidance. A pre-filled syringe of viscosupplementation is then injected into the joint to help loosen the knee and reduce friction thereby decreasing pain, minimizing inflammation, and improving motion. This artificial lubrication would ideally “save” your knee from further deterioration and help you to avoid surgery.

Knee pain, hip pain, and osteoarthritis are common for many adults in the United States including athletes, weekend warriors, and workers who have spent years on their feet. The degeneration of cartilage and tissue within the joint often begins as subtle discomfort and leads to severe pain over time. While knee and other joint injections cannot reverse osteoarthritis, they can help reduce the debilitating symptoms of pain and inflammation associated with it. Conditions include:

• Knee osteoarthritis (OA) and degeneration
• Hip osteoarthritis (OA) and degeneration
• Shoulder osteoarthritis (OA) and degeneration
• Rotator cuff syndrome