Knee pain is something that you may experience at some point in your life. However, when your pain doesn't get better with conservative treatments like ice and anti-inflammatories, more aggressive treatment may be needed. In this case, viscosupplementation may be just what you need.
At the Orthopedic Associates of Wisconsin, our team is ready to help you with all of your knee issues. Our board-certified orthopedic surgeon, Dr. Mitchell Klement, is an expert in viscosupplementation for your arthritic knee pain. Dr. Klement helps you decide if this is the right treatment for you.
Arthritis is a type of inflammatory disease that can affect just about any joint in your body; however, your knees are very prone to this disease. The reason for this is that your knees hold a lot of your body weight, making them more prone to wear and tear over the years.
Osteoarthritis is the most common form of arthritis, and it usually occurs later on in your life. This type of arthritis is progressive, meaning it continues to get worse, and usually starts out slowly. Osteoarthritis leads to the destruction of the protective cartilage in your knee, leading to pain and inflammation.
You could also end up with arthritis after an injury to your knee, such as a fracture or ligament tear. The symptoms of traumatic arthritis can take years to actually cause symptoms. So what symptoms can signal knee arthritis? Here are some common signs
You may also notice that you’re unable to move your knee as you once could. Decrease in your range of motion is a very common symptom, along with deformities in your knee.
Viscosupplementation is a type of treatment that helps to decrease pain in your knee by improving the cushioning of the synovial fluid in your joint. Viscosupplementation contains hyaluronic acid, which is a naturally-occuring substance in your body.
Hyaluronic acid is a thick, viscous substance that works with the synovial fluid, which helps to provide lubrication to your joint. By increasing the synovial fluid in your knee, the hyaluronic acid decreases pain by providing more support inside your joint.
Viscosupplementation is an injection that Dr. Klement gives you in the affected knee. You’ll need a series of three to five injections that are given one week apart. Dr. Klement may need to drain excess fluid from your knee before giving you the injection. He may use numbing medication to make the injection more comfortable for you.
You won’t feel relief instantly, as viscosupplementation takes some time to work. You may notice some pain relief after the first round of injections, but it could take anywhere from eight to twelve weeks for you to experience a significant amount of pain relief.
So how long does this treatment last? Everyone responds to viscosupplementation differently, but the pain relief from these injections could last up to six months, or sometimes longer.
As with any type of procedure, viscosupplementation isn’t for everyone with knee arthritis. However, in some cases, it can be a very helpful treatment for your knee pain. People who usually benefit the greatest from this type of treatment include:
This type of treatment also is more effective if you’re under the age of 65, but that doesn’t mean that you can’t get it if you’re over that age. You also could be a great candidate for this type of treatment if you’re at high risk for side effects from pain medications due to kidney or liver problems.
If you're interested in learning more about viscosupplementation, call our office at 262-223-3040, or you can book an appointment with Dr. Klement online today.
