What is Visco Supplementation?
Visco supplementation is a procedure in which a thick fluid called hyaluronic acid is injected into the knee joint. Hyaluronic acid is similar to a substance that occurs naturally in the joints.
Injection of hyaluronic acid is used to treat knee pain caused by osteoarthritis (OA) in patients who have already been treated with pain relievers, steroid injections, and other treatments that did not work well, like physiotherapy, exercise, and weight loss.
One should remember that there are no cures for osteoarthritis, so viscosupplementation will not cure osteoarthritis of the knee. It works by acting like a lubricant and shock absorber in the joints and helps the joints to work properly.
Is this injection suitable for me?
The results of hyaluronic acid injections for knee osteoarthritis vary with each patient. Some people experience complete relief from knee osteoarthritis symptoms, while others receive partial relief or no relief.
How soon will I notice the pain relief in my knee?
Not all patients are helped by the injections. Of those who are, many reports feeling some pain relief during the 3- to 5-week course of the injections, while pain relief is delayed in others. Most patients report the greatest pain relief 8 to 12 weeks after beginning treatment. The length of pain relief varies; some patients have reported benefits for more than 6 months following the injections.
How does the hyaluronic acid injection work?
Hyaluronic acid injections may reduce knee osteoarthritic symptoms in one of the following ways:
- Providing lubrication to the joint
- Acting as an anti-inflammatory agent
- Pain relieving effects by forming a boundary around the nerve endings
Are there any side effects of the injection?
The most commonly seen side effects are temporary injection site pain which resolves after 24-48 hours, swelling, warmth, mild redness, bruising, and itching. These symptoms are short-lived.
You can consult Mr. Kempanna about having a Visco supplementation injection if, you have osteoarthritis of the knees and have not had pain relief from other treatments like weight loss, physiotherapy, use of heat and cold, or pain killers or even steroid injections.