Treating Osteoarthritis of the Knee with Hyaluronic Acid Injections

In Canada, 10 percent of adults are living with osteoarthritis, and osteoarthritis of the knee is one of the most common types of osteoarthritis, making life for those who struggle with this degenerative disease that much more difficult.

Osteoarthritis of the knee, or osteoarthritis in general, occurs when the natural cushioning (cartilage) between joints wears away, causing the joints to rub together without the necessary protective layer, leading to pain, swelling, stiffness and the decreased ability to move fluidly. This can flare up on occasion or constantly present problems, making even the most mundane daily activities difficult.

What causes osteoarthritis of the knee? It is difficult to determine the cause, but osteoarthritis is typically attributed to wear and tear on the knee joint. However, there are actually many different contributing factors which can lead to this condition, which whether hereditary, or resulting from trauma suffered to the knee, can include:

• Trauma to knee joint, including tearing of the meniscus
• Recurrent patellar dislocation or patella fracture
• Ligamentous instability, such as an ACL injury
• Fractures of the knee or knee dislocation
• Various genetic factors, including the presence of arthritis in family medical history

One of the most effective methods for relief of this painful condition is hyaluronic acid injections. Hyaluronic acid is a naturally occurring fluid in your body, one that helps to lubricate the joints, allowing them to move smoothly, as well as acting as a shock absorber. When you suffer from osteoarthritis, this fluid is thinned, meaning that protective layer is compromised.

For those unfamiliar with the process, hyaluronic acid treatment involves the injection of this substance directly into the cavity around the knee joint, helping to add to your body’s natural supply. Following an injection, your doctor might suggest taking it easy for a few days, but after that things should start to improve. Also called viscosupplementation, this can significantly increase your body’s ability to combat the symptoms of this condition.

Depending on your unique situation, your doctor might use a combination of treatments to deal with your knee osteoarthritis along with the hyaluronic acid injections. This may include custom knee bracing to help provide stability, or physiotherapy to assist in increasing movement and reducing pain.

For more about the benefits of hyaluronic acid injections to soothe your osteoarthritis of the knee please contact Athletic Edge Sports Medicine today by calling 416 800 0800 or visit us online at www.aesm.ca.

Osteoarthritis Knee Pain? Get Relief with Hyaluronic Acid Injections

When you are active your body thrives being in good shape. Being fit is part of a healthy lifestyle, so being on the field or track can make fitness even more enjoyable. But if you suffer from osteoarthritis of the knee, a very common but painful condition for athletes, you know that days spent enjoying your favourite sport can be a little less gratifying with osteoarthritis of the knee dogging you. Osteoarthritis knee pain that bothers you before, during, and after a game, can take a lot of the fun out of it.

What is osteoarthritis of the knee? Osteoarthritis of the knee is a degenerative disease that affects the knee joint, with symptoms ranging from general knee pain, stiffness, decreased range of motion, and muscle weakness. The pain is localized in the knee, making movement difficult.

There are several causes of osteoarthritis knee pain, but the most common often relate to sports. These include trauma to the knee, injuries of the knee joint, a patellar dislocation or patella fracture, or just general wear and tear. Genetic factors can also play a role (i.e. arthritis), as can obesity.

There are a number of different treatment options available for osteoarthritis knee pain sufferers, some are less invasive then others. Hyaluronic acid injections are one of the less invasive forms of treatment of osteoarthritis knee pain. This non-surgical approach to treating osteoarthritis knee pain is fast and effective, resulting in less downtime for recovery and results that get you back in the game that much quicker.

What are hyaluronic acid injections? Also called viscosupplementation injections, hyaluronic acid injection involve the injection of hyaluronic acid into the knee joint. Hyaluronic acid is a naturally occurring substance that is already present in the human body. It works to lubricate the joints, making movement easy and painless. It also provides shock absorption to the knee joint. By injecting hyaluronic acid into the knee joint, hyaluronic acid injections help to promote the production of this substance, making movement more smooth and manageable.

A sports therapy clinic is a great place to seek relief from your osteoarthritis knee pain. Using hyaluronic acid injections in conjunction with other forms of osteoarthritis treatment (massage or physical therapy, custom knee bracing) may speed up your osteoarthritis knee pain recovery time.

Don’t let osteoarthritis knee pain keep you from being fit and enjoying your favourite sports. If you have tried other treatments with little success, hyaluronic acid injections could be the answer to your knee pain.

For more information about hyaluronic acid injections to combat osteoarthritis knee pain, contact Athletic Edge Sports Medicine by calling 416-800-0800 or visit www.aesm.ca.

 

Hyaluronic Acid Injections Provide Much Needed Relief to Osteoarthritis Sufferers

Do you suffer from osteoarthritis of the knee? Are you unsure of what osteoarthritis of the knee is? Osteoarthritis is an ailment that affects thousands of people, severely limiting their ability to participate in the sports they love, turning everyday tasks a painful ordeal. If you have osteoarthritis, you know all about how painful it is, and how difficult it is to find treatments that eliminate the pain it causes.  

Surgery, therapy and daily oral medications may seem like your only route to combating osteoarthritis – but what if these options don’t appeal to you? There is another, quite amazing alternative: Hyaluronic acid injections. Hyaluronic acid injections are becoming a popular form of effective relief to osteoarthritis sufferers.

What are hyaluronic acid injections and what are the benefits of them?

Hyaluronic acid is a naturally occurring substance found in the human body and central to the process of cell growth and renewal. It is a fluid found in your joints which helps to lubricate them, allowing them to move more smoothly.

Osteoarthritis sufferers find hyaluronic acid injections useful because their hyaluronic acid has become thinner, and there isn’t enough present to properly lubricate and protect joints.  By injecting hyaluronic acid right into the knee joint, the supplemental hyaluronic acid works to thicken the existing fluid, making movement easier and delivering much needed relief to osteoarthritis sufferers.

As an alternative to surgery, hyaluronic acid injections are a liberating option. Relatively pain free, hyaluronic acid injections provide fast pain relief to osteoarthritis sufferers without a lengthy recovery period.  Who wants to face surgery, book valuable weeks off work (if they’re even available) and miss taking part in regular activities when one injection treatment can ease the pain and stiffness caused by osteoarthritis almost immediately?

Hyaluronic acid injections are also often more effective in terms of pain relief compared to oral medicines, decreasing the need for inconvenient daily doses which also cause a host of side effects. Hyaluronic acid injections can also provide pain relief for longer periods of time – keeping pain at bay for 6 months to a year.

What’s even better news is that hyaluronic acid injections are not only useful for osteoarthritis of the knee, but can also relieve pain caused by several other joint related ailments, including cartilage damage, fractures, and fibromyalgia.  In addition, they assist with ligament and wound healing. While surgery is an option for many of these illnesses, a valuable alternative to consider is the use of hyaluronic acid injections.

Hyaluronic acid injections are also very beneficial because they can be combined with other non-surgical treatments like therapy. Treatment from a sports injury or physiotherapy clinic while receiving hyaluronic acid injections, will not only rid you of joint pain and stiffness, but can rebuild muscle and  protect you from future injuries.

Don’t let joint pain and stiffness hold you back from enjoying the things you love. To find out more about hyaluronic acid injection treatments, or how they can offer relief to osteoarthritis sufferers, contact Athletic Edge Sports Medicine by calling 416 800 0800, or visit www.aesm.ca