Hyaluronic Acid Injection
Hyaluronic Acid injections are becoming increasingly popular for individuals with joint pain. The benefit of Hyaluronic Acid injection is that it has less harmful effects than cortisone to joint surfaces and tendons, and symptom relief can last a lot longer. This is important for individuals experiencing pain in a joint that is not responding to conservative treatment.
A Hyaluronic acid injection is a quick and simple procedure that can be repeated without long term detrimental effects to a joint like cortisone injection can have.
Hyaluronic acid injections are generally considered to be very safe, although a few people may experience some minor side effects outlined below. The following information should be helpful in deciding if this treatment might be useful for you.
Hyaluronic acid injection. Anil’s story
In this video, Anil tells us about his personal experience with knee pain from previous injuries and how having Hyaluronic acid injections has helped him return to a more active lifestyle. He outlines his sporting levels and history that led him to try Hyaluronic acid injections. If you are active but troubled by knee pain, this video is a must watch!
So what is it?
Hyaluronic Acid (HA) is a Gel like substance that is naturally present throughout the human body. It is present in the body wherever moisture is stored or lubrication between layers of tissue is required to eliminate friction. Its role is to retain water and keep tissues moist and well lubricated. The skin is made up of up to 55% of Hyaluronic Acid. It is also a natural part of the fluid that lubricates your joints.
These are key functions of Hyaluronic acid in the body:
- Storage: it absorbs and stores moisture in enormous quantities
- Lubrication
- Transport medium for nutrients
- Filter for inflammatory molecules
Hyaluronic acid is constantly being broken down and regenerated in the body.
As structures like joints age the balance between break down and regeneration is altered leading to more breakdown and less production. This can lead to more watery fluid in the joint that is less able to perform the functions mentioned above. This is part of the process in osteoarthritis which also involves breakdown of the cartilage in the joints which also contains Hyaluronic acid.
Hyaluronic acid injection. Solomon’s story
In this video, Solomon tells us about his personal experience with knee pain and having Hyaluronic acid injections. He outlines his symptoms, his previous management strategies and how he finds the procedure. He tells us about his work and exercise history and how Hyaluronic acid injections help him achieve a more comfortable pain-free life. He tells us about the procedure, if its painful and what to expect. If you are considering having a Hyaluronic acid injection in your knee, this video is a must watch!
So what do we do?
Hyaluronic acid is injected into the space in the joint that contains synovial fluid (joint fluid) and works by restoring the normal balance between the breakdown and production of hyaluronic acid. This can help relieve symptoms of pain and stiffness in a joint. If we are performing an injection around a tendon, we inject into the space around the tendon to improve its lubrication and prevent adhesions. Again this can help to relieve symptoms of pain and stiffness around a tendon.
One of the more popular Hyaluronic acid injections we perform is into joints with osteoarthritis using Ostenil Plus, Durolane or Synovial HL. This requires only 1 injection which can give some patients relief for up to 9-12 months.
What should I expect on the day of the injection?
The clinician performing your injection will perform an ultrasound scan to assess the area and identify where to inject the Hyaluronic acid. Your treating clinician will explain the procedure in more detail on the day based upon the ultrasound examination findings. Most Hyaluronic acid injections are surprisingly quick and comfortable to perform.
What to expect after an injection of Hyaluronic acid?
You should usually allow a week or two for the effect of the Hyaluronic acid to begin. We recommend that you should avoid strenuous exercise of that area for 2-3 days afterwards due to the possibility of some post-injection discomfort. When having an injection around a tendon, we may advise you to avoid heavy impact and loading activities for a few days due to potential discomfort following the injection.
How many injections will I need?
The benefits of Hyaluronic acid injections is that they can safely be repeated if required. If the injection gave you relief the first time for any length of time, then it is reasonable to inject the area again if symptoms return. There is currently no research to suggest any significant long term harm from having repeat injections of Hyaluronic acid.
If you have an osteoarthritic joint, repeat injections may help prolong the life of that joint, delaying the need for joint replacement.
What are the risks and side effects from Hyaluronic acid injections?
Approximately 1 in 5, may have some post injection pain for up to 48 hours after the injection. This may be in the form of an ache around the area that was injected. This will resolve quickly by itself and can be managed with ice and over-the-counter painkillers if required.
As with any injection into the body, there is always a risk of infection. This is extremely rare across all injections administered in all healthcare settings. Around 1 : 50,000 patients may get an infection according to the literature following an injection procedure. The risk is similar to having a standard blood test.
We perform a “no touch” aseptic technique to ensure your safety during the procedure.
This will be discussed further at your appointment.
Can I take my regular medication when I have a Hyaluronic acid injection?
Yes, it is safe for you to take other medications alongside the hyaluronic acid injection. Hyaluronic is not an actual drug and is considered a medical device. Currently no known significant drug interactions occur with hyaluronic acid and other medications so is a suitable alternative if you cannot have other procedures or want to avoid any steroid injections.
As with any injection however, you still must tell the clinician performing the injection if you are taking an anti-coagulant (blood thinning) medication as they may need to discuss this with your GP before proceeding with the treatment.
What if a Hyaluronic acid injection doesn’t give me relief?
Everyone responds differently to injectable medical devices like Hyaluronic acid. This could be due to the type of product injected or your specific needs. For example, If your injection does not provide adequate relief, it may be that you need a higher molecular weight of Hyaluronic acid which is thicker to give more shock absorbency. There are many products available and the clinical specialist will discuss your specific needs with you prior to the procedure to help decide the best product for you. Depending on your results, the same procedure could be repeated in future or the type of Hyaluronic acid can be adjusted to give optimised relief.
If a Hyaluronic acid injection does not give adequate relief of symptoms for knee arthritis of if it previously has but is becoming less effective, then an injection of Arthrosamid may prove and suitable alternative. Read more about this here.