Knee injections long term?

bhb30602,
steroids might not be a good long term solution because they can cause tendon degeneration and will weaken even the bones in the joint, eventually Steroids can, though, help you recover from a bout of tendonitis.
You might look at the hyaluronic acid injection and the platelet rich plasma injections. If you had a small, partial tendon tear, your right may need a longer period of inactivity to heal. If you haven't had an MRI, they are the best for detecting tears in the tendon. Xray or ultrasound can miss those defects.
Experienced answers will follow.

"Has anyone had long-term relief from knee pain with injections (either steroid or the gel) … "

Good morning!

I'm raising my hand. I've had both, steroid and gel, over the past few years, with great success. My right knee is already a prosthetic (installed 20 years ago), so when my left knee started acting up (pinching, making stair climbing less than comfortable), I went to see an orthopedist, dreading being told it was time for a second TKR. (It didn't help that his clinic was called "Rocky Mountain Joint Replacement Specialists." 🙂 ) After looing over an X-ray of my left knee, he said, "Ray, instead of surgery, I suggest we try some injections." Since then, I've been getting injections, at first steroids, then switching to gel, now back to steroids, every three months. As I say, I've had great success with these injections. Having been through getting a TKR, I was prepared to be told I needed another; however, I'm glad not to need one, at least not now.

Good luck to you!
Ray (@ray666)

Precious Folks, I get cortisone injections in my knees due to osteoarthritis. I always have fluid in them by the time I am due for injections and have them aspirated as well. I have done well with the injections and they keep my pain at a lower level.

I have gotten the hylauronic gel injection twice and it has helped tremendously. The downside of that one is
it makes my knees feel heavy and my legs are stiff for a while. The gel injection lasts a year for me.

I am able to push the knee injections out a little further than every 12 weeks now and I believe that is due
to the gel injections. Word of Caution, make sure your doctor numbs your knees up before you get the gel
injections as they can be quite painful. Not all doctors do that. Mine does.

I realize the downshide of cortisone injections and have talked with my doctor about it.

My takeaway is this. I had rather have the injections than be on strong oral pain meds. I cannot take NSAIDS so Tylenol only does so much for pain and doesn't reduce inflammation.

Praying for all of you. Blessings....

Steroid knee injections eat away soft tissues and cartilage. Use knowing this fact. PRP and stem cell injections in the knees does no damage. I suggest you read up on knee arthritis and study what is available. Supplements are available that help knee pain as well.

Hi bhb,

Sorry for what you're going through. I was a long-distance runner, completed 20 plus marathons, but osteoarthritis did me in at 48 and my last marathon was 1999. I have had both knees scoped twice each, and never really got much from those procedures. I've also tried cortisone shots, with mixed results. Best case is some pain relief for two months. I have no experience with gel injections.

At age 67 I had both knees replaced, 4 months apart. At my surgeon's suggestion, I worked with a trainer for six months prior to the surgeries to get the muscles around my knee as strong as possible, given my limitations. I did research and found a great surgeon who did his residency at Cleveland Clinic. Finally, the surgeon used the Stryker/Mako surgical assistant. Finally, and most important, I did all of the rehab exercises 3x/day for 6 weeks and saw a PT 2x/week. I worked very hard on my recovery/rehab.

My knees have never felt better, and I'm 70 now. I can't run or do impact sports, but I've taken up spinning and love it. I still work with the same trainer and we are able to push leg exercises much further with the new knees. I go to the gym every day and feel great.

Anyway I know you're looking for an answer on gel or other injections. In my experience, once degeneration of cartilage begins, the process can't be reversed. I'm not trying to sell you on knee replacement now. Put that off for al long as possible. Once your knees get so bad that you have trouble sleeping or climbing any stairs, then it may be time. Whenever that happens, do your research and find a surgeon in his/her mid 30s to mid 40s, with a solid pedigree (med school and/or residency).

I wish you all the best!

Joe

By gel you mean chicken fat?

Yes, rooster comb injections also referred to as hyaluronic injections.

Hello, heyjoe415

Yours was one one of clearest, most detailed chronicles of life with deteriorating knees I've read so far. It echoes in so many ways my own experience. I, too, was a long-distance runner (not as many marathons as you!). My running days came to an about 20 years ago when I had my right knee replaced. I'd been doing fairly well ever since, until about a year ago when my left knee began to give me achy moments. I thought, 'Uh-oh, time for TKR #2.'

But my orthopedist, studying my X-ray, said, 'Well, Ray, your knee is bad, but I'd advise we take a more conservative approach, at least for as long as we can.' We started shots, first steroid, then gel, and I've been doing pretty well ever since. Shots work, but, as I've been told, not for everyone. I guess I'm one of the lucky ones for whom shots do work.

Off the topic. heyjoe415, do you miss runningas much as I do? After all these years, and now withPN to boot, I still get nostalic when I see someone ticking off the miles on one of our local trails as I lumber by in my Jeep. ::sigh:: 🙂

Best wishes,
Ray (@ray666)

Also a trail distance and Ultra runner for a couple of decades with RA and Osteoarthritis and had good fortune with injections for which I am so thankful for! I followed the path you outlined pretty much. Steroids then gel (Duralane) My first gel lasted a year with lots of running miles and I just received my 2nd and now I'm building my miles again. My insurance won't cover gel injections because they deem it not medically necessary so I had to pay out of pocket. For me and my life tho, I feel it was necessary and less expensive than replacement surgery, so I dont understand insurance All the best for you!

I played football and worked construction for 40 years so I earned worn out knees. To avoid surgery I had steroid injections and PT in 1998 that moderately helped but was warned that they erode the joint. Next I had the chicken juice injections called Synvisc in 2004. The doctor injected me 3 times over 15 month and with PT they helped some and allowed me to work and sleep. I retired in 2010 and stayed active and exercised. 2016 I investigated stem cell therapy and in 2017 I chose the Regenex Stem Cell Therapy and RAPS, a Pittsburgh group of doctors to treat me. The Stem Cell Therapy was not covered by my insurance provider so my cost was $7,000 per knee. Rt knee in September, Left knee in December. Some pain for 1 week then the knees were great. 2019 - I needed a plasma platelet injection in both knees - $2,000. 2021 - plasma platelet injections in both knees - $2,000. FYI, the platelet injections really hurt (8) for about 2 hours. Recently at 75 years old, I returned to RAPS and was told that the platelets would cost about $6,000 and probably would not be effective and I should consider the Stem Cell Therapy again which now would cost me about $25,000. I am interviewing doctors and am debating between replacement surgery, arthrosamid injections and platelet injections. I have found a very reputable surgeon who will provide platelet injections for $1,000 per knee, again not covered. This surgeon has 6 years experience with platelets, his procedure and results are good and he has not caused an infection but he cannot guarantee results. I must decide soon so wish me good luck and I hope I didn't bore you with my long story with an inconclusive ending. Keep moving but know your limits and take advice only from respected medical professionals.