Second Hyaluronic Gel injection or not??

It helped me a little both times. But the second shot did not provide anymore improvements over the first shot. I got a knee replacement eventually.

I had injections prior to my TKRs. I wouldn’t waste my time with another injection. While sometimes helpful they always wear off in a few months. Just get on with a more permanent surgical solution.

I wouldn't bother and if you do then you have to wait yet another 3 months before even getting surgery. I was told that the worse the knee that they often don't work as well as when they are just mild. I was bone and bone and got a knee replacement. This is my second one and I can say that robotic is way better, faster recovery, less painful, usually done under a spinal not a general. I also had glue this time around which was better.

I would agree...Have the replacement....But if you have to wait more than 3 months for surgury, then I'd get either a steroid injection or the gel injection.

I honestly never heard of the gel and just researched it. I wish my PM doctor had mentioned the gel shots for my bone on bone shoulder...I have had well over a dozen steroid injections, that do help me tremendously.

Best wishes whatever you decide!

I've had 2 or 3 HLA injections, one injection in each knee, spaced 3 weeks apart. They have not been the Gel-One variety, they were the least expensive viscoelastic HLA , made by Biomed I think, called Suprx-One I think. They've helped a bit, and if you get 4 months of good pain relief, that's pretty good. The typical types of viscoelastic material slowly disappear in the knees, and my orthopedic institute only allows HLA injections 6 months apart. They tolerate steroid cortisone injections like every 2 weeks, but those deteriorate the cartilage over time. I'm pursuing getting a more viscous HLA injection material called Gel-One and it is just one-shot knee injection. I expect it will last 4 months, but the mfr says some people have success for a year or so. It is not covered by Medicare, so my co-pay is $450. But I have a spot in my left knee that is bone on bone following arthroscopic surgery in April. It hurts me a lot to walk and/or work out on my recumbent exercise bike when that open bone spot is under contact. I think now that the orthopedic surgeon screwed up and cut off a corner of my torn meniscus, thus exposing that spot to be bone on bone. I'd rather he tried to repair the meniscus edge than cut it off altogether, but ortho surgeons much prefer total knee replacements rather than mess around with tidying up meniscus tears and so forth. I'm 78 years old, male. I'm no fan of a TKR, there seem to about 50% bad results and a year of recovery time. Even after several months since arthroscopic surgery, I have very stiff knees and the bone-on-bone pain, and also fighting plantar fasciitis in left foot, suffering from weak calf muscles, trying to get all leg and glute muscles stronger and balanced.

@vincentyu
Any regrets to getting the TKR? How many months of recovery/PT time for you?

@bweaver2025 Thanks; wish I could do cortisone steroid injections, but with type 2 diabetes, they'd raise my blood sugar sky high. How long did the helpful effects last before you had to get another steroid injection?

@laughlin1947
No regrets. I like it enough to get the right knee replaced next March. While the left knee still has some numbness, it is much stronger than before and not hurting anymore. I don’t I should expect too much from TKR especially I was already 68 when it was done last year. It took me a good 3-4 months to have a good range of movement and a year to walk normally.

@grrranny
You are right...I forgot about that! I have elevated sugar too, and I do have some side effects for a few days after every injection.
Relief really varies...anywhere from 1-6 months. They don't last as long in the winter, or if I over work my shoulder.
I'm about at the end of my rope though, and will have to have surgury soon(ish). Honestly, after having rotator cuff surgury 6 years ago on the other shoulder, I'm nervous, but the reality is a replacement shouldn't be much, if any, worse.

I would add one caveat to my prior comment. While I generally believe the injections are a waste of time, my one exception would be using it as a temporary bridge to attend a major fixed calendar event such as a family wedding. Otherwise skip the somewhat painful injections and get on with the surgery and important recovery PT efforts.