Connect
Hyaluronic gel into a multi issue knee
I am a retired woman facing a total knee - but I’d like to enjoy the summer and not be laid up until cold weather. I have Rheumatoid Arthritis, used to run and play tennis and in general do activities that were hard on knees. And so my knee issue is a mix of pseudo-gout crystals from calcinosis, a cartilage tear, and garden variety arthritic wear and tear. I had no specific injury… Just got up one morning and it hurt to put weight on it. MRI described all that. I had physical therapy that did not improve things. So next idea was Hyaluronic acid gel injections.. 3 shot series. I had the last yesterday. It seemed to be more volume and inserted into more Crevices - hurt like a Mother***. .. unlike previous 2 injections. I really had to work to imagine the first two had helped at all. Occasionally i could be limping along and realize the last step hadn’t hurt as badly as the one before it. Hardly an advertisement. But today I really do seem to be walking without as much pain when I place weight on it. I mean it still hurts. But not as badly. It is however doing weird things like hanging up and then popping when it moves into position. I don’t know What that is.
So now I wait for 8-12 weeks to see what I am left with. Seems to be a medicare timeline because i see no reason the think the cartilage mashed between two bones has a reason to retract because i had something injected.
Is my experience reasonably consistent with others? I am curious what I’m in for over the next 2-3 months until i can get a more permanent fix.
Like
Helpful
HugInterested in more discussions like this? Go to the Joint Replacements Support Group.
Connect
I have used the 3 shots orthovisc for two years; I had a lymphatic reaction from the multiple needle injections with the 3 shot orthovisc......so.... I recently decided to go with the one shot monovisc. Monovisc and Orthovisc have reacted similarly in terms of knee symptoms. THey are as per my understanding bioidentical to my bodies' hyaluronic acid and only differ in the way the hyaluronic is formatted to lay and in that only one shot is needed for the monovisc. The side effect record is also good for both of them.
My doctor did use a small small amount of cortisone in the monovisc shot because of my previous lymphatic reaction with swelling etc. due to the needle impact in the knee.
I have noticed that there does seem to be a period of time needed for both gels to settle in with some catches and sounds. All this evens out for me within about a week.
I also use cartigenix hp for inflammation. I am not sure about this product, but am willing to try it to see how it helps or not.
I also use SPM to help resolve inflammation; this was prescribed by my neurologist.
I also use a "uploader" or "off loader" brace on my knee to keep the "grinding" on what is left of my cartilage down as much as possible.
@kathleen1314 wow. You are incredibly literate on this process and I value that. Sadly we all paid a price for the areas of medical literacy we possess.
Orthovisc is the brand I was given. I have had no reactions to it but I recently had my q8w infusion of immunosuppressant so I’m not sure my body could muster an inflammatory response :).
My brother also recommended a brace to help preserve what I can of knee architecture since i’d like to think about an October surgery timeline.
Instinctively - since i have no actual knowledge - I am babying the knee today and shaking it around so i don’t pinch anything or step off with something not quite aligned. Other than that i am watching and learning what not do :)! I can have another cortisone injection between now and surgery if needed. But the surgeon tells me he would hope i don't need it.
Thanks for your reply!
-
Like -
Helpful -
Hug
1 Reaction@pb50
After reading many of the posts on here about TKR, I started to research different surgeons for a potential surgery.
I actually used copilot who helped me search all of the USA to find surgeons who might work best for me.
I also had the Panel 2 blood test from Orthopaedic ANalysis to check for any allergies to components used in TKR.
Steve from Arizona was invaluable for his insights on here. https://connect.mayoclinic.org/member/00-748a9dd558e368ff336939/
@kathleen1314 thanks again!!
It would be nice on your behalf to understand what parts of the joint is it that the TKR would actually replace/repair? A partial knee replacement could be considered because the elements of your entire joint couldn't have just been destroyed in an instant, could it?
My issue is that the doctor who performed arthroscopic surgery on left knee last April cut away a flap of meniscus that was "protecting" part of the joint that kept the knee from going bone on bone. Once he cut that away (without my permission), I was doomed to have bone on bone, and it hurt a lot. I think some doctors are predisposed to wanting to perform TKRs for the financial benefit of it, and do not want to treat a patient in any other way. I started taking oral HLA and my pain began to subside and become more tolerable pain-wise, albeit still a bit sensitive. I'm still a 78-year-old male with arthritic knees. I also just got an injection of high viscosity HLA in that knee, far better and longer lasting than the thin 3-shot HLA treatment that Medicare covers.
On another note - I just saw a surgeon to discuss treatment for lower back pain, and all he could recommend was a full back operation with metal rods and a full year of recovery. He had no recommendations for any other less invasive treatment. So now I'm off for a 2nd opinion.
I may not know a lot about knee anatomy but i know quite a bit about backs - spent years in neurophysiology diagnostics working with neurologists.
I agree it would be smart to get another opinion. That sounds dramatic.