Why is this procedure done?
Your joints are where two bones meet. The ends of the bones are covered with a protective coating of cartilage. This helps them glide smoothly during movement. A fluid also helps the joint move more smoothly. With years of use, the cartilage may begin to wear away. This causes pain in the joints. This procedure is done to relieve the pain. A special fluid is used to help the bones glide more easily. It also acts like a shock absorber. This is most often done on the knee joints. ‚
What will the results be?
- Lubricates the joint
- Less pain in the joints during movement
- Improved joint mobility or movement
What happens before the procedure?
- Your doctor may ask you to try other ways to treat osteoarthritis or OA, such as exercise, physical therapy, drugs for pain, applying hot compress, and losing weight.
- Talk to your doctor about all the drugs you are taking. Be sure to include all prescription and over-the-counter (OTC) drugs, and herbal supplements. Tell the doctor about any drug allergy. Bring a list of drugs you take with you. Some drugs may interact with the injection.
What happens during the procedure?
- Your doctor will clean the skin area where the injection will be given. You will be given a drug called local anesthesia. This will numb your skin and you will not feel any pain.
- A needle will be used to inject the hyaluronic acid into the joint. Hyaluronic acid is a natural fluid in your body. It lubricates the joint to ease body movements.
- The doctor will cover the injection site with a small bandage to prevent infection.
- The procedure may only take a couple of minutes.
What happens after the procedure?
- You may feel slight pain and swelling around the joint area.
- You will be able to go home after the injection.
What care is needed at home?
- Ask your doctor what you need to do when you go home. Make sure you ask questions if you do not understand what the doctor says. This way you will know what you need to do.
- Place an ice pack or a bag of frozen peas wrapped in a towel over the painful part. Never put ice right on the skin. Do not leave the ice on more than 10 to 15 minutes at a time.
- Rest for the first few days after the procedure. Avoid strenuous activities like heavy lifting and hard exercise.
What follow-up care is needed?
Your doctor may ask you to make visits to the office to check on your progress. Be sure to keep these visits. Your doctor may want you to have more injections. ‚
What lifestyle changes are needed?
Ask your doctor about when you can go back to your normal activities like exercise or work. ‚
What problems could happen?
- Pain and swelling around the injection site
- Infection of the joint
- Bleeding in the joint
Where can I learn more?
American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons ‚
http://orthoinfo.aaos.org/topic.cfm?topic=a00217 ‚
Consumer Information Use and Disclaimer
This information is not specific medical advice and does not replace information you receive from your health care provider. This is only a brief summary of general information. It does NOT include all information about conditions, illnesses, injuries, tests, procedures, treatments, therapies, discharge instructions or life-style choices that may apply to you. You must talk with your health care provider for complete information about your health and treatment options. This information should not be used to decide whether or not to accept your health care providers advice, instructions or recommendations. Only your health care provider has the knowledge and training to provide advice that is right for you. ‚
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Copyright ‚ © 2015 Clinical Drug Information, LLC and Lexi-Comp, Inc. ‚