Knee Osteoarthritis: When Should I Consider Hyaluronic Acid (HA) Injections?

If you’re suffering from knee osteoarthritis, you know how painful the condition can be, particularly as you begin to lose more and more cartilage. 

One treatment that has helped relieve knee pain and restore function in patients with osteoarthritis is hyaluronic acid (HA) injections.

At Full Orthopedics Urgent Care in North Miami Beach, Florida, we offer these injections as a treatment option. Here’s what we tell our patients about when to consider this procedure.

What is hyaluronic acid?

Your body naturally makes HA as a part of the fluid in your joints. Hyaluronic acid gives the fluid its slippery, viscous quality that enables the cartilage on the surface of your bones to easily glide past each other, plus, it provides a cushion to protect your joints when you’re participating in a high-impact activity.

Osteoarthritis lowers the concentration of HA in your joint fluid. This gives you less protection from friction and less cushion from impact. 

When should you get the injection?

Hyaluronic acid injections are usually not the first line of treatment when you’re diagnosed with osteoarthritis. We generally wait until your symptoms begin to affect your daily living and other medications such as non-steroidal anti-inflammatories (NSAIDs) or steroids are no longer effective (or you decide not to take them any longer). 

Injections can also be an option if you’re at the point where you need relief but don’t want to have surgery or aren’t eligible for it.

How does the process work?

The treatment is relatively simple. We inject a small amount (around 2 mL) of HA into your knee joint capsule. Depending on your situation, one injection may be enough, or you may need additional injections spaced a week apart.

The goal of the injection is to replenish the concentration of hyaluronic acid in your knee, leading to reduced pain, improved joint movement, and decreased joint friction and inflammation. 

For some individuals, the molecules of HA form a barrier around the nerve endings, preventing those signals from being sent to the brain and providing relief from the pain they’ve been experiencing.

Results do vary with each patient. While some experience complete relief, others experience moderate relief or no change from their current condition. The period of relief usually lasts anywhere from two to six months.

Treatment is most effective in people with mild to moderate osteoarthritis. Injections shouldn’t be given to kids, women who are pregnant, or those with a bacterial or other infection near their knee. 

If you’re suffering from osteoarthritis, our team members at Full Orthopedics Urgent Care are here to give you expert treatment. To set up an appointment, call our office at 305-343-1365, use our online scheduler, or just stop by — we take walk-ins!