Hyaluronic Acid Injections for Knee Osteoarthritis in Michigan

If your knees, fingers, or other joints feel painful when you use them, there are chances you might have osteoarthritis. Osteoarthritis is swelling of your joints brought by wear and tear of joints, fingers, and knees after many years of usage. Combining low-impact exercise with certain medications may effectively relieve pain and inflammation.

Another effective treatment for knee osteoarthritis is hyaluronic acid injections. Yes, hyaluronic acid, an extremely popular ingredient in skincare, is crucial in lubricating the body tissues and joints and promoting bone strength. This blog discusses how hyaluronic acid and hyaluronic acid injections are beneficial and effective for knee osteoarthritis and who can get the treatment. But before that, let us briefly discuss hyaluronic acid and osteoarthritis, respectively. 

What is Hyaluronic Acid?

Hyaluronic acid (HA), also termed hyaluronan, is a gel-like substance occurring naturally in the human body. A humectant traps moisture inside the cells, keeping them hydrated. HA is a significant part of the skin, eyes, and joints. HA is a major part of the synovial fluid that cushions and lubricates the bone as they move.

When a person suffers from knee osteoarthritis, the body suffers from cartilage degradation, leading to the joints being unable to glide smoothly. With degradation, the quality of HA in the synovial fluid goes down, leading to the mixing of inflammatory molecules. This further leads to pain or swelling.

What is Osteoarthritis?

Osteoarthritis is one of the most common forms of arthritis, affecting many people globally. Osteoarthritis occurs when the protective cartilage cushioning the bones wears down with time. It is most likely to affect the joints bearing most of the weight, like the knees or the feet. Joints in our hands or arms used extensively daily also come under the risk zone of osteoarthritis. 

How Does Hyaluronic Acid Help with Knee Osteoarthritis?

The goal of treating knee osteoarthritis using Hyaluronic acid injections for knee pain in Michigan is to: -

• Reduce pain in the joints and knees
• Improve joint movement by improving joint lubrication and reducing joint function and inflammation. 
• And eventually, slow osteoarthritis progression

Hyaluronic acids are usually injected by the doctors in the clinic itself. The frequency of injections can vary depending on the intensity of the knee pain and brand used. A hyaluronic acid injection will: -

• Allow the cartilage-covered surfaces of the bone to glide against each other smoothly, reducing friction. 
• Add a layer of cushioning to protect the joints during impact (doing activities such as weight bearing).
• Reduce inflammation and pain caused by tissue degeneration or an injury.

Who Can Take Hyaluronic Injections For Osteoarthritis?

Hyaluronic Acid injection for knee pains must not be the first line of treatment. It can accompany the primary treatment for osteoarthritis. Apart from that, this treatment can be considered for those who: -

1. Have moderate knee osteoarthritis with symptoms that affect daily life but don't have a significant impact. 

2. Can't be on medication as: -

• They have little to no benefit from pain-relieving medicine for osteoarthritis 
• They have conditions like diabetes or high blood pressure
• They are at increased risk of side effects like abdominal bleeding, kidney damage, or heart problems.

3. Have shown considerable improvement after the first session

4. Who cannot or doesn't want to go for surgery.

Who Shouldn't Opt for Hyaluronic Acid Injections?

Hyaluronic acid might not be appropriate for: -

• Children or adolescents
• Those who are allergic to hyaluronic acid products 
• Those with bacterial infections around or in the osteoarthritic knee
• Pregnant or breastfeeding women

What to expect during the procedure?

The Hyaluronic Acid injections for knee pain procedure involves the following steps: -

• Your healthcare professional will clean the area and may also apply topical anesthetic to numb the area.
• The doctor will decide if there is a need to withdraw excess fluid from the joint. It is done when the joint is swollen due to excessive synovial fluid.
• The doctor will then inject HA in between the bones using a sterile needle.
• After the injection, the doctor will clean and disinfect the area and dress it up with a bandage. 

Wrapping Up 

Hyaluronic acid is typically a safe treatment for knee osteoarthritis, as it significantly helps reduce pain and lubricate the joints. However, getting in touch with an experienced healthcare provider is always better to know if it is the right treatment for you. If you are planning to get Hyaluronic acid injections for knee pain in Michigan and looking for better guidance, get in touch with Back2Health.