Knee gel injections (Synvisc or Euflexxa)

Hey guys. My Mom's orthopedist wants to do knee gel injections as she's bone on bone in her right knee and it's causing her some problems going to down stair and down hills. She's already taking double strength Hyaluronic Acid, Krill, Antioxidant Boost. She says she has no pain, but she's weak on that leg and has trouble described.

Has anyone had or know anyone who had these injections and are they worthwhile? They won't do a knee replacement on her as she's 73 even though she's still very active.

Any thoughts would be appreciated.

Hey Hadrion,

My grandfather had this injection done. It was very successful. It took away all of the pain and he was back to being active afterward. The only downside is they don't last forever. Now I'm not positive, but I want to say he had to have them done every few years, but don't quote me on that. I'd imagine (without actually looking) you could turn up all kinds of articles online as to the negatives of the injection ingredients or the procedure itself. But when you get to be that age, hell if it can get you back to operational when your mobility is next to nothing, I'd say its worth it. There are some joint problems that just aren't going to be cured with glucosamine and chondroitin.

Anthony,

Do you know which specific injections your Grandfather had? I just want to know if they give Mom a choice which way to steer her. She'd be fine going back every 6 months if it worked and gave her relief.

I've been reading up on them and I think the thing she has going for her is she's not in tremendous pain from the bone on bone. It's more arthritic so I'm hopeful this can work and let her keep her mobility.

I'm really not sure which one, H. Sorry I couldn't be more help in that regard.

Hadrion, I remember having looked into this a few years ago, and it was supposed to be promising. I think at that time the protocol was something like injections every 6 or 9 months, if memory serves. If during these years the duration has been extended, it would be an improvement. My personal recommendation would be to avoid replacement surgery if it isn't absolutely necessary.

You may wish to visit kneeguru.co.uk forums and use their search feature, or actually ask your question, and you should get some solid replies with latest information.

Also look into PRP, it has shown some(more?) promise.
disclaimer: going to get rounds of PRP to the knee myself

heisenberg wrote:Also look into PRP, it has shown some(more?) promise.
disclaimer: going to get rounds of PRP to the knee myself

Thanks, heisenberg, that is interesting. Any link you'd recommend for information on this?

Bu the way, PRP has been in the news for hair too, as you may already know.

new user, can't post links, do a search on "prp cartilage" @ ncbi

Thanks.

also iagh . com (intra articular hgh) and regenexx . com (for stem cell based injections) but those have less safety records

Thanks for the responses & those links guys. I will ask her osteopath about PRP injections. I'm just not sure they're readily done here in the US just yet. I won't let her get a replacement. There's no way she'll get through that rehab and I think her Dr. who has been conservative the whole time agrees with me. It's crazy because she's very strong, doesn't look her age thanks to years on some CS's supplements & knowledge I've gained here and tells me she has no pain in the knee. It's just that arthritic stiffness that Krill & Hyaluronic orally hasn't been able to fix. They worked for many years, but she can't go down stairs without leaning against the wall and that's a recipe for disaster.

hadrion wrote:Thanks for the responses & those links guys. I will ask her osteopath about PRP injections. I'm just not sure they're readily done here in the US just yet. I won't let her get a replacement. There's no way she'll get through that rehab and I think her Dr. who has been conservative the whole time agrees with me. It's crazy because she's very strong, doesn't look her age thanks to years on some CS's supplements & knowledge I've gained here and tells me she has no pain in the knee. It's just that arthritic stiffness that Krill & Hyaluronic orally hasn't been able to fix. They worked for many years, but she can't go down stairs without leaning against the wall and that's a recipe for disaster.

i know a woman in her mid 70's that got a knee replacement, and she is doing extremely well. She was overweight and not particularly strong. She went into a rehab facility for two weeks after the replacement, and it worked wonderfully. Medicare covered the surgery and the rehab facility.

hadrion wrote:Hey guys. My Mom's orthopedist wants to do knee gel injections as she's bone on bone in her right knee and it's causing her some problems going to down stair and down hills. She's already taking double strength Hyaluronic Acid, Krill, Antioxidant Boost. She says she has no pain, but she's weak on that leg and has trouble described.

Has anyone had or know anyone who had these injections and are they worthwhile? They won't do a knee replacement on her as she's 73 even though she's still very active.

Any thoughts would be appreciated.

My mom has the same problem! the doctor said there was no more cartilage surrounding her knees..She got those weekly injections 5x and it did not help. Now the doctor is just suggesting replacement surgery.

Not sure what to do either.