Discussion: Knee injection - any experiences??

I seem to be suffering more and more from arthritis in both knees, but especially the right. My orthopedist has recommended a synovial fluid supplement called SUPARTZ.

Does anyone have experience or opinions that may help me do the right thing?

Currently getting up from sitting makes me feel old (yeah I know I am!) and often running doesn't bother them until later. (Aren't endorphins great). Long time in one position (in the car, or on recent airplane trip) are definitely not good.

Thanks

Well, I don't have any personal experience with the synovial fluid injections, but I sure have treated a lot of people that got them.
It seems like the results are close to 60% success. It can be quite painful for the first few days, but then it settles and lasts up to 6 months.
The patients that seem to get poorer results were patients that had a very tight patellar reticanulum (a membrane that covers the knee cap, crosses over to both sides of the knee). A tight retinaculum and even tight quads can put so much pressure on the knee cap that nothing will make it feel better.
My advice: make sure you konw that there is nothing else going on before relying fully on the injection (placement of the knee cap, flexibility of the retinacum and quads, muscle imbalance...). For more information about what can affect your knee cap, read What runner's knee is all about here

"A tight retinaculum and even tight quads can put so much pressure on the knee cap that nothing will make it feel better"

Amen. Well Scotch helps.

I had the injections about 8 years ago. They seemed to loosen up my knee - didn't really reduce the pain much but made it feel less stiff. Kind of hard to describe. As MC said, the effects lasted about 6 months.

I've had three rounds of Synvisc in my right knee over the past 19 months with good success. Each round consisted of one shot a week for three consecutive weeks. Although I'll never be back to normal and able to run much, it has allowed me to continue orienteering. I even managed to compete every day in the Scottish 6-Day in in 2005 and the Swiss O Week this year.

I should mention that the first orthopedist I went to in February 2005 said "There's nothing I can do for you. Start using a cane and a medial unloader brace and in a year or so we'll talk about total knee replacement." He refused to try any advanced treatments and said that in cases like mine only about 10-20% of people had success with Synvisc.

I was determined to try it, however, so I went to another doctor (the head of Orthopedics at UMass Medical Center). Doctor #2 said it might very well help and began the injections the next week. He also ordered me a lightweight strap-on athletic brace to prevent hyperextension, and I have custom orthotics in my shoes to prevent pronating. So with all that gear and Voltaren as an antiinflammatory I've been able to continue orienteering, hiking, downhill skiing, and cross-country skiing.

Prior to 2005 I had undergone arthroscopic surgery for meniscus and cartilage tears in 2002. That helped for three years until I injured the knee skiing in Jan 2005 and could barely walk. I'm now bone on bone but the Synvisc (which is injected into the outside of the knee, not in the meniscus area) has kept me active and without much pain.

As for the injections themselves, they are momentarily painful but after that the pain usually goes away. The important thing is to not move around much on the knee for 12 hours after the injection. Just go home after the shot (have someone drive you if you can). Then keep your knee elevated and iced until you go to bed. The next morning, go about your life as usual.

I don't know anything about Supartz, but it probably works the same way as Synvisc.

Good luck.

Scotch injections?

Orally.

Thanks you all. (since it is sorta a micro injury, will micro-brews administered orally help).

MC, I will read the article on runner's knee with great interest.

(For once I am asking before I commit).

Am I surmizing correctly that the consensus is that it may not help but unlikely to make it worse?

That's correct - the worse case scenario seems to be that it doesn't work, although there are always side effects to consider and the odd patient that reacts to the product and gets inflammed - but quite rare in my experience (as a matter of fact, never seen it but have heard of it).