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How do I know if I have osteoarthritis in my knee?
You may have knee osteoarthritis if you experience one or more of the following common signs and symptoms26:
- Sore knee after overuse or inactivity
- Knee stiffness after resting or in the morning
- Pain when moving your knee
- Pain when climbing stairs or getting up from a chair
- Knee pain that prevents you from exercising your leg
- Grating or catching sensation when moving your knee
- Knee pain that feels worse in the evening after a day’s activity
- Deterioration of coordination due to knee pain and stiffness
- Weakened thigh muscles
To help with your diagnosis and treatment, be sure to mention these signs and symptoms at each doctor’s appointment.
How is osteoarthritis different from other kinds of arthritis?
There are too many types of arthritis to list here (for a complete list, go to www.arthritis.org). Osteoarthritis refers to the condition caused by the breakdown or degeneration of the cartilage and fluid that cushion and lubricate the bones in your joints. Osteoarthritis can occur in any joint, but osteoarthritis of the knee is the most common type, affecting more than 10 million Americans.26
Why does osteoarthritis make my knee hurt?
In a healthy knee, the hyaluronic acid in the synovial fluid is continuously broken down and replaced. Patients with knee osteoarthritis have diluted hyaluronic acid in the synovial fluid – reducing the fluid’s lubrication and shock-absorbing properties.15 Symptoms of OA also include increase in inflammation and degradation of the knee cartilage which can contribute towards pain when moving your knees.15,24 Increasing knee pain, in turn, causes you to further limit your knee movement, creating a painful cycle of knee deterioration and synovial fluid depletion.
- Bones: Sometimes knee bones start to grow bony spurs called osteophytes that restrict knee movement and cause pain.
- Knee capsule: The tissue surrounding the knee can become thick and swollen, and sometimes inflamed.
- Knee cartilage: The gap between your knee bones is normally separated by cartilage tissue. The cartilage tissue functions as a shock absorber for your knee bones. When osteoarthritis becomes worse, the cartilage tissue in your knee is worn away, shrinking the gap between your knee bones. When the gap is smaller, moving your knee without pain becomes more difficult.
- Knee joint fluid: The hyaluronic acid content of the fluid in your knees breaks down and is less able to perform its protective functions.
Are all knee injection therapies for osteoarthritis the same?
No, there are different classes of injectable therapies that may be used to treat osteoarthritis in your knee. For example, steroid injections (such as cortisone) may help relieve knee pain and swelling temporarily. Opioids, such as morphine, are a class of drug with a very strong painkilling effect. On the other hand, hyaluronic acid injections like DUROLANE are designed to supplement the lost hyaluronic acid in the synovial fluid in your knee joint, which provides cushioning and lubrication.29
Is DUROLANE treatment painful?
Most patients report experiencing little pain or discomfort during the injection. Many doctors will apply a topical drug to numb the skin prior to giving the DUROLANE injection, which helps to minimize any pain or discomfort.
Risks can include transient pain or swelling at the injection site.13
Does treatment with DUROLANE involve any other drugs or surgery?
No additional drug or surgery is involved in treatment with DUROLANE (other than a topical drug to numb your knee). You can schedule DUROLANE treatments just as you would any other office visit.
How is the treatment performed?
The entire procedure is performed in the doctor’s office and takes approximately 10 to 15 minutes. DUROLANE is administered by a single injection into the affected knee joint.13 Your doctor may advise you to avoid strenuous physical activities for a few days after your injection.
How does DUROLANE work?
DUROLANE treats knee osteoarthritis by temporarily restoring hyaluronic acid to the fluid in your knee.10,12,15,26,33-35 The diminished amount of hyaluronic acid in your knee is one of the causes of your knee pain.15 Unlike oral painkillers or nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) that affect all parts of your body, DUROLANE specifically targets the osteoarthritis pain in your knee.
Preclinical results may not be indicative of clinical results.
Is my condition serious enough for this treatment?
If you have knee osteoarthritis pain and the pain is not controlled by lifestyle changes or simple painkillers, you could be a candidate for DUROLANE treatment. To find out if DUROLANE might be right for you, please consult your doctor.13
Is DUROLANE covered by my insurance?
DUROLANE is covered by Medicare and many private insurance plans for the treatment of knee osteoarthritis pain. You can find out if your plan covers DUROLANE by calling your plan directly before initiating therapy.
What is hyaluronic acid?
Hyaluronic acid is a molecule found naturally throughout the human body. It is an important component of the joint fluid, called synovial fluid. The synovial fluid enables joints to move easily and freely while also absorbing the shock in the joint that occurs during physical activity. In a healthy joint, the joint fluid helps to protect bones and other joint tissues from injury and disease.10
Why is hyaluronic acid important in the treatment of osteoarthritis?
The hyaluronic acid in the synovial fluid in your joint is continuously broken down and replaced over time. During the gradual progression of osteoarthritis, hyaluronic acid breaks down faster and becomes diluted. This has a negative effect on the protective properties of the joint synovial fluid, reducing its ability to provide the elasticity and viscosity that is needed for normal, pain-free joint movement.1-8
Can hyaluronic acid treatment postpone joint replacement surgery?
A study of patients who had undergone knee replacement surgery published in 2015 found that prior treatment with hyaluronic acid injections postponed their need for knee replacement surgery. In this claims study, the more courses of hyaluronic acid treatment the patients had received, the longer the time was between their initial diagnosis of osteoarthritis and their knee replacement operation. Patients without hyaluronic acid treatment had their knee replacement surgery after an average of 9 months. Patients who received 5 or more courses of hyaluronic acid treatment delayed their knee replacement operation by an average of 3.6 years.12
How is DUROLANE different than a steroid injection?
A steroid injection is used to reduce inflammation and pain. A steroid injection usually starts to work quicker than an injection of hyaluronic acid, but it doesn’t last as long.11 In clinical studies comparing steroid injections with DUROLANE treatment11 of patients with knee osteoarthritis, both treatments provided a reduction in knee pain and stiffness, but the benefits of the DUROLANE injection lasted several months longer and could be repeated without showing a decline in effect.
How long does DUROLANE last?
A single injection of DUROLANE can improve osteoarthritis related knee pain and mobility difficulties for up to 6 months.11
Are repeat treatments with DUROLANE safe?
Yes. DUROLANE is clinically proven to be safe, even following repeated injections.11 More information about clinical studies of DUROLANE safety can be found in the summary of Indications for Use in the package insert.
Can I receive DUROLANE treatment in both my knees?
Yes. However, you will need one injection in each individual knee.
Is there a reason why I could not get a DUROLANE treatment?
You should not use DUROLANE if you have infections or skin disease at the injection site. DUROLANE has not been tested in pregnant or lactating women, or children.13 Full information about the indications and contraindications for DUROLANE can be found in the package insert, or by contacting Customer Service at 1-800-836-4080.
How is one injection enough, when other hyaluronic acid preparations need 3 to 5 injections per treatment cycle?
DUROLANE’s unique stabilizing technology is designed so the hyaluronic acid content resists breakdown, for a long-lasting effect.10,33-35,48 Furthermore, there are higher levels of concentrated hyaluronic acid in DUROLANE, which extends the time DUROLANE stays in the knee joint. This is in contrast to the hyaluronic acid in other products, which often dissipates within a few days after the injection and can require multiple injections for effectiveness. Over one million injections of DUROLANE have been administered since it was first introduced, with a low incidence of adverse events.
Preclinical results may not be indicative of clinical results.35