KNEE ARTHRITIS - Injections into the joint :
Hyalgan - - Posted by Argie (Argie), 23 October 2003
I had an MRI and was diagnosed with severe chondromalacia.
My OS suggested Arthroscopy or an injection of Hyalgan for starters.
Has anyone heard of anyone having had this injection. From what I have read, this is similar to Synvisc but requires 5 injections as opposed to Synvisc.
Posted by panbagnat (panbagnat), 23 October 2003
Hi,
I had a LR on my right knee last June but before that they tried 3 injections of Ostenil and it did not do anything. However, 2 weeks ago (4 months after the LR), I had an injection of DUROLANE: it is a new product, with a concentration higher than SYNVISC and you only need 1 injection. It did not remove all the pain I have, but I can say I can see a very little improvement. Actually it is supposed to take 4 weeks before beeing completely operational, so we'll see.
By the way sorry by adavance for my very bad spelling....
Posted by Helena (Helena KTF), 23 October 2003
Hi
Synvisc is a product name, the fluid they inject is Hyaluronic acid. I had 2 series of 3 injections : 1 series in august 2001 with Ostenil and 1 series spetember 2003 with Adant. These are product names U probably haven't heard off (they are often used here in Belgium) but it's the same thing as Synvisc.
I didn't have much painrelief from the 1st series, now I am almost painfree! But this is only a temporary effect, it will ware off in a few months and I will probably need more serie in future. But for now I am glad it works. But if I squat standing only on my bad L knee (had a TTT), U can hear a lot of cracking and crunching, people just can't understand that it doesn't hurt a lot 
Good luck!
Posted by seegalone (seegalone), 14 January 2004
Hello everyone,
I'm new here. I live in the States, how is that for reaching out...
I have ostheoarhritis in the R knee, post arthroscopy about 18 years ago (skiing injury). I'm a bit confused (which could be my normal state of mind anyway 
) about different products for injections. Am I correct that the newest is hyaluronan, under perhaps different brand names, in the States it's Hylan G-F 20 which has a double molecular weght of 20 as opposed to 10 in the past. It was approved here sometimes in the fall, but I'm quite sure that it was available in Europe for much longer.
I am trying to learn all I can here about the efficacy of these injections. The pain i have usually comes on after walking for 2-3 blocks and gets rather bad, however rest usually relieves it. I have not even found an OS yet, as I do not care much for the one who was taking care of me before. The odds of finding a OS in Chicago at this Forum are probably nill, but it does not hurt to mention it...
Krys
Posted by squan36 (squan36), 30 January 2004
Hi, I'm new here too !!!
I have an incredibly loud squishing noise coming from my right knee. Xrays have revealed some arthritis but, to me it sounds like much more. I can't find any info on this "squishing" noise coming from my knee.
Anyway, I take Celebrex 2x daily (it really doesn't do anything) and received the series of 5 Hyalgen injections in September. They have done nothing !
The noise is getting louder and the dull pain around the kneecap is getting stronger. I have general weakness in that knee when walking and the noise can only be heard when walking UP stairs.
The injections themselves were not too painful just uncomfortable. Like I said however, they have not provided any relief. I'm beginning to wonder if this is something more than arthritis...
Good Luck !
Brian
Posted by JorJor (JorJor), 30 January 2004
I am in the middle of getting my 7th series of injections. I have tried all the lubricate injections products on the US market and found Hyalgan works the best for me. To me it is worth a try before being cut on...
Posted by seegalone (seegalone), 6 February 2004
Hi, Brian,
Just my 2c. From my own experience- my first OS took a couple of Xrays, did not suggest an MRI, and did not think the problem in my knee was severe enough to warrant any intervention. I finally saw someone else, who sent me for a high quality MRI (apperently they are not all the same, high spin echo something...) and it turns out that there is a lot more to the details of the OA in my knee that it was originally presumed. I thought maybe you should ask your doc about it, or go for a second opinion...
Good luck.
Krys
Posted by squan36 (squan36), 8 February 2004
Thanks Krys ! I will be getting a second opinion...
Posted by lifeovreilly (lifeovreilly), 16 September 2004
Just a warning, I have no allergies to eggs, poultry, and sleep with a down pillow. One day after injection knee swelled a bit, then slowly my temperature rose to 104.7 C. I hear I am one of the only people with such a reaction in the US, but it's something to think of. I was in pain before, but now it's worse and I am 29 with a walker.
Jenn
Posted by grannynan (grannynan), 16 September 2004
Hi, Jenn:
How long ago did you have your injection? Is it back to it's pre-injection condition? I had 2 and had a bad reaction to both of them, so have aborted the treatment. I did not get a fever, but my knee swelled to twice it's normal swollen size and was extremely painful. My knee still feels considerably worse than it did prior to the first treatment back in August.
Nancy.
Posted by lifeovreilly (lifeovreilly), 16 September 2004
I had only the first injection. Now the doctor wants to try Synvisc. I don't want any injections further!
Posted by grannynan (grannynan), 16 September 2004
I actually had Synvisc, not hylagan. I don't want any more either!!!!
Posted by wend1175 (wend1175), 18 September 2004
i just started the Hyalgan shots last week...by sounds of what everyone is saying this might be a complete waste of time 
i hope pain goes away for a little while anyway....but doc had my hopes up that this would give me at least a year break from pain....ooh well thanyou all enjoying reading your opinions.
Wendy
Posted by grannynan (grannynan), 18 September 2004
Hey, Wendy!
Don't give up too soon. Hylagan and Synvisc definitely didn't work for me, but they work very well for some people. I know someone whose knee felt "like new" after his injections. He was supposed to go back after 7 months to have them redone, but said that his knee still felt great - and he has a very active job. Good luck!
Nancy.
Posted by Janet (Janet), 19 September 2004
Wendy:
My OS told me that Synvisc only works about 40% of the time, but for those it helps, it's a miracle. It does seem to work better for early problems than more advanced. The great thing is that the treatment can be repeated as needed....even every six months. I figure it is worth a try and plan to start it in Novmeber.
Janet
Posted by Mitidai (Mitidai), 23 September 2004
I completed my synvisc injections August 25th and I'm still waiting for results. My oa is pretty advanced. I'm still waiting to hear if I'm a candidate for a new oa brace that's out too. Doesn't seem to be much help for those of us who they say "You're too young". That's when you want to be active but can't because your knees hurt. It's getting pretty discouraging.
JAN
Posted by wend1175 (wend1175), 23 September 2004
Thankyou all for your responsed i am very discouraged at this point hope these injections work for me...after 3 surgeries on my knee and the Arthritis is so bad they cant do the Cartilage regrowth that they where going too...they told me there is not enough cartilage to work with anymore.....now i get to look forward the the left knee being done if the Hyalgan works on the right knee
sorry im venting just discouraging i havent been to work in over a year because in constant pain....Just hope this works
Wendy
Posted by lifeovreilly (lifeovreilly), 23 September 2004
I get the "too young" also. I am 29 with a 22 month old.
Posted by grannynan (grannynan), 23 September 2004
Hey, Wendy!
Don't worry about venting. This is the place to do it. It's really nice to have someplace to go where you can say whatever you are feeling without feeling guilty. 
Nancy.
Posted by wend1175 (wend1175), 23 September 2004
Thankyou Nancy, and i also get the your too young for this im 37....
Posted by Mitidai (Mitidai), 28 September 2004
Hi Nancy,
I got measured for my knee brace. The guy who measured me at the os office said it's actually been around for years it's just been improved so it's more comfortable. He showed me what the brace looks like and it's big and clumsy looking. Not sure what I'll think about wearing one. I get it in two weeks. I still haven't decided if the synvisc worked. My knee seems to go a few days really good then it's pain as usual. Before the shot I hardly ever had any pain free days. Now my other knee has been giving way (buckling) more and that is really worrying me. I hope I don't have to have that scoped next.
JAN
Posted by wend1175 (wend1175), 28 September 2004
Well had my second injection still feel no difference in my knee how long does it take if your going to feel a difference My left knee the doc told me 6 weeks after last injection he will start looking into that knee....i feel like i cant win been out of work for over year already and still in pain cant do anything....
wendy
Posted by seegalone (seegalone), 28 September 2004
Hi, Wendy,
I was on this Forum last winter, asking similar questions...
Don't despair, I had 3 injections last Feb-Mar, and about a couple of weeks after last injection I started feeling some relief from pain, which continued to improve, and lasted about 4 mos. I had days when I forgot I had any problem with my knee. This was against all odds: advanced medial OS - bone on bone, with constant pain while walking. However the honeymoon did not last even 6 mos... Slowly but surely, within the 5th mos the pain came back in full force. I had 3 more shots (Synvisc) finalized about 4 weeks ago. It's much better than it was before the injections, but not as good as the first time. On top of that I had 2 bad reactions (first time just one, and not as severe), and I am still puzzled while this happens. My knee was very swollen with a hard bulge above the knee. I barely could walk for four days.
My last injection, however was almost totally trouble free (just like 2 out of 3 the first time) - just a bit of swelling, tightness, etc, which lasted a couple of days, but did not interfere much with my activities. Is it possible that the site of injection makes a difference, with some of this stuff getting into the tissue surrounding the cavity? In a way it does not make sense; if a long needle can go a fair distance without any "obstacles" on the way, it must be within the cavity. I know that 2 out of 3 shots, which resulted in a lot of swelling, the Os hit the bone, which caused a shooting short lived pain, but an other time it was a clean shot... I am still searching for answers...
I don't know if this "oil change" every 4-5 mos can go on forever, or I should expect less effect with time. It would make some sense as the knee is perhaps deteriorating further, however Synvisc should prevent it...
So, be a bit patient and have hope! The alternatives are not very charming..
Krys
Posted by wend1175 (wend1175), 28 September 2004
Hi Krys
thankyou for letting me know how it is working for you....hope it does do same for me just totally discouraged with everything...no carilage left and a spot inside about the size of quarter they were going to try and regrow the cartilage to cover spot but not enough to work with and its to big to try and fix....gotta love these bad knee's....i will keep you posted and please do the same for me.
thanks again
Wendy
Posted by lifeovreilly (lifeovreilly), 28 September 2004
Let me know about the regrowing cartilage. I am going to ask my doc about it when I go for the scope.
Jenn
29 mom of Abbie, 22 months
Posted by seegalone (seegalone), 29 September 2004
Hi again, Jenn,
Just my 2 cents. The cartilage re-growth is called Carticel. There must be a thread here somewhere. It's apparently most suitable for younger people like yourself. I'm too far gone in age and knee condition. It's worth checking into it. My OS showed me a picture of a gal about 37, who got back to athletic life after about one year of tratment, having barely been able to walk before.
Good luck,
Krys
Posted by lifeovreilly (lifeovreilly), 29 September 2004
Thanks!
It's put a real strain on my marriage. Sean is turning 40 when I turn 30, and all he does is make fun that he can move better than me etc... My friends always want to go out and go shopping, I have to be wheeled.
Jenn 
Posted by seegalone (seegalone), 29 September 2004
Jenn,
The glass is either half empty or half full... I think you are very lucky to have someone to wheel you, and a little kid to cheer you up! Your condition is not going to last forever. Some others might have to struggle with this whole thing on their own, and the kids in college don't seem to give a diddly hoot, at this point in their life, about their mothers struggle. Not that they do not love her, they are not "into it"... So cheer up !!!
Krys
Posted by wend1175 (wend1175), 29 September 2004
Also with Carticel the procedure take about a year to finish and first 4 month you would be on crutches with no weight bearing on the leg...so it is a lot to conisider
Updated Mon Dec 1 2008