Knee OA Management: 4 Benefits of Visco-Supplementation

There’s a widespread problem in America: osteoarthritis that affects the knees. This degenerative joint disease affects more than 22% of American adults, and 41% of osteoarthritis cases affect the knee. 

If you’re one of the many impacted by this uncomfortable condition, you’ve probably wished you could simply slip a little cushion into your knee. Visco-supplementation gives you a way to essentially do just that. 

With extensive experience treating knee pain, Dr. Halina Snowball can help you decide if this treatment is right for you. And if it is, she offers visco-supplementation injections right here at Integrated Pain Solutions in Stamford, Connecticut.

Let’s look at some of the benefits of visco-supplementation for knee osteoarthritis:

1. It adds cushioning to your knee

Visco-supplementation gets its name from its ability to supplement the viscous fluid in your knee. In fact, some people simply refer to this treatment as gel shots. 

This injection-based treatment adds hyaluronic acid — a gel-like substance naturally produced by your body — to your knee. In your joints, hyaluronic acid is found in the synovial fluid, where it helps lubricate and cushion the joint. 

When you have osteoarthritis, you have less hyaluronic acid in your joints. Adding more of this gel-like fluid can help your knee glide more painlessly. 

2. It’s customizable

Visco-supplementation isn’t a one-size-fits-all treatment. Instead, Dr. Snowball can determine the right number of injections and how far apart to space them based on what your specific knee needs. 

What’s more, visco-supplementation might just be one part of the knee pain treatment plan that Dr. Snowball develops for you. She might pair it with platelet-rich plasma (PRP) therapy, a type of injection-based regenerative medicine that can also help with knee osteoarthritis. A recent study showed that these two treatments work well in tandem. 

Neither gel shots nor PRP work right away. It usually takes a few weeks to start experiencing the benefits of treatment. 

3. It has advantages over cortisone shots

With cortisone shots, there’s a risk associated with getting too many. Specifically, the cortisone can further damage the cartilage in your knee.

If visco-supplementation works for you, Dr. Snowball can reapply it as needed (e.g., every six months) to keep your knee comfortable. Visco-supplementation injections also last longer — six months compared to the few months that cortisone tends to bring relief. 

Finally, gel shots don’t pose the same risk for people with high blood pressure or high blood sugar as cortisone shots do. 

4. Downtime and potential side effects are minimal

After each injection, avoid strenuous activity, like running, for 48 hours. Other than that, you won’t have to adapt your life. 

You might have some swelling or warmth at the injection site. Most people can manage any side effects with ice and note that they fade quickly. 

If you’re living with osteoarthritis in your knee, visco-supplementation could provide the added cushioning you need. To explore this treatment for yourself, call our team at 203-293-0549 to request an appointment or book one online today.