Synvisc Knee Injections

[Barefoot]

I recently had cortisone injections in both knees which worked marvelously, but only lasted for six weeks. My years of playing squash every day and jogging have taken their toll.

My doctor is now suggesting Synvisc injections. I'd love to hear some comments from people who've tried Synvisc.

[bluedog103]

I recently had cortisone injections in both knees which worked marvelously, but only lasted for six weeks. My years of playing squash every day and jogging have taken their toll.

My doctor is now suggesting Synvisc injections. I'd love to hear some comments from people who've tried Synvisc.
Hi Barefoot,
I went the same route as you with my knee. Cortisone was fantastic but temporary. After awhile the pain relief only lasted for a few days. Tried Synvisc but it didn't work for me. According to some literature I got from the company they claim about 80% of patients get relief.
There are horror stories out there about the shots being extremely painful. I didn't have that experience. They stung pretty much like any other injection. Had they worked I would have kept getting them for as long as they were effective. Unfortunately my only option was a total knee replacement which I had done two years ago. The replacement was a good choice. Sometimes now I have trouble remembering just how much pain I was in.
Good luck. Hope the Synvisc works for you if you decide to go that route.

[784caroline]

I tried Synvisc trying to get away from anti-inflamatories. Synvisc was very expensive..had to get health Insurance OK before Dr could prescribe, and afterwards it did not work for me. I also had a reaction to cortisone where I could not walk or put weight on the knee for 2-3 days...now that was painful but then it subsided. Right now anti inflamatories is my route ...just trying to postpone the inveitable for as long as I can but I can walk with only mild discomfort....sports or other activities brings on something different.

[kathyzapp]

After trying cortisone injections in my right knee with short-term relief, I had Synvisc injections. These injections were very painful for me. I've talked to several people who had good results with Synvisc, but the injections did not work for me. I eventually had a unicompartmental knee replacement.

Good luck with whatever you decide.

[Ohiogirl]

Thanks for the info. I just made a dr appt. tomorrow, hoping she will give me a cortisone for my right knee. Cortisone has worked well for me in the past for tendonitis in shoulder and plantar fasciatis.

My knees (especially the right one) have sort of dislocated my entire life. A doctor finally told me I have "loose" kneecaps that dislocate easily. Weirdly, I have strong quads. Am sure I also have early arthritis, but not really diagnosed.

Have had 2 bad sprains as an adult, took weeks to recover when I was in my late 30s, months in my mid-fifties. This time (at almost 60), I have a babysitting injury - got up from a chair too fast trying to chase a 2 year old.

If I could stay off it, might not be so bad, but that is so hard to do. Has been 6 weeks and I started doing too much, thinking it wouldn't bother me that much. Stuff like moving, playing 9 holes of golf, shopping. Have been taking naproxen and icing and heating it, but didn't do the icing enough probably. Paying for it now. Everything just seems to take so much longer to heal now.

[FMF Doc]

I have never tried Synvisc. I had a cortisone shot in August that has helped but not completely eliminated the pain. I have opted to have a knee replacement done while we still live here and I can use a surgeon I really like. Actually that is the reason our place is not on the market right now.

I am also very active and in good health so I figured I would have it done now rather than wait till I can hardly walk and may also have other health issues that could complicate the surgery and/or physical therapy.

Good luck in whatever you choose.

GP

[Barefoot]

Yikes, so far Synvisc comments are 100% negative. I guess I'll rethink that one! My arthritis doctor swears by Cortisone shots and Synvisc. The surgeon thinks I need arthoscopy surgery, no mention yet of a knee replacement. Although I smell one coming down the road.

I haven't tried anti-inflammatories yet, perhaps I should be going that route. I just hate to take drugs .. but I guess as we age, it is inevitable. My doctor has been muttering about my cholesterol levels.

I guess we should all be grateful for every extra day we have on this planet. And especially for discovering The Villages for our golden years. After all, a long life hasn't been promised to any of us.

[rhsgypsylady]

My husband had the Synvisc shots 3 different times. And, yes for him they were extremely painful. And yes, they only lasted a few weeks. In fact, the 2nd shot didn't last as long as the 1st and the 3rd shot didn't last as long as the 2nd. And yes, they are quite expensive. With our insurance they had to be pre-certified.

He has needed a knee replacement for many years and he kept putting it off, saying when it gets to where I can’t walk I’ll have it done. Now he is at that point, but because of his heart (CHF) the doctors will not do the surgery. They don’t think his heart would make it thru the surgery and if it did, they don’t think he can endure the painful and necessary rehab. He’s wishing he’d gone ahead and had the surgery when he could. So if anyone is putting off knee replacement, my advice would be to get it done.

He also has arthritis in every bone is in his body so between the knee and arthritis he is in constant pain. He’s tried every anti-inflammatory medicine out there that he can take with his heart condition. He is now taking 7.5/325 Hydrocodone, which doesn’t really stop the pain. It just kinda numbs it some.

[tpop1]

Wife needs both knees replaced but pushing it out as long as possible (but not out til 2014 when Healthcare Act kicks in!)

Gone the same route - cortisone then Synvisc...just had 2nd round of Synvisc.($975 per knee- before health plan reimbursement)

When I saw this thread I asked her to comment. Here goes:

- Not painful at all.
- Not perfect but helped her a lot...2nd round attests to both above statements.
- EXPensive!
- She will do one more round to further stall replacement operation.

Next area of mixed opinions we hear is one knee at a time of both together. She's planning to have 2 done together and have only one rehab.

Hope this helps...at least one pereson here who has a good opinion of the shots!

[bluedog103]

Wife needs both knees replaced but pushing it out as long as possible (but not out til 2014 when Healthcare Act kicks in!)

Gone the same route - cortisone then Synvisc...just had 2nd round of Synvisc.($975 per knee- before health plan reimbursement)

When I saw this thread I asked her to comment. Here goes:

- Not painful at all.
- Not perfect but helped her a lot...2nd round attests to both above statements.
- EXPensive!
- She will do one more round to further stall replacement operation.



Next area of mixed opinions we hear is one knee at a time of both together. She's planning to have 2 done together and have only one rehab.

Hope this helps...at least one pereson here who has a good opinion of the shots!
Tpop, if I were going to go through this again I'd pretty much follow the same route your wife is taking. As long as the Synvisc worked I'd continue it. Then get both knees replaced at the same time.
Knee replacement rehab is pretty difficult. I don't think I'd want to do it twice either. I had one hip replaced 6 years ago and even though people told me the knee would be more difficult, I didn't expect it to be MUCH more difficult.
I actually found the rehab after the hip replacement to be a piece of cake. The knee was a different animal altogether.
At least we have options nowadays. Our parents would have had to suffer in pain for the rest of their lives. We are blessed to live in the time we live.
Good luck
Bluedog

[Barefoot]

He has needed a knee replacement for many years and he kept putting it off, saying when it gets to where I can’t walk I’ll have it done. Now he is at that point, but because of his heart (CHF) the doctors will not do the surgery. They don’t think his heart would make it thru the surgery and if it did, they don’t think he can endure the painful and necessary rehab. He’s wishing he’d gone ahead and had the surgery when he could. So if anyone is putting off knee replacement, my advice would be to get it done.

Gypsy .. I'm so sorry to hear that your husband is in constant pain. That makes life difficult for both of you.

That is great advice - to have surgery while you're physically still able. I hadn't thought of it like that .. I guess I assumed the longer you wait, the better off you are because new knees don't last forever. We all assume we've got unlimited healthy time ahead which is really nuts when you're "getting on". We all tend to procrastinate and delay such procedures. This is a good wake-up call.

I had no idea that Synvisc cost $2,000 for both knees. We have medical insurance, but that is highway robbery, for a procedure that appears not to work for a lot of people.

[villages07]

I know one person who went the Synvisc route. Helped him a lot at first, less as time went on and he needed the injections more frequently. It doesn't fix anything, just mitigates pain.

My knee was too far gone for cortisone, synvisc, or arthroscopic cleanup so I went directly to total knee replacement. For me, it was at least 4-6 weeks of real challenge followed by another 2 months of continued rehab. The first 4 weeks are pain, recovery from surgery, difficulty sleeping, and the initial physical therapy. 3 months after surgery I was cleared for everything (golf, biking, swimming, etc) but had to hold off on tennis till my leg got stronger. But, my knee was particularly bad. Now, I can do all my activities.

As a side note, I had right shoulder rotator cuff repair surgery 3 months after the knee replacement... that was far, far worse for pain, discomfort, and rehab/recovery. Relatively speaking, the knee was a piece of cake. Someday, I may have to get the other knee replaced and won't hesitate to do so.

From what I've heard, the recovery time and pain for arthroscopic surgery isn't that much less than knee replacement and you may just be putting off the inevitable.

Other pain management options are natural supplements ... glocosamine, celedrin; or anti-inflammatory like ibuprofen; or a TENS nerve stimulator device.

However, wait til you go back to your Canadian exile next spring to do any surgery!!! You don't want to spend your bubble time doing rehab.

[rhsgypsylady]

I (or my husband rather) would agree with Vollages07 about arthroscopic surgery. He had that done many years ago, which is why he put off having the knee replacement surgery. The recovery and rehab is basically the same for both procedures. My husband is a tough guy, but I watched this man cry during the exercises he had to go thru. By the way, if you don't do them, you might as well not have the surgery done because you will be worse off. Because he went thru so much pain and recovery with the arthroscopic, he figured a full knee replacement would be much worse. That's why he kept putting it off waiting until he absolutely had to have it. Now, of course, his knee is at that point and because of his heart, no doctor will do the surgery.

Barefoot - thank you for your kind words. Yes, between his heart, knee, arthritis, gout, depression, etc. we have been going down a rough road for quite some time now (several years). He almost died last summer, then in March of this year he fell so hard in the bathroom that he broke the commode. The fall also resulted in 3 broke ribs and 2 bulging discs. I never know when I get home from work what awaits me. But we take it one day at a time. That's all we can do. Good luck with your knee, whatever you decide to do!!

[bluedog103]

The amount of pain following arthroscopic surgery varies, depending on the procedure. Some people report very little pain following a scoping, others (my daughter for one) was in considerable pain following her procedure. It's best to discuss these things with your surgeon. Also, not all surgeons are created equal. Do as much research on your physician as possible and don't be afraid to ask him or her how many procedures, such as the one you are contemplating, has he or she performed.
I wouldn't postpone surgery because someone's neighbor's third cousin's boyfriend had problems. Your operation might be completely different. Find a doc you trust do your research and do what is right for you.

[rhsgypsylady]

I agree with bluedog103 - find a doc you like, ask questions, do research, and go with what is right for you. Don't postpone surgery or anything else because of someone else's issues. Each person, doctor, and surgery is different. I only mentioned my husband postpoing his because like bluedog103's daughter he was in severe pain and recovery took much longer than what he was told it would take by his doctor. And because of this experience, he made the decision to postpone knee replacement.

[jebartle]

Got many many negatives on synvisc (Most Dr's insist on synvisc before advancing to surgery... so went to Univ. of Miami (checked online) and had
a steroid injection (trial study) (which targeted cartlidge) in both knees every week for 3 months.... prior to these injections could not walk 20 feet without sitting down, now, pain FREE, what is so amazing, I was part of the 10% that actually had good results from this..:MOJE_whot::MOJE_whot::MOJE_whot:
Good luck

[Barefoot]

Got many many negatives on synvisc (Most Dr's insist on synvisc before advancing to surgery... so went to Univ. of Miami (checked online) and had
a steroid injection (trial study) (which targeted cartlidge) in both knees every week for 3 months.... prior to these injections could not walk 20 feet without sitting down, now, pain FREE, what is so amazing, I was part of the 10% that actually had good results from this..:MOJE_whot::MOJE_whot::MOJE_whot:
Good luck

Were the steroid injections cortisone or something new?

[jebartle]

Were the steroid injections cortisone or something new?

It was not cortizone, it was an anabolic steroid, which targeted cartilage..This study was discontinued and not approved by the FDA because less than 1% of the study group showed improvement over placebo (correction to earlier statement of 10%)...

[Ohiogirl]

got my cortisone shot yesterday, wish I'd done it sooner. Feeling much better and doctor said I could even start golfing again if I felt ok! Medical student, under the watch of my doctor, did the shot - her first one and it really hardly hurt. No one's talking about surgery of any kind at this point, mostly since my knee pain completely resolved after the last sprain 4 years ago. Maybe I should say "resolved as much as all my other joints." 5 years ago I never noticed my hips occasionally hurting for no reason - now I do.

I'm still planning on doing water aerobics, yoga and walking the 9 hole executive courses as soon as we get down to TV in a few short weeks. Maybe line dancing too. What fun it will be to have so many choices!

If those of you with joint issues haven't tried water aerobics yet, think about it. Really seemed to help me while I was there for a short time in Sept.

[Barefoot]

got my cortisone shot yesterday, wish I'd done it sooner. Feeling much better and doctor said I could even start golfing again if I felt ok!


I got my cortisone shots (both knees) six weeks ago from an arthritis specialist. Great results, but now starting to wear off. I hope yours lasts longer, Ohiogirl.

I had arthoscopic surgery on both knees 21 years ago as a result of too much athletic activity. Quick recovery, but I was much younger! Now my doctor is saying I should have arthoscopic surgery again. When your knees are bone on bone, I'm not sure how beneficial arthoscopic surgery will be.

[bluedog103]

I got my cortisone shots (both knees) six weeks ago from an arthritis specialist. Great results, but now starting to wear off. I hope yours lasts longer, Ohiogirl.

I had arthoscopic surgery on both knees 21 years ago as a result of too much athletic activity. Quick recovery, but I was much younger! Now my doctor is saying I should have arthoscopic surgery again. When your knees are bone on bone, I'm not sure how beneficial arthoscopic surgery will be.
Barefoot, that's the question I asked before my knee replacement. One surgeon wanted to scope it so I went to another doc. He said arthoscopic surgery wouldn't fix anything because it was bone on bone. That's when I went the route of trying Synvisc and then cortisone until that didn't work anymore.
Ultimately, the knee replacement was the procedure I needed. I just didn't want any more surgery. The knee surgery was my 13th surgery in 8 years and nobody hates surgery more than me.

[the houndsman]

30 + years ago I injured my knees goofing around on the tennis courts. That resulted in "scoping" both knees twice, corti and Syns (which were only temp relief). The pain altered my way of life. We moved here in 2005 and started looking into TKR........I had a bilaterl in Jan 2009 and was walking w/o anything in 3-4 days. No knee pain! (Dr. James Duke-Ocala did my Knees)
As a side note, I sold Orthopedic braces, etc.. for 32 years and am just starting up again. I am just beginning to introduce a non--surgical, non-pharmaceutical, answer to Osteoarthritis. If I do what I think this could be the alternative to TKA for now and, hopefully, years to come.

[llaran]

My husband had the synvisc - medicare did not question it - series of 5 shots - no pain - Dr Locker in Ocala - :a040:

[salpal]

Hi Bare,

You might want to peruse the KneeGuru forum here (http://www.kneeguru.co.uk/). When hubbie had his various knee surgeries, he used the site quite often to exchange and find information from the various posters and doctors. There are lots of hits if you search on "Synvisc".

[Barefoot]

Hi Bare,

You might want to peruse the KneeGuru forum here (http://www.kneeguru.co.uk/). When hubbie had his various knee surgeries, he used the site quite often to exchange and find information from the various posters and doctors. There are lots of hits if you search on "Synvisc".

Thanks for the info Salpal. I will go to that site for sure. I'm now in Canada and resigned to the fact I have to endure a second arthoscopic surgery on one knee. I'm having the surgery in Oct which means I probably can't get back to my other home in TV until Nov. That is more upsetting than the thought of surgery! I sure hope it helps .. I'd love to play pickle ball.

I just read Bluedog's note again. 13 surgeries in 8 years. Big ouch!

[ladydoc]

Thanks for the info Salpal. I will go to that site for sure. I'm now in Canada and resigned to the fact I have to endure a second arthoscopic surgery on one knee. I'm having the surgery in Oct which means I probably can't get back to my other home in TV until Nov. That is more upsetting than the thought of surgery! I sure hope it helps .. I'd love to play pickle ball.

I just read Bluedog's note again. 13 surgeries in 8 years. Big ouch!

I had same experience with cortisone. First shot lasted 18 months....last only 2 weeks. I have Supartz injections and they worked wonderfully for a year. Insurance paid for it with no problem. After 13 months, needed another round. THIS time insurance said NO to supartz (did not meet criteria....why last year I did and this time I did not..no clear answer. They did approve Orthovisc. Did nothing. So I paid out of pocket for the supartz and once again it is working great. Fortunately my ortho guy knew it was going to be out of pocket so he billed me about 25% of the normal fee. He was a really nice guy and wonderful doctor....
Sometimes the shots hurt;sometimes they were absolutely painless. Just depends on where the needle is going. The pain of 15 seconds is certainly a small price to pay for so much relief. I still have pain, but not nearly what it was.

[mokey]

Had my first shot of Synvisc 7 weeks ago. After the third shot it really started to feel better. Now at 7 weeks, I feel a little discomfort, but not bad. Might add though, I am taking Melexicam, which I hate doing. Love Pickleball, but have had to cut back to twice a week. A new knee is in the future, but would like to wait as long as possible as they are always improving things.

[Freeda]

I feel the need to comment, and offer a perspective, as reading this thread took me back to where I was a few years ago, when I had a serious knee problem, possibly contributed to by years of running without (unbeknownst to me) adequately compensating my body for the intense exercise. I just believe that this is information that everyone at least should be able to consider. (A post that I wrote on the ‘Morton’s Neuroma’ thread on this forum has general principles that are pertinent here, so I am not repeating those comments here, since this post will already be so lengthy, for which I again apologize in advance. I feel a moral imperative to tell a story, and share information, that I feel some others might benefit from hearing; information that I am grateful was shared with me). I started jogging and running at age 40 because both my mother and grandmother had died relatively young from strokes, and I thought that my best hope was to immerse myself in health; however, I 'didn’t know that I was unaware' about how to best protect my health, and that is still true of many today; unless we happen to learn information, we are not aware that it exists. So, by the time I was in my late 40’s, I had to stop running, and I endured the trips to Dr. Eggers, my orthopedist in Louisville, to remove fluid from my knee; the aspiration needle looked bigger each time; I probably had a few cortisone shots, too; and nevertheless, was headed for knee surgery; I knew of no alternative. I learned about the Usana Health Sciences products, which we market on this forum, in January, 2003, when I was 52, and by June that year, my knee problem was quickly fading, and I gradually started jogging again. I never had to have that knee surgery; run today at age 60 with no pain, and take no injections, or pain or other medications. There is nothing special or unusual about me or my experience; many people have similar stories. Nor is any of the information in this message my own ‘opinion’ or theory; it is just knowledge I have learned, in the course of my work, from some of the finest scientists and physicians.

From my own experience, and what I have witnessed and learned over the past 8 years, I sincerely urge you to consider, and at least fully evaluate the information about all options, including their implications for your future, that you would be much better off trusting the emerging nutritional science, which is the new frontier in, and the future of, medicine, and help your body repair your knee or other joint problem, rather than skipping this more benign option, and relying solely on the various medical treatments, all of which have limited duration and effect, and all with their own consequences. The short answer is that the proper Usana products will absolutely, over time, help your knee/joint problems. There is a ‘Health Assessment’ on our website, at our ad above, that will provide information as to which products you need. (Usana is among the very few nutritional supplement brands that are listed in the P.D.R, i.e., Physicians' Desk Reference, because they are pharmaceutical-grade nutritional supplements, meaning that, even though they are supplements, not medication, they are manufactured at the same high quality standards regarding potency, uniformity and absorption that legally apply only to pharmaeutical drugs). Procosa is Usana’s glucosamine product; and it is not ‘your grandmother’s glucosamine’. It, along with the other products (Procosa is not formulated to be taken as a ‘stand-alone’ product) that you will be recommended, are absolutely what you need to use to improve or regain the health of your joints, rather than reconciling yourself to futile, from a long-term standpoint, efforts of trying to mask what will otherwise be almost inevitably worsening symptoms of unhealthy joints.

Medications certainly have their place, and are essential in some situations, so do not mistake me for someone who is opposed to all medical or medication interventions, as that is simply not at all the case. It’s just that when it comes to chronic degenerative conditions, such as joint degeneration, medications and medical interventions ‘treat’ (ie, mask the symptoms of) illness; rather than actually aiding the body in restoring healthy tissue. They are used in those settings because those are the only interventions that the modern medical industry has; there is a saying, ‘when all you have is a hammer, everything is a nail.’ (Why, or how, this came to be so is a discussion that is not essential to this message; but prior to the invention of modern medications/modalities, physicians routinely, and successfully, utilized nutritional and other natural therapies to help people sustain and improve their health; and we are now seeing the full circle of this as nutritional science advances in today’s world; and for example, today there are predictions that within 30 years chemotherapy will be a ‘dinosaur’, as a failed modality, for at least many cancers, and high-dose antioxidants will become the mainstream, more efficacious, treatment for cancer).

Most medications work by chemically altering some other natural bodily function; for example, cortisone shots, a corticosteroid, work, in part, by blocking the function of white blood cells in the injected tissue, which in turn blocks, temporarily, the production of inflammatory-triggering substances, but also, in so doing, impedes the body's own immune protection from infection in that area. Thus, the risk of infections (and other possible side effects) with cortisone shots. Another problem is that cortisone shots can be given only a few times in a given area, because of their deleterious effect on cartilage (yes, that means they can increase the very problem that lead to the pain in the first place) and tendons. Mother nature has a ‘pay-back’ for each unnatural thing we subject our body to. (Remember the line from the margarine commercial years ago ‘it’s not nice to fool Mother Nature’?) So, at best, cortisone injections are only a short-term masking of a chronic problem; which problem is the loss of cartilage tissue at the end of the bones, leading to pain as the bone ends begin to meet each other. It is like putting a band-aid over a bullet hole. (There is nothing wrong with that, and it is better than nothing, if all you have is a bandaid; however, if given the alternative of having the bullet removed, in most cases the victim would opt for that as a more curative, health-restoring measure).

This brings up the next subject, which is the Synvisc, Supartz, and Orthovisc, and similar, products. These are viscous/liquid products injected to try to compensate for the lack of sufficient synovial (joint) fluid which occurs when there is an unnatural amount of ‘empty’ space, due to the receding of the cartilage mass, which space in normal knee joints is filled in by synovial fluid, acting like a shock absorber or buffer. Unless the ‘empty’ extra space caused by the missing cartilage is filled in, the joint space between the opposing bones of the joint is decreased, and the opposing ends of bone eventually begin affecting or rubbing against each other, and also unnaturally ‘tugging’ on other structures because of this unnatural positioning, causing pain and inflammation/swelling. The problem is that these injected ‘filler’ fluids are absorbed over time by the body, and can’t be replaced by the body (since they are not natural materials that have been produced by the body), and so they have to be reinjected, usually every few months. More importantly, since the injections do nothing to address the continuing process of degeneration of the cartilage on the ends of the opposing bones, the ‘empty’ space enlarges, the need for more and more injected artificial fluid gradually increases in order to try to maintain the joint space to separate the two bones, and so on; eventually the process cannot keep up, and a knee replacement, the only final medical intervention, becomes inevitable. In this, the ends of the natural bones are replaced with artificial materials, so that the pain is relieved or improved.

A knee replacement surgery is not permanent; lasting 10-20 years depending on various factors; and has its own risks and side effects, morbidity in recovery and rehabilitation from the surgery, and varying degrees of success in relieving pain, since there are still other tissues and structures that have not been replaced that may still be stressed and tugged on. If you live long enough (and don’t we all hope to?), you will very possibly eventually need at least one additional replacement of the replaced joint in order to avoid becoming disabled again by knee pain; and you may need it at a point in life when you will be older and possibly/probably less able to tolerate the surgery and its risks and sequelae.

The other problem is that all of these treatment approaches only affect the symptomatic joint (and, even for that joint, the effect is only symptomatic, and mostly temporary, at best). Like a set of tires purchased together, all of our joints are the same age. If one tire were to blow out from age, thinning, and wear (as opposed to puncturing a new tire with a nail), we would recognize that our other tires are likely nearing the end of their useful lifespan, also, and so would probably also replace them, or at least drive with them more cautiously, and monitor them more closely. So, while injecting, either with cortisone or liquid cushioning agents, or even replacing, one joint may provide some temporary relief in that joint, these modalities in no way stop or attenuate the ongoing underlying degenerative systemic process (ie, loss of cartilage) that lead to that joint getting into bad shape in the first place; nor does it in any way address similar problems that are likely on the horizon in other joints. This is why someone with a knee or hip replacement often ends up with another sooner or later. The relief of the pain in the affected joint can lead to complacency about the need to care for other presently asymptomatic joints, such as by losing weight, better nourishment, etc.

Wondrously, the body, as designed, is a ‘healing machine’. Its ability, when properly nourished, to repair and restore itself, and keep itself healthy, is what would seem like a ‘miracle’ to a degree not, in ordinary experience as we have come to accept it, observed in its full potential. Joints (and cartilage within them) were designed to last a lifetime, as were all of our tissues. As cartilage is worn down from use, our body is supposed to replace it; the same with synovial fluid; so that our joints are always protected. Our bodies were not meant to ‘wear out’ over the course of our lives; but rather to be fully functional, with a quick decline near the end. The health problems we commonly see today are not inevitable consequences of aging; they are effects of aging without properly providing what our cells need; as well as other lifestyle choices, such as exercise, maintaining a healthy weight, rest, etc.

Glucosamine rebuilds synovial tissue in the joints; the research on this is irrefutable. The right amount and quality of glucosamine is key. Just as with car engines, car tires, golf clubs, jewels and all other things of value, quality varies greatly, and quality is what counts. With nutritionals, quality is primarily based on the actual contents (not just label claims) of the product plus the degree of absorption of the product, all of which is determined by the quality of the science and manufacturing. Curcumin, a natural anti-inflammatory compound from turmeric, also supports healthy joint function. For those interested in the current research, the Meriva® propriety curcumin compound with which Usana’s Procosa product was just upgraded recently has been shown in research to be 30 times more bioavailable (ie, absorbable into the blood stream) than other forms of curcumin. (Meriva® can be researched at www.pubmed.org or www.pubmed.com – the database of the NIH, and elsewhere online). This upgraded Procosa is a much more advanced form of Procosa than was available to me in 2003, when my result was a life-changing revelation to me. The difference with nutrients, as compared to a local injection into a joint, is that the body uses nutrients system-wide; so nutrients indiscriminately benefit all of the tissues that depend on them, so that, for example, all joints are benefited by glucosamine and curcumin; not just the specific joint that is the most damaged, and which is source of present symptoms.

Just as getting water to boil varies with the amount and initial temperature of the water, type of metal of the pan, whether the pan is covered, and how much flame is being used, the amount of nutrients/nutritional products, such as Procosa, that a given person needs to take might well be more than the ‘standard’ (which is a 'maintenance-level') dose stated on the label, at least for a while, depending on the initial degree of his/her pain and other symptoms, which indicates the present degree of inflammation and tissue damage; it is response-mediated dosaging, and as symptoms become less, tapering down to the maintenance dosage, and possibly even less, can be done.

[Barefoot]

I read Freeda's post carefully. Glucosamine has never worked for me, but Procosa sounds like a product that might actually work. And I respect Freeda's opinion. Has anyone out there tried Procosa?

[ladydoc]

I feel the need to comment, and offer a perspective, as reading this thread took me back to where I was a few years ago, when I had a serious knee problem, possibly contributed to by years of running without (unbeknownst to me) adequately compensating my body for the intense exercise. I just believe that this is information that everyone at least should be able to consider. (A post that I wrote on the ‘Morton’s Neuroma’ thread on this forum has general principles that are pertinent here, so I am not repeating those comments here, since this post will already be so lengthy, for which I again apologize in advance. I feel a moral imperative to tell a story, and share information, that I feel some others might benefit from hearing; information that I am grateful was shared with me). I started jogging and running at age 40 because both my mother and grandmother had died relatively young from strokes, and I thought that my best hope was to immerse myself in health; however, I 'didn’t know that I was unaware' about how to best protect my health, and that is still true of many today; unless we happen to learn information, we are not aware that it exists. So, by the time I was in my late 40’s, I had to stop running, and I endured the trips to Dr. Eggers, my orthopedist in Louisville, to remove fluid from my knee; the aspiration needle looked bigger each time; I probably had a few cortisone shots, too; and nevertheless, was headed for knee surgery; I knew of no alternative. I learned about the Usana Health Sciences products, which we market on this forum, in January, 2003, when I was 52, and by June that year, my knee problem was quickly fading, and I gradually started jogging again. I never had to have that knee surgery; run today at age 60 with no pain, and take no injections, or pain or other medications. There is nothing special or unusual about me or my experience; many people have similar stories. Nor is any of the information in this message my own ‘opinion’ or theory; it is just knowledge I have learned, in the course of my work, from some of the finest scientists and physicians.

From my own experience, and what I have witnessed and learned over the past 8 years, I sincerely urge you to consider, and at least fully evaluate the information about all options, including their implications for your future, that you would be much better off trusting the emerging nutritional science, which is the new frontier in, and the future of, medicine, and help your body repair your knee or other joint problem, rather than skipping this more benign option, and relying solely on the various medical treatments, all of which have limited duration and effect, and all with their own consequences. The short answer is that the proper Usana products will absolutely, over time, help your knee/joint problems. There is a ‘Health Assessment’ on our website, at our ad above, that will provide information as to which products you need. Procosa is Usana’s glucosamine product; and it is not ‘your grandmother’s glucosamine’. It, along with the other products (Procosa is not formulated to be taken as a ‘stand-alone’ product) that you will be recommended, are absolutely what you need to use to improve or regain the health of your joints, rather than reconciling yourself to futile, from a long-term standpoint, efforts of trying to mask what will otherwise be almost inevitably worsening symptoms of unhealthy joints.

Medications certainly have their place, and are essential in some situations, so do not mistake me for someone who is opposed to all medical or medication interventions, as that is simply not at all the case. It’s just that when it comes to chronic degenerative conditions, such as joint degeneration, medications and medical interventions ‘treat’ (ie, mask the symptoms of) illness; rather than actually aiding the body in restoring healthy tissue. They are used in those settings because those are the only interventions that the modern medical industry has; there is a saying, ‘when all you have is a hammer, everything is a nail.’ (Why, or how, this came to be so is a discussion that is not essential to this message; but prior to the invention of modern medications/modalities, physicians routinely, and successfully, utilized nutritional and other natural therapies to help people sustain and improve their health; and we are now seeing the full circle of this as nutritional science advances in today’s world; and for example, today there are predictions that within 30 years chemotherapy will be a ‘dinosaur’, as a failed modality, for at least many cancers, and high-dose antioxidants will become the mainstream, more efficacious, treatment for cancer).

Most medications work by chemically altering some other natural bodily function; for example, cortisone shots, a corticosteroid, work, in part, by blocking the function of white blood cells in the injected tissue, which in turn blocks, temporarily, the production of inflammatory-triggering substances, but also, in so doing, impedes the body's own immune protection from infection in that area. Thus, the risk of infections (and other possible side effects) with cortisone shots. Another problem is that cortisone shots can be given only a few times in a given area, because of their deleterious effect on cartilage (yes, that means they can increase the very problem that the lead to the pain in the first place) and tendons. Mother nature has a ‘pay-back’ for each unnatural thing we subject our body to. (Remember the line from the margarine commercial years ago ‘it’s not nice to fool Mother Nature’?) So, at best, cortisone injections are only a short-term masking of a chronic problem; which problem is the loss of cartilage tissue at the end of the bones, leading to pain as the bone ends begin to meet each other. It is like putting a band-aid over a bullet hole. (There is nothing wrong with that, and it is better than nothing, if all you have is a bandaid; however, if given the alternative of having the bullet removed, in most cases the victim would opt for that as a more curative, health-restoring measure).

This brings up the next subject, which is the Synvisc, Supartz, and Orthovisc, and similar, products. These are viscous/liquid products injected to try to compensate for the lack of sufficient synovial (joint) fluid which occurs when there is an unnatural amount of ‘empty’ space, due to the receding of the cartilage mass, which space in normal knee joints is filled in by synovial fluid, acting like a shock absorber or buffer. Unless the ‘empty’ extra space caused by the missing cartilage is filled in, the joint space between the opposing bones of the joint is decreased, and the opposing ends of bone eventually begin affecting or rubbing against each other, and also unnaturally ‘tugging’ on other structures because of this unnatural positioning, causing pain and inflammation/swelling. The problem is that these injected ‘filler’ fluids are absorbed over time by the body, and can’t be replaced by the body (since they are not natural materials that have been produced by the body), and so they have to be reinjected, usually every few months. More importantly, since the injections do nothing to address the continuing process of degeneration of the cartilage on the ends of the opposing bones, the ‘empty’ space enlarges, the need for more and more injected artificial fluid gradually increases in order to try to maintain the joint space to separate the two bones, and so on; eventually the process cannot keep up, and a knee replacement, the only final medical intervention, becomes inevitable. In this, the ends of the natural bones are replaced with artificial materials, so that the pain is relieved or improved.

A knee replacement surgery is not permanent; lasting 10-20 years depending on various factors; and has its own risks and side effects, morbidity in recovery and rehabilitation from the surgery, and varying degrees of success in relieving pain, since there are still other tissues and structures that have not been replaced that may still be stressed and tugged on. If you live long enough (and don’t we all hope to?), you will very possibly eventually need at least one additional replacement of the replaced joint in order to avoid becoming disabled again by knee pain; and you may need it at a point in life when you will be older and possibly/probably less able to tolerate the surgery and its risks and sequelae.

The other problem is that all of these treatment approaches only affect the symptomatic joint (and, even for that joint, the effect is only symptomatic, and mostly temporary, at best). Like a set of tires purchased together, all of our joints are the same age. If one tire were to blow out from age, thinning, and wear (as opposed to puncturing a new tire with a nail), we would recognize that our other tires are likely nearing the end of their useful lifespan, also, and so would probably also replace them, or at least drive with them more cautiously, and monitor them more closely. So, while injecting, either with cortisone or liquid cushioning agents, or even replacing, one joint may provide some temporary relief in that joint, these modalities in no way stop or attenuate the ongoing underlying degenerative systemic process (ie, loss of cartilage) that lead to that joint getting into bad shape in the first place; nor does it in any way address similar problems that are likely on the horizon in other joints. This is why someone with a knee or hip replacement often ends up with another sooner or later. The relief of the pain in the affected joint can lead to complacency about the need to care for other presently asymptomatic joints, such as by losing weight, better nourishment, etc.

Wondrously, the body, as designed, is a ‘healing machine’. Its ability, when properly nourished, to repair and restore itself, and keep itself healthy, is what would seem like a ‘miracle’ to a degree not, in ordinary experience as we have come to accept it, observed in its full potential. Joints (and cartilage within them) were designed to last a lifetime, as were all of our tissues. As cartilage is worn down from use, our body is supposed to replace it; the same with synovial fluid; so that our joints are always protected. Our bodies were not meant to ‘wear out’ over the course of our lives; but rather to be fully functional, with a quick decline near the end. The health problems we commonly see today are not inevitable consequences of aging; they are effects of aging without properly providing what our cells need; as well as other lifestyle choices, such as exercise, maintaining a healthy weight, rest, etc.

Glucosamine rebuilds synovial tissue in the joints; the research on this is irrefutable. The right amount and quality of glucosamine is key. Just as with car engines, car tires, golf clubs, jewels and all other things of value, quality varies greatly, and quality is what counts. With nutritionals, quality is primarily based on the actual contents (not just label claims) of the product plus the degree of absorption of the product, all of which is determined by the quality of the science and manufacturing. Curcumin, a natural anti-inflammatory compound from turmeric, also supports healthy joint function. For those interested in the current research, the Meriva® propriety curcumin compound with which Usana’s Procosa product was just upgraded recently has been shown in research to be 30 times more bioavailable (ie, absorbable into the blood stream) than other forms of curcumin. (Meriva® can be researched at www.pubmed.org or www.pubmed.com – the database of the NIH, and elsewhere online). This upgraded Procosa is a much more advanced form of Procosa than was available to me in 2003, when my result was a life-changing revelation to me. The difference with nutrients, as compared to a local injection into a joint, is that the body uses nutrients system-wide; so nutrients indiscriminately benefit all of the tissues that depend on them, so that, for example, all joints are benefited by glucosamine and curcumin; not just the specific joint that is the most damaged, and which is source of present symptoms.

Just as getting water to boil varies with the amount and initial temperature of the water, type of metal of the pan, whether the pan is covered, and how much flame is being used, the amount of nutrients/nutritional products, such as Procosa, that a given person needs to take might well be more than the ‘standard’ (which is a 'maintenance-level') dose stated on the label, at least for a while, depending on the initial degree of his/her pain and other symptoms, which indicates the present degree of inflammation and tissue damage; it is response-mediated dosaging, and as symptoms become less, tapering down to the maintenance dosage, and possibly even less, can be done.

That is a lot of wonderful informattion...thank you! My ortho guy told me the viscous material was absorbed by the body within 2 days and therefore the relief is NOT from filling in the spaces. I do not remember what he told me it was doing well enough to try to explain it here, but I do remember it was not filling in spaces. If anyone know what it is, I would be interested in being reminded.

[tpop1]

Wife needs both knees replaced but pushing it out as long as possible (but not out til 2014 when Healthcare Act kicks in!)

Gone the same route - cortisone then Synvisc

Well it's done...no more cortisone, no more Synvsc...she has her new knees.

Wife had both knees replaced 2 weeks ago - 4 days in hospital, 10 days in rehab.

She worked real hard and got her home the other day. She's doing great!

She's in some pain - tolerable with meds and her home PT person started her home exercises last night.

Just a heads up - It takes nearly full time person (at least after 3 days), in the household to work with the "replacee." Husband, wife, child, freind, aide, etc. !!!

You have to make them feel as safe as in rehab!

[villagegolfer]

I have arthritis in my neck and shoulders from an old accident from my early 20's. About 10 years ago I could not lift my right arm over my head without extreme pain and I could not turn my head to the left which hindered my ability to see traffic coming from my left side.
A friend of mine at work had to stop playing handball because his knees were so bad. He started taking Move Free (Glucosamine Hydrochloride and Chondroitin Suffate) made by the Schiff company. He felt so good after a couple of months he started playing again.
So, I started taking Move Free and after a few weeks all my motion returned. It is an over the counter product and I usually bought mine at Costco's but Sam's club carries it. I have been taking it every day for ten years and I have no pain and 100% movement.

[quirky3]

I have arthritis in my neck and shoulders from an old accident from my early 20's. About 10 years ago I could not lift my right arm over my head without extreme pain and I could not turn my head to the left which hindered my ability to see traffic coming from my left side.
A friend of mine at work had to stop playing handball because his knees were so bad. He started taking Move Free (Glucosamine Hydrochloride and Chondroitin Suffate) made by the Schiff company. He felt so good after a couple of months he started playing again.
So, I started taking Move Free and after a few weeks all my motion returned. It is an over the counter product and I usually bought mine at Costco's but Sam's club carries it. I have been taking it every day for ten years and I have no pain and 100% movement.

Yes! I had a 15 year old bichon frise who could no longer run up the stairs because of joint pain. The vet gave us a veterinary version of Glucosamine Hydrochloride and Chondroitin Suffate, and he was running up those stairs again in no time! Objective proof that it works!

[villagegolfer]

Yes! I had a 15 year old bichon frise who could no longer run up the stairs because of joint pain. The vet gave us a veterinary version of Glucosamine Hydrochloride and Chondroitin Suffate, and he was running up those stairs again in no time! Objective proof that it works!

What a wonderful story. Yes, I was in my early 50's and gave it a try. I take it religiously every day. You can get a bottle of 160 pills for around 23 dollars. You I take 2 pills every morning so it lasts for 80 days. I just did the math and it comes to 28 cents a day.

[784caroline]

tpop1

Glad to hear all is going ...both knees at once WOW!

Who was the DR.

[tpop1]

tpop1

Glad to hear all is going ...both knees at once WOW!

Who was the DR.

She had her long time ortho Dr. in Connecticut do it. She was very comfortable with him, his credentials, and his demeanor.

He's in a group and they use two Drs - one on each knee!!!! They do a lot of doubles.

He said she'd be back in a year so she should do them both at once and only have to undego 1 rehab.

_

[Barefoot]

She had her long time ortho Dr. in Connecticut do it. She was very comfortable with him, his credentials, and his demeanor.
He's in a group and they use two Drs - one on each knee!!!! They do a lot of doubles. He said she'd be back in a year so she should do them both at once and only have to undego 1 rehab._

Your wife did incredibly well, and probably worked hard in Rehab. Good for her!

I'm having arthroscopic surgery on both knees next week. I hope my recovery is quick so I can get on the road back to The Bubble (a 26 hour drive).

[marennorge]

I had both knees replaced 9 weeks apart 3 years ago. By the time I had it done, I was bone on bone. In my humble opinion, don't waste time and money with injections that just put off the inevitable. Get the knees replaced while you have the health and stamina to go through the rehab. The rehab is not difficult, it is just critical to stay with it and do the exercises without fail every single day. It was the best thing I ever did for myself.

[adouglas]

Just wondering if you have had your surgery and who the Dr was that you like.
Hope all is better now.

[Barefoot]

Just wondering if you have had your surgery and who the Dr was that you like. Hope all is better now.

I had arthoscopic surgery on both knees on Wed. Day surgery. Repair of meniscuus, removal of floaty bits, some debridement. I had it done in Canada so I can't recommend a Florida surgeon. Having both knees done at the same time turned out to be a bad idea. I'm just impatient and want to get back to our house in TV for the winter. Perhaps in a couple of months I'll forget about the rotten pain, and think it was a wonderful idea. I hate taking drugs but I really needed pain meds. I was taking Demoral for the first two days and it didn't help with the pain. Then I changed to Oxycontin, much better.

I thought with a walker, I'd be able to at least make trips to the bathroom, but I was in too much pain, so my husband had to mostly carry me. He still works as a Firefighter so thank heavens he is very strong. I hate asking him to take time off work. But he is a great guy and doesn't mind.

Today, for the first time, I am actually able to walk a little using the walker so things are definitely looking up! I know that Rehab won't be fun, but I have a powerful motivator, getting back to our second home in TV. I can hardly wait! Each Fall it is such a wonderful experience for us to drive into TV and know we have 182 days ahead to enjoy it. Life is good!

[quirky3]

Hang in there Barefoot! It will get better from here! One of my friends had his knees "done", and the one thing he said he would do differently was to do his therapy faithfully every day because it makes a huge difference. Lots of people are rooting for you!

[allus70]

Hyaluronan injections do not work as well for people who are over age 65 or who have the most advanced stage of osteoarthritis (based on x-rays of the knee)

[Barefoot]

Hang in there Barefoot! It will get better from here! One of my friends had his knees "done", and the one thing he said he would do differently was to do his therapy faithfully every day because it makes a huge difference. Lots of people are rooting for you!

Thanks Quirky! Unfortunately I developed blood clots in my lungs as a result of the surgery and I was in hospital for nine days. Now I can't qualify for Travel Medical Insurance. So we'll miss our TV fix this winter. Sigh. Oh well, adversity makes us stronger.

[Posh 08]

Thanks Quirky! Unfortunately I developed blood clots in my lungs as a result of the surgery and I was in hospital for nine days. Now I can't qualify for Travel Medical Insurance. So we'll miss our TV fix this winter. Sigh. Oh well, adversity makes us stronger.

Really sorry to read that. Hope you feel good soon.

[DDoug]

Unless your knees are totally worn out try drinking lemon juice 2 to 3 ozs. a day and see if some of your pain goes away. Most not all joint pain is inflamation and the lemon juice will help eliminate a lot of that . Give it time to work. Works great for back pain

[tractorman]

I had Synvisc and it worked just fine for me. I did end up having a total knee replacement but that was inevitable from the start of my knee problems. I had the Synvisc three times and each time I had complete relief from pain for about 18 months each time. The shots were not at all painful for me. Perhaps the pain and effectiveness may have to do with the ability of the doctor to place the shot exactly where it needs to be for any particular knee problem. Additionally, having gone through total knee replacement rehab, it is my opinion that to have both knees replaced at the same time would be a very unwise decision.

[Barefoot]

Really sorry to read that. Hope you feel good soon.

Thanks Posh!

Unless your knees are totally worn out try drinking lemon juice 2 to 3 ozs. a day and see if some of your pain goes away. Most not all joint pain is inflamation and the lemon juice will help eliminate a lot of that . Give it time to work. Works great for back pain

It's worth a try!

[lovsthosebigdogs]

I recently had cortisone injections in both knees which worked marvelously, but only lasted for six weeks. My years of playing squash every day and jogging have taken their toll.

My doctor is now suggesting Synvisc injections. I'd love to hear some comments from people who've tried Synvisc.

I had cortisone type injections (my doctor says it not exactly cortisone but a cortisone like injection) for years and they mostly worked but are painful or so I thought the first few times. Like anything else, you get used to it. I get them in my knees and feet (the one I get in my hip is the most painful and that is done in the hospital under fluroscope but that's another story). Mostly it's painful the hours AFTER the shots and gets worse as the day goes on but then I wake up the next day and the pain is only a dull ache. I got relief a few days later and it mostly lasted about 3 months. Then my doctor suggested Synvisc for longer relief so I tried it. I also had to have preapproval from the insurance company. I thought it felt no different than the 'cortisone' shot either during or shortly after. The real difference is that my knees are much better for longer. It did last me about 6 months each time before I had to go back for another shot. I think it took me a couple of weeks until it was feeling MUCH better because it occured gradually, but it did work. I have arthritis and 2 torn miniscus that my doctor said would be hard to repair because of all the arthritis so I am happy with the shots to keep the knee replacement surgery at bay as long as possible.
I think you should try it. What have you got to lose except a lot of discomfort in the long run for a moment's discomfort in the short run.

[gego3650]

I had them 6 years ago and had to pay extra. Nothing improved except the doctors wallet. The same doctor charged me extra for the cost of cortisone and a copy of my xrays. I know several orthos as clients , golfing, fishing and hunting and they all advised not to expect any benifit. These doctors were friends and clients before i retired to the villages. I may have experienced the same dr. And will no longer visit his office. Good luck on your choice.

[marennorge]

...www.bonesmart.org. Lots of good info from both pre and post surgery patients.

[Barefoot]

...www.bonesmart.org. Lots of good info from both pre and post surgery patients.

That website is very interesting. I had arthroscopic surgery on both knees six weeks ago. One knee recovered immediately. The other knee is still swollen and problematic. I am considering a Synvisc injection, suggested by my surgeon. However it is quite expensive and the success rate seems to be debatable.

[Barefoot]

Unless your knees are totally worn out try drinking lemon juice 2 to 3 ozs. a day and see if some of your pain goes away. Most not all joint pain is inflamation and the lemon juice will help eliminate a lot of that . Give it time to work. Works great for back pain

I keep hearing that lemon juice is good for arthritis. Glucosamine doesn't seem to help. Do you have to use fresh lemons or can you use the concentrate?

[CarGuys]

I am shot two of the series of three.

Knee seems somewhat better today not sure if these will help.

Right now better than surgery.

[diskman]

Hi Barefoot,
I went the same route as you with my knee. Cortisone was fantastic but temporary. After awhile the pain relief only lasted for a few days. Tried Synvisc but it didn't work for me. According to some literature I got from the company they claim about 80% of patients get relief.
There are horror stories out there about the shots being extremely painful. I didn't have that experience. They stung pretty much like any other injection. Had they worked I would have kept getting them for as long as they were effective. Unfortunately my only option was a total knee replacement which I had done two years ago. The replacement was a good choice. Sometimes now I have trouble remembering just how much pain I was in.
Good luck. Hope the Synvisc works for you if you decide to go that route.

they are a series of 3 shots.My wife Beverly had the first one and ran out in terrible pain and would never have another:spoken::spoken::ohdear::ohdear:

[CarGuys]

I felt like it was a bee sting, Second shot worse cause I knew what was coming.

Not as bad as the shot in the bottom of my foot for Plantar fasciitis.

[skip0358]

I had the three shot series lasted a while but then I agrivated the knee by doing a painting job and the knee got even. I'm now awaiting my surgery date to have it replaced.

[Barefoot]

they are a series of 3 shots.My wife Beverly had the first one and ran out in terrible pain and would never have another:spoken::spoken::ohdear::ohdear:

This is not what I was hoping to hear!:ohdear: They must use a huge needle to inject the Synvisc. I am such a chicken. Can't they numb the area first?

[skip0358]

This is not what I was hoping to hear!:ohdear: They must use a huge needle to inject the Synvisc. I am such a chicken. Can't they numb the area first?

I had it done. They did numb the area. I had absolutly no pain from the injection at all. Like I said it did work until I crawled around the floor painting. KNow it's new knee time.I've been told Synvisc works for some and not others and it only prolongs the surgery. It's worth a try.

[cobb88]

Hi Barefoot, have had synvisc injections in both knees on and off for over 5 years.. Then last year I tried synvisc one, which is one shot instead of 3 shots. Had a good result the first shot then 6 months later opted for synvisc one shot again, had a bad reaction and my knee swelled up pretty bad. I no longer qualify for injections from my insurance because of the reaction. The shots worked very well for me until I had the reaction.. I am opting for knee replacement next year, I will be 56.. Heard from too many people that they wish they had their knee(s) replaced earlier because they were so pain free after the operation.

[Barefoot]

Hi Barefoot, have had synvisc injections in both knees on and off for over 5 years.. Then last year I tried synvisc one, which is one shot instead of 3 shots. Had a good result the first shot then 6 months later opted for synvisc one shot again, had a bad reaction and my knee swelled up pretty bad. I no longer qualify for injections from my insurance because of the reaction. The shots worked very well for me until I had the reaction.. I am opting for knee replacement next year, I will be 56.. Heard from too many people that they wish they had their knee(s) replaced earlier because they were so pain free after the operation.

There are certainly a lot of mixed reactions about Synvisc shots! I guess we all hate pain, but I'm a beeeeg chicken. I had a cortisone shot a few years ago, and it hurt, but it was bearable. I wonder how Synvisc shots compare to cortisone shots.

I'm currently recovering from arthroscopic surgery on both knees. One knee is perfect now, but the other won't straighten out, even with Physio. I'm told it will eventually straighten. My surgeon said to wait for six months before I try Synvisc.

The surgeons here tell me I'm too young for a knee replacement and I'm sure older than 56! Their thinking is that knees last approximately 15 years, so you want to wait as long as possible for the surgery. I'm not sure I agree with that thinking. I guess it's a gamble. I'm thinking we should all be as active as possible, right now! A long life isn't promised to any of us.

[schotzyb]

Hi Barefoot, have had synvisc injections in both knees on and off for over 5 years.. Then last year I tried synvisc one, which is one shot instead of 3 shots. Had a good result the first shot then 6 months later opted for synvisc one shot again, had a bad reaction and my knee swelled up pretty bad. I no longer qualify for injections from my insurance because of the reaction. The shots worked very well for me until I had the reaction.. I am opting for knee replacement next year, I will be 56.. Heard from too many people that they wish they had their knee(s) replaced earlier because they were so pain free after the operation.

Knee replacement surgery is great the majority of the time but has been a real pain for my wife. She first had her left knee replaced several years ago and about two years later that same knee started giving her problems again. After trying several things they decided to go in and redo the surgery. Seems that the material had deterioated and she was rubbing bone to bone. The material had to be "chipped" out. Time consuming and extremely painful. They then re-did the surgery with a different material. Did her rehab and everything fine for a couple years but now this replacement is acting the same as the first. Have ran several tests and can find nothing wrong but after being on her feet for any period of time, her knee swells up like a balloon. I realze that most all of the knee replacement surgeries go well , it is just not 100% sucessful yet

[CarGuys]

Not a bad shot, They numb you up your laying down thinking good thoughts a slight sting and its all over-

Not a HUGE needle . This is day three after shot two and I am one Happy Camper.

Herv

[coffeebean]

I've had success with Synvisc. The first series of three injections had me pain free for about 2 1/2 years. I'm sure I could have gone a bit longer but when I began having discomfort, I wanted to take care of it before it became really bad again.

My next treatment was with Synvisc One just over a year ago and I've been pain free ever since. As for the pain from the injections...I agree with "bee sting" analogy and it's over in a few seconds. It has been worth the few seconds of pain for the amount of relief I've experienced.

[CarGuys]

Coffeebean,

I am pretty darn happy I did this first instead of surgery. Today I got back on the tread mill for a 30 min walk and came off feeling good!

No sharp pain? I'm ALMOST waiting for the final bee sting!

Never heard of the one shot option, Thanks to you I wil ask about that when
I go in Thursday.

Herv

[normtopf]

My wife is going for synvisc after unsuccessful cortisone treatment. Here's hoping it works, but replies above aren't optimistic. The ndoc gave her 70% chance of success.

I'm having some bad knee pain. Can anyone recommend an orthopedist in the villages for diagnosis and treatment?

[grandma-annie]

Bare, I have been getting shots for the last 3 years... They worked wonderfully at first lasting 6-8 months, but now they may last 2 months. The pain in the knee from the shot wasn't too bad though. My pain originally came from a torn meniscus from playing pickle ball thus the shots. Surgery to repair the meniscus wouldn't have worked because knee had too much arthritis.When I go back to Michigan in May, I will have to have knee replacement

[Barefoot]

My wife is going for synvisc after unsuccessful cortisone treatment. Here's hoping it works, but replies above aren't optimistic. The ndoc gave her 70% chance of success.


Please let us know how your wife's Synvisc shot works. I am most interested.


Bare, I have been getting shots for the last 3 years... They worked wonderfully at first lasting 6-8 months, but now they may last 2 months. When I go back to Michigan in May, I will have to have knee replacement

It sounds as if Synvisc just buys more time before an inevitable knee replacement! I am terrified of more surgery, since I got pulmonary embolisms in both lungs from my arthoscopic surgery in October. I'll definitely be trying Synvisc next. But I have to wait until the inflammation from my knee surgery is gone ... there is a lot of fluid still in one knee and it is swollen (and I've been icing several times a day since October 12).

[CarGuys]

Day three after the Third shot and my knee feels sooooooooooooooo much better. Even did some tread mill walking.

Dr chewed on me for this. Said Runners keep me in business, So the cushioned TRUE Tread Mill just got traded back in for the Professional UP right exercise bike.

Less stress on the knee.

Wife likes it better. Hope you get better! Pain is such a PAIN!!!!! Doc told me to hold off on the knee replacement as long as I could/

[llaran]

My husband had the injections, 5 , 1 each week for 5 weeks and they were great. that was almost 3 yeas ago. Dr. Locker in Ocala

[Barefoot]

My husband had the injections, 5 , 1 each week for 5 weeks and they were great. that was almost 3 yeas ago. Dr. Locker in Ocala

I've never heard of a series of five shots, were they Synvisc? And the results have lasted for three years? That's incredible.

Question ... Does anyone know if you can have the shots while you still have inflammation from arthroscopic surgery? Or do you have to wait until the swelling and inflammation heal? I'd ask my Orthepedic Surgeon but he's gone skiing for a month!

[dalecrenshaw]

I had a series of 5 "Supartz" injections in my painful knee that is bone on bone and needs to be replaced. Supartz is another brand, similar to Synvisc. Since I just had my other knee replaced, I want to wait at least a year or so before replacing the other knee. At first, they told me it would a series of 3 shots (one week apart). The 3 shots did nothing and were very painful. The Doctor then told me, that they now recommend a series of 5 shots....so I had 2 more shots. The 4th shot did nothing. I was very discouraged and didn't want the 5th shot, but I went along with it and had the 5th shot. The P.A. that gave me that shot, told me that it wouldn't help until about 2-3 weeks after the 5th shot. He was right. About 3 weeks after the 5th shot, my pain went away. So, I am now a believer. For anyone that is thinking of having these shots, I hope this helps. Ask for the 5 shot series.

[Barefoot]

I had a series of 5 "Supartz" injections in my painful knee that is bone on bone and needs to be replaced. Supartz is another brand, similar to Synvisc. Since I just had my other knee replaced, I want to wait at least a year or so before replacing the other knee. At first, they told me it would a series of 3 shots (one week apart). The 3 shots did nothing and were very painful. The Doctor then told me, that they now recommend a series of 5 shots....so I had 2 more shots. The 4th shot did nothing. I was very discouraged and didn't want the 5th shot, but I went along with it and had the 5th shot. The P.A. that gave me that shot, told me that it wouldn't help until about 2-3 weks after the 5th shot. He was right. About 3 weeks after the 5th shot, my pain went away. So, I am now a believer. For anyone that is thinking of having these shots, I hope this helps. Ask for the 5 shot series.

Dale, that is good information. I've never heard of Supartz. However I just googled the subject, and found that there are a bunch of similar products: Synvisc, Supartz, orothovisc, hyalgan, euflexxa, etc. Many of the products require 3 to 5 shots. Synovisc-One is the type my Surgeon recommends, and it only takes one shot.

However you cannot have Synovisc-One if there is any inflammation. I've been icing for 2 1/2 months but my knee is still swollen from surgery. I guess that means I'll be limping for a while, no pickleball for me!