Why Viscosupplementation Injections Might Be the Right Solution for Your Knee Pain

You don't have to live with discomfort of knee pain, whether or not it's affecting your quality of life. At the Orthopaedic Institute of Henderson, our skilled orthopedic surgeons offer viscosupplementation injections as an option to restore the function of your knee joint and alleviate chronic pain.

Viscosupplementation injections ease discomfort and inflammation in your knee joints. These injections contain hyaluronic acid, which is a natural protein that works to lubricate your joints and provide relief from pain. 

Your body can produce its own hyaluronic acid, but the amount in your joints often decreases as you age.

How hyaluronic acid benefits the joints

Hyaluronic acid is made from cartilage cells and synovial fluid. The substance is one of the main elements of your connective tissue. The water-binding hyaluronic acid keeps the synovial fluid in its gel-like state. 

Hyaluronic acid is the actual lubricant in the joint, which supports the gliding ability of the joint surfaces.

The cartilage that sits between the joint bones also acts as a shock absorber to ensure that the bony surfaces do not rub against each other.

Inflammation as a cause of a lack of hyaluronic acid

If you have inflammation or injure your knee, the availability of hyaluronic acid in the joint decreases. 

By using viscosupplementation injections, we’re able to replace the missing hyaluronic acid. The aim is to prevent or slow down the joint wear caused by the increased friction of the joint surfaces.

Viscosupplementation injections for osteoarthritis

Viscosupplementation injections reduce osteoarthritis pain by injecting the missing hyaluronic acid due to wear-and-tear in the knee joint. Although hyaluronic acid can’t cure osteoarthritis, it can slow the progression of the disease. 

Hyaluronic acid injections reduce cartilage stress by strengthening the knee joint's natural shock absorber. In many cases, this reduces the further breakdown of the tissue. 

With mild osteoarthritis, the injections allow you to build muscle strength without pain, which further relieves the knee joint. 

Viscosupplementation injections are not only effective for knee pain, but they also work for:

• Joint pain inflammation 
• Osteoarthritis
• Back pain 
• Rheumatoid arthritis 

By restoring joint balance, the injection helps to ease pain and improve mobility in many of your body’s joints.

Our highly qualified surgeons offer a comprehensive strategy to get you back on your feet as soon as possible after an injury or when inflammation or osteoarthritis cause you pain. Contact our Henderson, Nevada, office today to discuss your treatment choices.