The hyaluronic acid infiltrations
Hyaluronic acid infiltrations in the joints are used to treat hip pain, knee pain, shoulder pain or ankle pain. It is an easy procedure whose main purpose is to reduce the symptoms that patients experience when they have arthritis, tendonitis and similar ailments.
Hyaluronic acid characteristics
The hyaluronic acid is a natural ingredient in the synovial fluid of the knee. The role of this fluid is to lubricate the joint and thus facilitate movement. The bones do not rub against each other because of the existence of this fluid, which acts as a shock absorber for the knee.
For various severe joint disorders, the amount of fluid is reduced, and therefore the infiltrations with hyaluronic acid can be effective in replacing the lost hyaluronic acid.
Hyaluronic acid infiltration procedure specifics
There are two types of hyaluronic acid infiltrations, namely single injection or single dose infiltrations and three injections at 1 week interval (triple dose). The effect of hyaluronic acid infiltrations differs according to the timing of the procedure in the evolution of the medical conditions for which this type of procedure is used.
For moderate-phase conditions, infiltrations have a maximum effect. For advanced stages of the disease, the effect is less important. The right choice of infiltration concentration and type results in an effect lasting from 6 to 12 months.
The hyaluronic acid infiltration procedure means that the patient will lie on their back and the doctor will insert a needle into the targeted area. The muscles must be completely relaxed in order to reduce the pain as much as possible. The hyaluronic acid is then injected and the area is bandaged. The aim of the infiltration is to increase the concentration of hyaluronic acid at the joint level so that movement can be normal and painless at the joint level. After the procedure a rest period of 12-24 hours is recommended.
Medical disorders when hyaluronic acid infiltrations are used
The number of medical conditions that can benefit from hyaluronic acid infiltrations is high. Among the disorders that can benefit from this procedure we can mention arthrosis, synovitis, gout, bursitis, gonarthrosis, tendonitis or coxarthrosis.
The benefits of the hyaluronic acid infiltration procedure are numerous. Due to this, the procedure is often the right choice according to specialists’ recommendations. These benefits include the analgesic effect, the reduction of inflammation, increased joints mobility, lubrication of the joint, protection of the bone cartilage, protection of the synovial membrane, slowing down the progression of osteoarthritis, reduction of medication consumption and the absence of side effects.
Despite all these benefits, there are some situations when the usage of hyaluronic acid for infiltrations is contraindicated. These cases include children, adolescents, pregnant women, patients with various infections or patients with allergies to hyaluronic substances. Also, if patients have a fever, are diagnosed with cancer, are experiencing clotting disorders or are undergoing treatment with anticoagulants, then hyaluronic acid infiltrations are not recommended.