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Hyaluronic Acid Injections

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Hyaluronic Acid Injections: Pain Management

Are you all too familiar with the stiffness and pain of arthritis? You’ve likely tried various medical and at-home treatments to ease your arthritic aches and pains. Maybe you’ve heard of hyaluronic acid (HA) injections and wondered if they can help you. Whether your joint pain is a new development or you’ve been battling this progressive, degenerative disease for years, HA injections offer a promising solution for joints, especially in the knees. These injections, called viscosupplementation, introduce a thick, lubricating fluid into your arthritic joints.[1]
Ready to discover how hyaluronic acid injections can keep your joints working smoothly and deliver natural pain relief? Let’s explore how they work and the benefits that make them a go-to solution for arthritis!

How Hyaluronic Acid (HA) Injections Work

In joints affected by arthritis, the cartilage within the joint wears down, and the synovial fluid levels deplete, creating friction and, eventually, painful bone-on-bone grinding with movement.[2] Hyaluronic acid is a main ingredient in synovial fluid naturally made by your body to lubricate your joints and provide shock absorbance.[3] These injections encourage cartilage growth by promoting cell and tissue renewal.[4] HA injections essentially top up your body’s natural supply, helping your joints glide smoothly and pain-free.

The process is straightforward: a healthcare professional injects HA knee gel directly into the affected joint, also called an intra-articular injection.[5] You may need a single shot or several spaced a week apart.[6] The hyaluronic acid injection helps restore the fluid within your joint, effectively reducing inflammation and pain while improving joint function and nerve sensitivity associated with OA.[7] After your intra-articular hyaluronan shot, your joints will have better cushioning, giving them the support needed for better mobility. HA injections are commonly used in the knees but can also benefit other joints like the hips, shoulders, or ankles, depending on your specific condition.[8]

Conditions Treated with Viscosupplementation Treatment

HA injections are particularly effective for osteoarthritis, especially in the knee.[9] If your arthritis is mild to moderate and you’ve tried other treatments like physical therapy or oral medications without much relief, viscosupplementation injections might be a game-changer.

While osteoarthritis is the primary condition treated, hyaluronic acid injections can also help manage:

  • Soft tissue injuries [10]
  • Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) [1]
  • Temporomandibular joint (TMJ) disorders [11]
These injections won’t reverse arthritis, but they can make daily life more manageable by providing long-lasting pain relief, reducing inflammation, improving mobility, and delaying the need for more invasive treatments like surgery.[7]

Benefits of Hyaluronic Acid (HA) for Arthritis

One of the most incredible benefits of HA injections is that they offer a long-term, nonsurgical option to reduce joint pain and improve function.[7] With consistent treatment, many patients can delay or avoid knee or hip surgery.[7] Hyaluronic acid therapy offers an option for patients who haven’t found relief using NSAIDs.[9] Viscosupplementation therapy is a low-risk procedure with few side effects, and most patients tolerate the injection well.[9] Some patients have found HA injections offer long-term relief, with results lasting six months or more.[12]

According to reports from Medical News Today, some studies suggest that hyaluronic acid (HA) may help ease osteoarthritis symptoms. A 2014 study found that a 3-month HA course reduced knee pain in people with obesity, while a 2015 study showed that oral HA improved pain and sleep in knee osteoarthritis patients.[9]

HA Injection Specialists & Pain Management Clinics

If you’re considering hyaluronan injections to combat arthritic symptoms, find a pain management clinic specializing in this therapy. Reputable pain clinics focus on long-term solutions and not just a temporary fix for your pain. Your pain specialist will work closely with your primary care doctor and rheumatologist to create a comprehensive treatment plan that includes HA shots, physical therapy and other non-invasive, drug-free treatments.
Not sure hyaluronic acid therapy is right for your arthritis pain? Consult with a pain management specialist to discuss your symptoms and treatment options. With personalized care and expert guidance, you can return to living without the constant aches, inflammation and discomfort of arthritis.
Ready to get your joints moving again? With the right pain management team, arthritis won’t stand a chance—you’ll be back to living comfortably and doing what you love in no time!

Resources:

  1. Viscosupplementation Treatment for Arthritis. Johns Hopkins Medicine [Internet]. Accessed September 07, 2024. https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/conditions-and-diseases/arthritis/viscosupplementation-treatment-for-arthritis 
  2. Mayo Clinic Staff. Osteoarthritis. Mayo Clinic. Published June 16, 2021. Accessed September 08, 2024. Available from: https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/osteoarthritis/symptoms-causes/syc-20351925 
  3. Parvizi J, Schmitz G, Patel R, CJD Della-Valle. Synovial Fluid – an overview. ScienceDirect [Internet]. Accessed September 07, 2024. Available from: https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/medicine-and-dentistry/synovial-fluid 
  4. MD VV. What Is Hyaluronic Acid? Arthritis-Health [Internet]. Accessed September 07, 2024. Available from: https://www.arthritis-health.com/treatment/injections/what-hyaluronic-acid 
  5. Hyaluronan injections. Versus Arthritis. Published 2024. Accessed September 8, 2024. Available from:  https://versusarthritis.org/about-arthritis/treatments/drugs/hyaluronan-injections 
  6. Dunkin MA. Osteoarthritis and Hyaluronic Acid Injections. WebMD [Internet]. Accessed September 07, 2024. Available from: https://www.webmd.com/osteoarthritis/hyaluronic-acid-injections-for-osteoarthritis 
  7. Migliore A. Effectiveness and utility of hyaluronic acid in osteoarthritis. Clinical Cases in Mineral and Bone Metabolism [Internet]. 2015;12(1). Accessed September 07, 2024.doi:https://doi.org/10.11138/ccmbm/2015.12.1.031 Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4469223/ 
  8. Hyaluronic Acid Injections for Osteoarthritis. Arthritis Foundation [Internet]. Published 2024. Accessed September 07, 2024. Available from: https://www.arthritis.org/health-wellness/treatment/treatment-plan/disease-management/hyaluronic-acid-injections-for-knee-pain 
  9. Sherrel Z. Hyaluronic acid for osteoarthritis: What to know. Medical News Today [Internet]. Published April 25, 2022. Accessed September 07, 2024. Available from: https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/hyaluronic-acid-for-osteoarthritis 
  10. Hyaluronic Acid: What It Is, Benefits, How To Use & Side Effects. Cleveland Clinic. Published May 4, 2022. Accessed September 07, 2024. Available from: https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/articles/22915-hyaluronic-acid 
  11. Manfredini D, Piccotti F, Guarda-Nardini L. Hyaluronic Acid In the Treatment of TMJ Disorders: A Systematic Review of the Literature. CRANIO® [Internet]. 2010;28(3):166-176. Accessed September 07, 2024. doi:https://doi.org/10.1179/crn.2010.023 Available from: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/20806734/ 
  12. Sprott H, Fleck C. Hyaluronic Acid in Rheumatology. Pharmaceutics. 2023;15(9):2247-2247. doi:https://doi.org/10.3390/pharmaceutics15092247 Accessed September 07, 2024. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC10537104/
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