Wellness

[depglass]

My doctor and my friends had led me to believe there would be no pain with these injections.  My first one was fine, the second one hurt like heck, I became nauseous and started sweating.  Very unusual pain reaction for me.  My next injection is Thursday and I'm dreading it.  Is this pain normal?  He wants to do five injections.  I'm about to bail out.  I was hoping this would add strength to the knee so I could do stairs with that leg.  So far nothing and checking Supartz online I do not find this mentioned as a goal. 

[gwiz]

My experience with these Knee injections was that the injections do become a little more painful each time.  A doctor told me that was due to the fact that each time they are injecting into the same spot and it does get a little irritated after the first one or two. 

When my husband and I first got these injections it was a series of three.  Then the last time we went to the first orthopedic doctor we saw for knee problems we were told the shots are now a series of five, not three.  I could never get a good explanation for why this was so.  I had a theory that it was so they could bill your insurance 5 times instead of 3 times.  Me being cynical.

It turned out I was correct.  I consulted a different orthopedic doctor and he explained to me that there were 4 or 5 different medications used for knee injections.  Four of them requie only 3 visits and l requires 5.  All things being equal I opted for a 3 shot series with good results.  Of course, this was only made possible because I found a good doctor who was honest about it.

That said, if you can keep up with the injections despite the temporary discomfort at the injection site; and if the shots "work" for you (and they did for me) you will experience a lot less pain and more freedom of movement.  It doesn't happen immediately-a couple weeks after the last injection is when you start to feel better.

Just my experience, and maybe everyone is different.

[libbyannE]

I had a cortisone injection in my knee during a long recovery from a torn miniscus. It was intensely painful, and I wasn't prepared for that! Eeowwwww! I normally don't mind needles at all and did not think anything about it beforehand. In spite of that, if I needed it again, I would have it done. My elderly mother has had series of five injections like yours, and I fIgured if she could do it, I could. For both of us, the shots were worth it in the end. But I totally understand why you are anxious. Please talk to your doctor and see if he/she can give you anything for anxiety beforehand, if you have someone to drive you to and from the treatment.

[harcon]

Many years ago I had the series of 3 injections and never had much pain during or after.  When it was time for another injection I received the Synvisc one dosage which was much better than having the series.  That injection lasted for about 2 years when I decided it was time for the knee to be replaced.  My other knee is starting to act up and I'll do the Synvisc in that one until it needs replacing.

You might ask your ortho about the Synvisc.  

[Mz iMac]

Why not have the knee numbed prior to injection?

[harcon]

The injections shouldn't be that painful.

My ortho numbs my knee with an injection first and it doesn't hurt.  Once numb is when he injects the medicine.  If your ortho isn't doing this I can understand your pain.  I would look for anothe Dr., perhaps one who is rated better and gives you options.  

[Gooday]

I too had the one injection. It's called Monovisc.
I have a high pain tolerance and I don't feel it was any worse than the cortisone injection.

I am glad the Dr. told me it can take up to 6 weeks to be effective, if it does. Boy, he was right! Knock on wood, it's been a little over a year without pain. This was after 2 meniscal tears and repairs.

[Snowpuppy]

I've talked to my dr at length about Synvisc as I'm on the fence. My dr is brutally honest.

He feels the original Synvisc 3 is better than the new single dose. Not all insurance covers it. Out of pocket, expect up to $1,000 per dose for the 3, $3,000 for single dose.

Living on the border, yes he does order from Canada, only $500 or so for the 3 injections, total. You have to pay cash. It's a medical device, not a script medication.

Yes, they can hurt like heck and response is only 50% effective. He will do 1 injection and we'll see how that goes before doing dose 2 & 3. Still, I have to buy the pack of 3 injections.

HTH anyone who is considering the treatment. Be your own advocate.