Once you have bone on bone the bottom line for me was pain and swelling. I have had both knees replaced and even though it is a very painful recovery, I think it is the best thing EVER.
From the Cleveland Clinic website:
Hyaluronic acid injections
Use: Hyaluronic acid (HA) injections often are used when corticosteroid injections don’t work. But they usually are approved only for use in the knee.
In some instances, doctors consider HA injections first if you don’t have obvious signs of inflammation. HA also is a better option if you have diabetes, as corticosteroids can raise blood sugar levels.
Also known as gel injections, HA injections are chemically similar to your natural joint fluid.
When you have osteoarthritis, joint fluid becomes watery. So, this injection helps to restore the fluid’s natural properties and works as a lubricant and a shock absorber.
“HA is a cushion or a buffer against inflammatory cells in the joint,” Dr. Genin says. “In some cases, it can stimulate the knee to start producing more natural HA.” Some physicians also believe that HA helps reduce pain by coating nerve endings within the joint.
One treatment, which may consist of between one and three injections, usually offers symptom relief for four to five months, but sometimes up to one year. However, pain and stiffness will return. Most insurance companies only approve one HA injection every six months.
Side effects: There’s a 1 in 100 chance of an inflammatory reaction, Dr. King says. However, this reaction is less common with the newer HA injections.