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Suggest Treatment For Arthritis Pain In Knees

Posted on Mon, 16 Mar 2015

Question: Hello Doctor! My mother has been suffering from Arthritis pain in her knees for the past two or three years. Last year the pain got very severe. Pain killers were helpful only for a short time. The pain recurs. And now, we just came across a special procedure called Lubrication process which should be taken once in 18 months. In that, a substance called 'hyaluronic acid' is injected into the affected region (knees) and the doctor says that she can be free of pain for 18 months. Please let me know how far the lubrication process will be beneficial to her. Are there any adverse side effects to getting it done? Please help.

Answered by Dr. Dr. Praveen Tayal (9 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
The injections will help her.

Detailed Answer:
Hello,
Thanks for posting your query.
Local injections of hyaluronic acid in the knee joints are a well known treatment for osteoarthritis. It helps in reducing the friction on the joint surfaces and thus reduces the pain. There is almost no side effect. The duration of pain relief varies from 1 year to 18 months. She can take the injections in addition to calcium and Vitamin D3 supplements.
Regular physiotherapy exercises of the knees will also be helpful.
I hope this answers your query.
In case you have additional questions or doubts, you can forward them to me, and I shall be glad to help you out.
Wishing you good health.
Regards.
Dr. Praveen Tayal.
For future query, you can directly approach me through my profile URL http://bit.ly/Dr-Praveen-Tayal

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar

Follow up: Dr. Dr. Praveen Tayal (14 hours later)

Doctor, the one thing that scares me is what I read on internet about Hyaluronic acid. They have mentioned it promotes the growth of tumour cells and induces cancer. I would like to know whether it is true or untrue. Here are the links from where I read.

http://www.denvernaturopathic.com/news/hyaluronicacid.html

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC0000/

Answered by Dr. Dr. Praveen Tayal (6 hours later)

Brief Answer:
The studies are not relevant.

Detailed Answer:
Hello.
Thanks for writing again.
I have read both the articles in detail. In first article it is used orally in breast cancer patients to counteract the side effects of cancer medicines. In such patients it can cause a spread of cancer cells.
In the second study it is used as a dermal filler in dermatology. Both these studies are not relevant to its use in osteoarthritis. Your mother can safely use it for relief.
Hope my answer is helpful.
Do accept my answer in case there are no further queries.
Regards.

Note: For further queries, consult a joint and bone specialist, an Orthopaedic surgeon. Book a Call now.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar