Many people suffer knee pain—sometimes in both knees! Osteoarthritis is a common cause of knee pain. Osteo refers to the bones in your knees, and arthritis is a degenerative condition that primarily affects cartilage and joint fluid (at least in the early stages). The movement of your knees is based on mechanics—bones provide structure; ligaments hold bones in place and help stabilize the joint, cartilage coats bones where they meet (reduces friction during movement), and synovial fluid is likened to “oil” that lubricates the joint.
Your knee pain
When the knee is injured and/or as a result of normal aging, the cartilage may begin to degenerate, wear away or change. During your evaluation by our staff, a plain x-ray, CT or MRI scan may be ordered. These special tests provide the doctors at Rehabilitation Medicine Center of New York with a picture of your knee’s anatomy. The condition of the bones, ligaments and cartilage can be assessed. You may be diagnosed with osteoarthritis. Even a little osteoarthritis can cause severe pain. Every patient is different. Some patients present with considerable osteoarthritis, yet they describe pain as mild. In our practice, it is your pain that is important to us!
No cure, but a novel treatment
Osteoarthritis often develops slowly and gradually worsens over time. Unfortunately, there is no cure for osteoarthritis, but there is a newer type of injection therapy that has helped reduce knee pain in many patients. It is called Synvisc-One®.
Synvisc-One (hylan G-F 20) is an injectable fluid with properties similar to your body’s synovial fluid. The Synvisc-One fluid is injected directly into the painful knee. The natural substance helps to lubricate and cushion the knee joint. Of course, if you are a candidate for Synvisc-One, our doctors can tell you more about it and answer all of your questions.
Injection aftercare
We provide you instructions for taking care of yourself after the injection. These may include avoiding knee strain, such as jogging or standing for a long time. Periodically applying an ice pack (wrapped in a towel) can help reduce injection site swelling and/or mild pain (10 minutes on, 10 minutes off). Our staff is always available to answer your questions or concerns.
