Do you experience knee pain, but do not think you’re a candidate for a joint replacement surgery? There are many surgical alternatives available today as part of the conservative treatment for osteoarthritis (OA).What are the alternatives?

The first step in conservative care is an injection of cortisone into the joint. This injection consists of corticosteroid medication and a local anesthetic that relieves pain and inflammation into a targeted area. There’s no down time and the effects are felt within the next 72 hours and generally last several days or weeks. No authorization is required for this injection and it is covered by most insurance carriers. A regular appointment can be scheduled.

The next step is a hyaluronic acid injection (HA). Just as with the cortisone injection, the hyaluronic acid is injected into the joint. It’s comprised of a man-made substance that is similar to what is produced naturally in your joint and works as a lubricant between the bones. A series of three or four injections are ordered and a patient schedules once a week for each injection.  Hyaluronic acid injections do require an authorization from most insurance companies. Typically, it is required that a patient has tried pain relievers and cortisone injections in the past with no relief. Scheduling an examination can help us determine what benefits your insurance allows and gives us the opportunity to schedule you for an injection on the next visit. There is no downtime and relief is typically felt for up to 6 months.

If you’re interested in any of these services, please call our office today and schedule an appointment!