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How do I know if the symptoms in my joint are caused by osteoarthritis?
You may have osteoarthritis if you experience one or more of the following common signs and symptoms:
- Sore joint after overuse or inactivity
- Joint stiffness after resting or in the morning
- Pain when moving your joint
- Pain when doing everyday activities like climbing stairs, getting up from a chair, buttoning a shirt
- Joint pain that prevents you from exercising
- Grating or catching sensation when moving your joint
- Pain that feels worse in the evening after a day’s activity
- Deterioration of coordination or grip strength due to joint pain and stiffness
- Weakened muscular strength near the affected joint
To help with your diagnosis and treatment, be sure to mention these signs and symptoms at each doctor’s appointment.
How is osteoarthritis different from other kinds of arthritis?
The Arthritis Society has great resources to help you better understand and ease your conditions. Visit www.arthritis.ca to learn more. Did you know arthritis affects over 6 million Canadians? Osteoarthritis is the most common type of arthritis, affecting more Canadians than all other types of arthritis combined. Osteoarthritis causes the breakdown, or degeneration, of the cartilage and fluid that cushion and lubricate the bones in your joints. Osteoarthritis can occur in any joint, but osteoarthritis of the knee, hip, hands, toes and spine are the most common.16
Are all injection therapies for osteoarthritis the same?
No, there are different classes of injectable therapies that may be used to treat osteoarthritis. For example, steroid injections (such as cortisone) may help relieve knee pain and swelling temporarily. On the other hand, hyaluronic acid injections like DUROLANE are designed to supplement the lost hyaluronic acid in the synovial fluid of a joint affected by osteoarthritis.
Is DUROLANE treatment painful?
Most patients report experiencing little pain or discomfort during the injection. Some doctors may apply a topical numbing agent to the skin prior to giving the DUROLANE injection, which may help to minimize any pain or discomfort.
Does treatment with DUROLANE involve any other drugs or surgery?
No additional drug or surgery is involved in treatment with DUROLANE. Some physicians may use a topical numbing agent prior to injection. You can schedule DUROLANE treatments just as you would any other office visit.
How is the treatment performed?
The entire procedure is performed in the doctor’s office and takes approximately 10 to 15 minutes. DUROLANE is administered by a single injection into the affected joint. Your doctor may advise you to avoid strenuous physical activities for a few days after your injection.
How does DUROLANE work?
DUROLANE treats osteoarthritis by temporarily replenishing the hyaluronic acid in the fluid in your joint space. Unlike oral painkillers or nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) that affect all parts of your body, DUROLANE specifically targets the osteoarthritis pain in your affected joint.
Is my condition serious enough for this treatment?
If you have osteoarthritis pain and the pain is not controlled by lifestyle changes or simple analgesics, you could be a candidate for DUROLANE treatment. To find out if DUROLANE might be right for you, please consult your doctor.
Is DUROLANE covered by my insurance?
Visit our Reimbursement Support page for assistance.
What is hyaluronic acid?
Hyaluronic acid is a molecule found naturally throughout the human body. It is an important component of the joint fluid, called synovial fluid. The synovial fluid enables joints to move easily and freely while also absorbing the shock in the joint that occurs during physical activity. In a healthy joint, the joint fluid helps to protect bones and other joint tissues from injury and disease. These actions are also referred to as viscoelastic properties of synovial fluid.
Why is hyaluronic acid important in the treatment of osteoarthritis?
The hyaluronic acid in the synovial fluid in your joint is continuously broken down and replaced over time. During the gradual progression of osteoarthritis, hyaluronic acid breaks down. This has a negative effect on the protective properties of the synovial fluid, reducing its ability to provide the elasticity and viscosity needed for normal, pain-free joint movement.
Can hyaluronic acid treatment postpone joint replacement surgery?
A study of patients who had undergone knee replacement surgery published in 2015 found that prior treatment with hyaluronic acid injections postponed their need for knee replacement surgery. In this study, the more courses of hyaluronic acid treatment the patients had received, the longer the time was between their initial diagnosis of osteoarthritis and their knee replacement operation. Patients without hyaluronic acid treatment had their knee replacement surgery after an average of 9 months. Patients who received 5 or more courses of hyaluronic acid treatment delayed their knee replacement operation by an average of 3.6 years.9
How is DUROLANE different than a steroid injection?
A steroid injection is used to reduce inflammation and pain. It can start to relieve osteoarthritis pain faster than an injection of hyaluronic acid, but has been shown not to last as long. In a clinical study comparing a steroid injection with DUROLANE treatment for patients with knee osteoarthritis, both treatments provided a reduction in knee pain and stiffness, but the benefits of the DUROLANE injection lasted longer and could be repeated without showing a decline in effect. The study also showed that patients who initially received a steroid injection also responded well to follow-up treatment at 6 months with an injection of DUROLANE.2
It is possible that your physician will recommend the use of a steroid to reduce the inflammation in your joint and later recommend the use of DUROLANE.
How long does DUROLANE last?
DUROLANE has been proven to provide pain relief and restoration of joint function for up to 6 months, in a study on knee osteoarthritis.2
Are repeat treatments with DUROLANE safe?
Yes. DUROLANE is clinically proven to be safe, even following repeated injections.2 More information about clinical studies of DUROLANE safety can be found in the summary of Indications for Use in the package insert.
Can I receive DUROLANE treatment in both my knees, or other joints?
Yes, if you have knee osteoarthritis in both knees you can be treated in both knees. You will require two 3-mL syringes containing DUROLANE, one syringe per knee. Treatment of the hip will also require a 3-mL syringe. In addition, DUROLANE has been licensed for the symptomatic treatment associated with mild to moderate osteoarthritis pain in the ankle, fingers and toes.
Is there a reason why I could not get a DUROLANE treatment?
You should not use DUROLANE if you have infections or skin disease at the injection site. DUROLANE has not been tested in pregnant or lactating women, or children. Full information about the indications and contraindications for DUROLANE can be found in the package insert, or by contacting Customer Service at 1-855-771-0606, or email canada.durolane@bioventusglobal.com.