Hyaluronic Acid Injections:
First, let us start out by getting an idea of what hyaluronic acid exactly is. Hyaluronic acid or HA is basically a naturally occurring biopolymer that serves some significant biological functions in higher animals and bacteria along with human beings. Hyaluronic acid that occurs naturally can be found in the tissues of higher animals and specifically in the form of intercellular space filler.
This acid is found in large quantities in the synovial fluid of the articular joints and in the vitreous humor of the eye. However, it can even be found in the connective tissue, the skin, and various other parts of the human body.
This naturally occurring acid specifically in the joints works in the form of a shock absorber and lubricant helping the joints in working properly and effectively.
Hyaluronic acid became popular with the ABC News report owing to which Connie Chung paid a visit to a village in Japan called Yuzurihara. Connie found that the people living in this village lived longer, were more active and flexible, and looked younger in comparison to the people living in the western regions of the world. The villagers in their eighties and nineties had full hair growth, wrinkle-less skin, and absolutely no use of eye-aids.
So, what was it that allowed the villagers to be so much more active, productive, and youthful at an advanced age? The ABC report came up with the conclusion that these individuals consumed sticky vegetables and this was the main reason behind their active and youthful life.
Their diet consisted of fermented soy forms and Oestrogen like molecules that send signals to the fibroblast cells for making more hyaluronic acid. Thus, it can rightly be concluded that hyaluronic acid can help you in becoming more productive and active even if you are at an advanced stage of life.
How do Hyaluronic Injections Help Osteoarthritis Patients?
Coming to the topic of hyaluronic acid injections, these are used for treating knee pain that is caused due to Osteoarthritis in individuals who have already undergone treatment with the use of pain-relieving medicines and various other procedures that actually did not work for them. The hyaluronic acid present in the joints generally thin among people suffering from osteoarthritis. This is where hyaluronic acid injections come into effective play.
These injections add to the natural supply of the body. Many doctors refer to these injections as viscosupplementation which means that they are highly useful in aiding the fluid in the joints. However, it is important to note that these injections are only to be administered under the supervision of a medical professional. These injections are available in two dosage forms and they are gel or jelly and solution.
Is it OK to go for Hyaluronic Acid Injections?
Medical professionals can easily predict the individuals who can actually benefit from the use of hyaluronic injections and the ones who will not be able to reap any advantages. These injections are mainly meant for people who have not got any relief from their knee OA even with non-drug treatments like ice or heat and pain relievers.
However, these injections are also administered to individuals who do not have the ability to use painkillers such as ibuprofen, naproxen sodium, or acetaminophen or the ones who cannot go for complete knee replacement surgery. Thus, it is always fine for knee OA patients to take these injections but only under the supervision of a doctor.
Side Effects of Hyaluronic Acid Injections:
There can be absolutely no doubt in the fact that hyaluronic injections are highly effective in the treatment of osteoarthritis. But, as is evident with the use of each and every medicine, there are certain unwanted side effects that might be caused due to the administration of these injections. Although it is not possible for an individual to have all the side effects mentioned below, if they do occur, you might require immediate medical attention.
It is important for people to check with their doctors if they suffer from any of these hyaluronic acid injections side effects:
- Stiffness and muscle pain
- A difficulty faced in moving around
- Joint pain
These are some common side effects. Now, we will have a look at some less common issues caused due to hyaluronic injections:
- Redness in the joints
- Swelling
Side Effects of Hyaluronic Acid Injections
There are certain side effects that might not require any medical attention. This is because they might go away while the person is being treated. This is because the human body adjusts to the medicines. It is also important to note that health care professionals will inform their patients about the different ways in which they can reduce or prevent the side effects of hyaluronic acid injections. Therefore, it is important for you to consult your doctor if any of the following problems are bothersome or continue or if you have got any queries regarding these side effects:
- Blistering
- Bleeding
- Coldness
- Burning
- A feeling of acute pressure
- Skin discoloration
- Infection
- Hives
- Itching
- Inflammation
- Infection
- Tenderness
- Swelling
- Lumps
- Pain
- Numbness
- Redness
- Rash
- Soreness
- Scarring
- Ulceration
- Warmth
and stinging at the site of the injection. There are various other side effects that might also be experienced by patients and they might not have been listed above. This is because the side effects might differ from one patient to another. However, if you get to notice some other side effects, make sure to check with your doctor immediately.
Conclusion
Studies have proved the fact that hyaluronic injections might work better in comparison to painkillers in treating knee pain. However, there are other studies that have shown that they might have certain side effects that are hard to manage. Therefore, it is always very important to get these injections only under the guidance of specialist health care professionals.
