Viscosupplementation Treatment for Arthritis

Viscosupplementation is a recent development in the treatment of arthritis. Viscosupplementation involves injecting a preparation of hyaluronic acid into the knee joint to act as a lubricant in the knee. Osteoarthritis causes a depletion of hyaluronic acid within the joints and viscosupplementation is designed to replenish this shortage.

Viscosupplementation has been shown to relieve pain in patients with arthritis who have failed anti-inflammatory treatment. This treatment was approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration in 1997. Depending on the product used, the patient receives 3-5 injections over several weeks. Viscosupplementation does not work for everyone, however. It is another line of defense in the treatment of arthritis. If you are having arthritis pain, it might be worthwhile to talk to your doctor about viscosupplementation.