KNEE INJECTIONS

There are numerous different types of anti-inflammatory knee injections on the market.

 At this moment the only one which has been approved by NICE (The UK National Institute of Health and Care Excellence) is a steroid injection. This is a good method of breakthrough pain but can’t last forever and in multiple doses can lead to further damage to the knee cartilage. I therefore only use this as a one-off to allow a more focused period of strengthening and conditioning with physiotherapy.

Alongside breakthrough pain from a steroid injection, longer-term pain relief can be achieved for certain conditions with other injectable products. After thorough research I offer two other products: Durolane and Arthrosamid.

They work in completely different ways:

DUROLANE

A longer-acting stablised Hyaluronic Acid. This single injection replaces the natural molecule found in the lining of the knee. You are likely to see 6 months of benefit during which strengthening and conditioning is important.

ARTHROSAMID

An ultrasound injected hydrogel that adds a permanent barrier to the inflamed lining of your knee.

Arthrosamid is relatively new to the UK. It acts very differently from other types of knee injections available. It is licenced in the UK as an injectable implant. This is because once it has been absorbed by the inflamed lining of your knee, it stays there permanently. It acts as a barrier to the inflammatory response of the knee to arthritis and therefore prevents pain from building. Whilst this won’t reverse the degenerative cartilage damage in your knee it will stop it from being painful, which is vital for a return to optimal function.

I want to offer my patients an evidence-based approach to knee care. By visiting the company offices and lab where they developed Arthrosamid, I have first-hand experience of the excellent Danish team that is behind this product. The evidence for the outcomes and superior longevity after Arthrosamid is good and is building; there are now large UK trials being funded and planned.

It is important to delay a knee replacement for as long as possible. This ensures that when you have it, it has the best chance of lasting. Arthrosamid can provide that vital extra time.