Osteoarthritis
What is Osteoarthritis?
Osteoarthritis (OA) is the most common type of arthritis and one of the most common causes of knee pain. In the US alone, more than 10 million people are estimated to have OA in one or both knees.
In a knee with OA , the fluid that cushions or lubricates the joint (called synovial fluid) can break down and lose its ability to cushion your knee. The cartilage protecting the ends of the bones can also deteriorate, in some cases causing bone to rub against bone. OA is usually associated with pain, stiffness and a more limited range of movement.
There are two sets of terminology when talking about the severity of OA. Doctors may describe your OA as Grade 1 to 4, or may characterize it as mild, moderate or severe.Mild - The surface of the cartilage in your knee joint begins to wear down. Symptoms are generally mild, and may include occasional pain and brief morning stiffness.
Moderate – Joint cartilage continues to wear away and joint fluid may lose its ability to lubricate and cushion the knee. Bony growths, or spurs, may also form on the edges of the bones. Moving may become more painful.
Severe – Cartilage may totally wear away, causing bones to rub against each other. Pain may be more constant or more severe; your ability to perform day-to-day activities can diminish.
Keep in mind that your stage of OA and pain level aren’t always connected. For example, you could have only mild OA yet have considerable pain, so it’s important to make sure your doctor understands how much pain you feel and when it typically occurs.Symptoms of osteoarthritis:
OA of the knee usually develops slowly, and gradually worsens over time. Symptoms, which may develop in one or both knees, may include:
- Pain during movement and even at rest
- A grating sensation in the joint during movement
- Stiffness after periods of rest
- Joint swelling
- Loss of range of movement
Synvisc-One (hylan G-F 20) treats your osteoarthritis (OA) knee pain right at the source, providing up to six months of relief with just one injection.
Synvisc-One treats your osteoarthritis (OA) knee pain right at the source. Made from a natural substance that lubricates and cushions your joint, it can provide up to six months of knee pain relief with just one injection. Click here for Synvisc-One full prescribing information.
For more information on the actual Synvisc-One injection, click here.
