Osteoarthritis and Euflexxa. Opinions please!

[disneybound2010]

Well, after years of putting off getting my knee examined, I finally sucked it up and went to the Dr. As I expected, after all the damage to my knee and the couple of surgeries on it, I was diagnosed with osteoarthritis. He gave me a cortisone hot in the office, but brought up the possibility of Euflexxa, a gel shot. If they don't work, knee replacement is a possibility.

Has anyone here had experience with these shots? Are they effective? How long does the relief last? Does insurance typically cover a good portion of it? I don't like the idea of surgery, however, I hate the thought of wasting lots of money on something that isn't really going to give me any relief or really extend the time before I do need the replacement.

 

[CPT Tripss]

I believe it is very similar to synvisc . . . My insurance would not cover it for my shoulder OA. In my situation, my second opinion orthopedic doc said it would not fix my artritis and the only real fix was a total replacement. Four months after the replacement my only regret is waiting as long as I did for the surgery.

 

[minkydog]

I have mod-severe arthritis in both knees, and both have meniscus tears. I just finished a 5 shot series of Supartz injections, which are similar to euflexxa. The Supartz had given my knees new life. The week before I started Supartz I was using a cane and could barely even get upstairs to my bedroom. Now I can walk the dog!

My knees still get tired and achey but it isn't the searing pain of bone on bone. No doubt I still will need double knee replacements but of this will buy me some time to get some other things done I'll be a happy camper.

 

[kimmar067]

I have mod-severe arthritis in both knees, and both have meniscus tears. I just finished a 5 shot series of Supartz injections, which are similar to euflexxa. The Supartz had given my knees new life. The week before I started Supartz I was using a cane and could barely even get upstairs to my bedroom. Now I can walk the dog!

My knees still get tired and achey but it isn't the searing pain of bone on bone. No doubt I still will need double knee replacements but of this will buy me some time to get some other things done I'll be a happy camper.

.....I am hesitant to try that Synvisc, but I am wondering if it's as effective as the product that you tried....

 

[minkydog]

.....I am hesitant to try that Synvisc, but I am wondering if it's as effective as the product that you tried....

My DH had Synvisc. He was told it would last 2-4 years. It's been over 10 and he's going strong. DH is very happy with his Synvisc injections.

 

[disneybound2010]

I had a cortisone shot today and it has literally kept me off my feet with serious swelling and pain all day. I don't know if this is normal, but it is not fun. Have you had any issues with pain or swelling from the other injections? I have read the euflexxa can cause pain for days.

 

[Kirk]

I did synvisc for a couple years then had a reaction where both kneed swelled up like an elephant. Doc said that was a typical side effect building a sensitivity. Went to supartz after that for about 3 years. Both were supposed to last 6 months but only did the first time I had it done. I effect crept back to 5, 4 and finally 3 months where I would have to get a couple cortisone shots to tide me over. Finally insurance backed off to only cover the doctor and made me out-of-pocket the medication. I think it was $1500-$2000 for both knees. Could not continue.

 

[minkydog]

I had a cortisone shot today and it has literally kept me off my feet with serious swelling and pain all day. I don't know if this is normal, but it is not fun. Have you had any issues with pain or swelling from the other injections? I have read the euflexxa can cause pain for days.

I had very limited relief with the cortisone shots (which is why we went to Supartz.) My first cortisone shot to both knees was an excruciatingly painful experience. Both knees were painfully swollen for 2 weeks and I could barely walk. Had another cortisone shot to the knees 4 weeks later . My knees were swollen and sore for about 48 hours and got about 10 days worth of pain relief.

As my doctor said, "You are obviously not a good candidate for cortisone shots."

 

[disneybound2010]

I had very limited relief with the cortisone shots (which is why we went to Supartz.) My first cortisone shot to both knees was an excruciatingly painful experience. Both knees were painfully swollen for 2 weeks and I could barely walk. Had another cortisone shot to the knees 4 weeks later . My knees were swollen and sore for about 48 hours and got about 10 days worth of pain relief.

As my doctor said, "You are obviously not a good candidate for cortisone shots."

Yes! My knee this evening is double the size it should be and I can put even less weight on it than what I was before. I was in tears a couple of hours ago. This makes me even more nervous about the other shots now I don't do pain well at all.

I think I will also be making an appointment to get a second opinion as well. I was so sore, nervous, and kind of upset earlier, but after looking at what transpired today, I don't feel like I was really listened to and was definitely not treated as I should have been. I definitely agree that I have degenerative arthritis, but I believe I tore the meniscus, which is why I went in, but he didn't even want to hear that-even though HE did the surgeries for me after having torn it twice before in the past. I definitely don't like the idea of any surgery, but I really don't want to be in pain anymore either and I think it would be best to have more than a quick xray done to ensure I am not damaging it anymore.

 

[minkydog]

Yes! My knee this evening is double the size it should be and I can put even less weight on it than what I was before. I was in tears a couple of hours ago. This makes me even more nervous about the other shots now I don't do pain well at all.

I think I will also be making an appointment to get a second opinion as well. I was so sore, nervous, and kind of upset earlier, but after looking at what transpired today, I don't feel like I was really listened to and was definitely not treated as I should have been. I definitely agree that I have degenerative arthritis, but I believe I tore the meniscus, which is why I went in, but he didn't even want to hear that-even though HE did the surgeries for me after having torn it twice before in the past. I definitely don't like the idea of any surgery, but I really don't want to be in pain anymore either and I think it would be best to have more than a quick xray done to ensure I am not damaging it anymore.

He didn't even do an xray?? I dont' think they can see a meniscus tear on xray, but they can see if the joint capsule is losing space. My doctor told me the first time I went there that my symptoms were from a torn meniscus. Did and xray and saw that one knee is bone-on-bone. He did an MRI on that one and sure enough, torn meniscus (plus, severe arthritis, large amt of fluid, and a partially ruptured baker's cyst~OY!)

I will tell you this: the first Supartz injection was the most painful. There was very little space inside my knee joints. My doctor gives the first injection on the inside of each knee, next to the kneecap--there isn't a lot of space there anyway. He alternates each week--inside, outside, inside, outside, inside. The subsequent shots were not nearly as painful, certainly no more than the cortisone shot *and the last 3 were way less painful than the cortisone shot.*

If you're unsure, I'd suggest a second opinion. They may tell you the same thing or maybe they can come up with something else. Hope you get some relief soon. When mine was so painful I actually had to use a narcotic just to be able to sleep at night. Every time I turned over my knee would just kill me.

ETA: Ice your knee 20 min on, 20 min off. I used ice packs on top and underneath my knees. Tied them on with a 4" ace bandage on each knee.

 

[disneybound2010]

Sorry if I worded that wrong...I did have an x-ray done which showed the osteo, but the symptoms I am having plus past experience concern me that there is more going on and he kind of brushed that off, had me on the table with the shot going in before I even had a chance to ask what it was and then insisting I walk with my leg perfectly straight. I can't get my leg straight because the pain on the outside of my leg is so great. The leg keeps slipping and buckling and of course this sends more searing pain through the leg.

Ice has been my friend...along with some past painkillers I found in my cupboard. I hate taking those, though, and try not to unless the pain is unbearable.

 

[kimmar067]

My DH had Synvisc. He was told it would last 2-4 years. It's been over 10 and he's going strong. DH is very happy with his Synvisc injections.

 

[kimmar067]

I had a cortisone shot today and it has literally kept me off my feet with serious swelling and pain all day. I don't know if this is normal, but it is not fun. Have you had any issues with pain or swelling from the other injections? I have read the euflexxa can cause pain for days.

....I haven't had a cortisone shot in over 4 years but when I did get them, the relief was almost IMMEDIATE!

 

[minkydog]

Sorry if I worded that wrong...I did have an x-ray done which showed the osteo, but the symptoms I am having plus past experience concern me that there is more going on and he kind of brushed that off, had me on the table with the shot going in before I even had a chance to ask what it was and then insisting I walk with my leg perfectly straight. I can't get my leg straight because the pain on the outside of my leg is so great. The leg keeps slipping and buckling and of course this sends more searing pain through the leg.

Ice has been my friend...along with some past painkillers I found in my cupboard. I hate taking those, though, and try not to unless the pain is unbearable.

*nodding* Those were exactly the symptoms I had prior to the Supartz injections. Not being able to straighten my legs was the worst--it woke me up several times a night. My knees were so loose I kept stumbling in the backyard. I hope you get some relief soon. Knee pain is so debilitating

 

[Scrappy_Tink]

I had a cortisone shot today and it has literally kept me off my feet with serious swelling and pain all day. I don't know if this is normal, but it is not fun. Have you had any issues with pain or swelling from the other injections? I have read the euflexxa can cause pain for days.

That's not a normal reaction, unless you did a lot of walking after you got your injections. I used to get my knees injected about every quarter, and only had this type of reaction once....it was when I went to the mall instead of resting lik my rheumatologist told me. It is normal not to notice results for a couple of days though

My DH had Synvisc. He was told it would last 2-4 years. It's been over 10 and he's going strong. DH is very happy with his Synvisc injections.

It'd be my guess that your DH's knees weren't that bad to begin with. I've never heard of Synvisc lasting that long!! I got them done a couple of times a year, but they usually lasted only about 3 months.

No more injections for me!! As of February, I have a matching pair of new knees!!

 

[minkydog]

It'd be my guess that your DH's knees weren't that bad to begin with. I've never heard of Synvisc lasting that long!! I got them done a couple of times a year, but they usually lasted only about 3 months.

No more injections for me!! As of February, I have a matching pair of new knees!!

Maybe not. They were talking knee replacement at the time and he was on crutches due to pain. He still has some clicking and popping in the knee, but it's not painful.