{"id":559,"date":"2016-09-27T14:44:29","date_gmt":"2016-09-27T14:44:29","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/stadiasportsmedicine.com\/info\/?p=559"},"modified":"2017-09-26T14:33:14","modified_gmt":"2017-09-26T14:33:14","slug":"hyaluran-injections-an-approach-to-arthritis-treatment-in-des-moines-ia","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/stadiasportsmedicine.com\/info\/2016\/hyaluran-injections-an-approach-to-arthritis-treatment-in-des-moines-ia\/","title":{"rendered":"Hyaluran Injections: An Approach to Arthritis Treatment in Des Moines, IA"},"content":{"rendered":"

What are hyalurans?<\/strong> Hyalurans are naturally occurring substances in the synovial fluid of joints that essentially serve as joint lubricants, reducing friction and excessive bone wear and tear.\u00a0 In osteoarthritis, this natural lubricant starts to thin out and work ineffectively.\u00a0 One approach to arthritis treatment is to inject hyalurans into the knee in an effort to temporarily restore this cushioning effect.\u00a0 Hyaluran injection can result in relief of arthritis pain that typically lasts for about six months, but can last as long as a year.\u00a0 The first hyaluran introduced to the U.S. market back in the mid-1990\u2019s was Hyalgan \u2013 a five injection series over five weeks!\u00a0 Most series since then involve three injections over three weeks.\u00a0 One product has now been available for several years as a single injection.<\/p>\n

Does insurance pay for this treatment? <\/strong>Most plans cover a series of hyaluran every 3-6 months for patients with documented osteoarthritis of the knee.\u00a0 It is not considered a covered benefit for arthritis of other joints.<\/p>\n

Do hyalurans work? <\/strong>Studies looking at the effectiveness of hyaluran treatments are mixed, with some showing benefit and others showing little treatment effect.\u00a0 Anecdotally, there is no question that some patients in our office with symptomatic osteoarthritis of the knee do get relief from these injections, returning periodically for a repeat shot when their symptoms return.\u00a0 There is really no way of knowing if a patient with arthritis will respond to injection of hyaluran until it\u2019s been tried.<\/p>\n

Are hyalurans potentially effective for arthritis in other joints? <\/strong>The vast majority of hyaluran injections are done on the knee, and there isn\u2019t enough information to be able to say one way or another whether these injections are effective for osteoarthritis in other joints.\u00a0 Having said that, there is little risk from injecting, for example, an arthritic hip or ankle, and it theoretically could be beneficial, since the disease process is often similar.\u00a0 Hyalurans are only FDA approved for use in the knee, however, so injections into other joints would not be covered and the cost for the procedure would fall to the patient.\u00a0 Typically, this could run from about $250 for small joints to as much as $850<\/p>\n

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for a hip (more product required).<\/p>\n

What would I experience if I go to Stadia for hyaluran injections?<\/strong><\/p>\n