Durolane injections

For the past 4-5 years, I've been receiving Durolane injections in both knees, about two times a year. I have femoral patella arthritis and degeneration in both knees, with very little (if any) cartilage in left knee. Can't say I had any pain during the injections and usually felt great relief a day or so later in both knees). I was still playing soccer at 52 years old (three years ago)! I preferred Durolane to the Synvisc as Synvisc needed to be injected in each of my knees for three weeks in a row. I also thought the Durolane benefits lasted longer. Thank goodness my benefits plan covered the $900 cost for two Durolane injections!

On Dec 18th, 2014, I went to my Orthopedic Surgeon for my usual Durloane injections, but this time, I passed out from the pain. Couple of days later, my left knee was so swollen and painful I couldn't walk on it. Given the Christmas season, I could hardly walk in the malls. I couldn't stay standing very much to prepare meals, bake, etc. My ankles also became swollen. On Christmas eve, I got in to see my family doctor who said it didn't look infected and I would be ok to travel. On Dec 27th we went to Cuba and the airplane ride made things worse -- swelling and pain seemed worse. I truly could not put any pressure on my leg or even touch my knee. The resort doctor gave me anti-inflammatory drugs and injections in my butt which worked wonderfully! Swelling in my knee, ankles and leg went right down. Few days later, inflammation came back. When we returned on Jan 4th, I went to a hospital in downtown Toronto as i had started developing a fever. Fluid was taken from my knee (on two separate days that week), ultrasounds and x-rays taken. No sign of infection, gout or other concerns noted in the fluid or x-rays. My Orthopedic Surgeon (OS) gave me a cortisone shot in the knee --I lost 6 pounds in a few days! 7-10 days later -- swelling is back! It's not as bad as before, and mornings are much better than afternoons and evenings. Standing for 45 minutes or more making dinner really is painful on my knee though.

My OS had me taking meloxicam (anti-inflammatory) but other than upsetting my stomach, i cant say the pills helped reduce swelling or take away some of the constant pain i feel. My OS says I must have had a bad reaction to Durolane, and there's not much he can do other than knee replacement which he doesn't recommend for another 10 years or so. I cant have an MRI done as I have a pacemaker. My left knee is always so stiff (from swelling) and painful that I walk with a limp and often have my knee either lock or become very unstable, usually causing me to lose my balance.

I went to my family doctor and have asked for another OS so I can have a second opinion. I'm 55 year old woman, eat healthy, have always tried to keep active and I'm starting to get depressed that there's no improvement in sight. It's now been over 2 months since the Durolane injections and I'm so much worse off than before the injections. Has anyone ever experienced this?

I just had a fourth Durolane shot in my knee. I need a unicompartmental replacement but am trying to put it off as long as possible. The first three gave me six months or more pain free. Quite miraculous. But it comes at a short term price. Each time the initial injection, done by my orthopedic surgeon, was completely painless as he adds freezing. However after about 9 hours, the freezing wears off and turns into excruciating pain, worse than the original issue. I need to use a cane for the first three days, get lots of rest and do frequent icing. Happily I am usually completely pain free within a week.

My surgeon says a number of his patients have this extreme response, a far cry from the mild pain described by the manufacturer. Three months ago, he suggested I try orthovisc, as it is not as viscous as Durolane and might be less painful. There was absolutely no post injection discomfort but it also did not work at all. Yesterday, I had another Durolane with predictable post injection pain. It is really, really awful and I have had years of pain involved with a hip replacement. However, I hope it works as well as usual. My surgeon says either the orthovisc just didn't help my probkem, or else I have come to the end of the road with hyaluronic efficacy.

I am just finding this thread and signed up to chime in.

I had an injection in my big toe joint yesterday and have been in excruciating pain ever since. I even resorted to digging out some of my late mother's old Oxycontin to take (she died of cancer) and the pain persists even through that powerful drug. The actual injection wasn't so bad, but about six hours later the pain really took hold, and it's been persistent for the past day and a half. Am really hoping it subsides soon. The idea of doing this again in a few months .... ugh.

But not sure what else there is to do a about Hallux Rigidus other than surgery.

My mom got durolane injection on both knees 6 days ago, one knee seems to be fine but the other is too painful. The pain is persisting and even getting worse everyday, she is hardly walking on it to go to the bathroom, and when she sits she can't get up because of the pain, so she need to be laying down and not to move it. She was on Tylenol and ice for 4 days and then switched to Advil the last two days and nothing is helping. Tomorrow if there will be no improvement at all I think I will have to take her to emergency as it does not look well at all.

I am wondering what it could be? does not look like inflammation to me since even Advil is not helping.

Post Edited (Kouky) : 8/16/2016 9:39:01 PM (GMT-6)

Just had my first Durolane shot as recommended by my doctor. I had zero pain with the injection and none since the shot and it's been a few hours. I've read some posts about the pain during and after the shot and maybe the skill of the doctor has something to do with it? My doctor seemed to really zero in on where to put the needle.
I'm 53 and hoping this will help with some pain/strength I have while playing hockey.

Maharet, I have had both of my knees done & had success with it. I did not experience any of the things the above posters talk about. They do spray a freezing numbing agent prior to the injection & yes both knees were sore for several days afterwards which is normal. I did the injections because of numerous knee scopes a lot of arthritis & knee replacements recommended. Another thing that is a huge help to me is getting into the pool & doing knee kicks in the water. I sit on a noodle to do this.

One thing I have learned over the years in public forums a lot of people come to forums to write about negative experiences. Even here at HW this happens in all areas of medicine. I look at it this way, the success stories are out there living their life. I suggest that you consider that statement before making your mind up. Also, sit down & explain your fears to the dr, ask questions.

Take care.

Ensure the doctor gives you a local anasthetic before you get a Durolane injection. I had one yesterday and had no discomfort till the early hours of this morning. Had a hot massage shower and now the discomfort is bearable. Hopefully the discomfort will get improve by tonight or tomorrow morning.

It may have been Synvisc the dr mentioned. I have bad knees with multiple scopes. I had both of my knees injected with a product very similar. I will not lie, the injections are not fun, yes the dr should freeze the knee before the injection. I did get good relief over time, it was not an instant fix.

Today, I had my first Symvisc injection and the assistant said people can have a response that causes low blood pressure and fainting. I was a little worried about reading people's bad luck with these things. Luckily, I did not have that response. So far, so good and it's day one. He put some novicane before he gave the Symvisc shot. It hurt but didn't last too long. No more pain since. Keeping fingers crossed......

Just wanted to chime in here. I had my first (Gel-One) injection a year ago in my left knee and it hurt but I walked away afterwards and was fine.
I got my second one today but in the right knee. Holy Toledo, that ranked up there with the worst darn pain I have ever had in my life!!! I've had colitis and surgery and torn the meniscus in both knees. I had a cortisone shot in the left knee that didn't hurt much but she said she put lidocaine in there with it. I couldn't get off the table for a while and had to get a wheelchair to get to the car. The pain started subsiding in half an hour and I can sort of walk on it now but not with out pain. If I ever have to get these again, they will have to give me a pain pill or anesthetic into the knee first. I don' know why this one hurt so bad. It was the same doctor. If it works like the left one at all, I will get relief from it. I'd hate to think I went through all this for nothing.