Durolane injections

DUROLANE INJECTIONS IN KNEES. I am a new member, 58 years of age and have had various treatments and operations relating to osteoarthritis since my early 30s. Can anyone out there tell me about their experience with Durolane injections. I had them yesterday for the first time in my very arthritic knees, as advised by the doctor at the hospital. I can honestly say that I have never experienced such sickening and excruciating pain. As the injections went in I screamed and cried, I began to sweat profusely, and ended up vomiting and passing out with pain. The whole thing seemed barbaric. The pain I had yesterday was more than I received after a knee operation when they gave me morphine injections to ease the pain. Is this level of pain normal? Should I have received an anaesthetic? It has left me feeling very vulnerable and no way will I ever have that procedure again. Has anybody experienced anything like this?

Thanks for reply. I am use to pain, operations and steroid injections but never anything like I described above. Looked it up on a pain relief website. It said that 2 anaesthetic injections are used before the procedure. I wonder what happened to mine. I have empathy with your knees. If my knees were sensitive before they are more than sensitive now. Hope you well today.

The shots are the durolane injections. These are hyaluronic acid injections. I was told by the doctor that it would replace lost fluid in my knees causing my knees to move freely. In turn this would cause less pain. He also said that sometimes it can also trigger ones own body to produce the much needed fluid itself. The effects can last up to 6 months, however you need more than one treatment. I have read very mixed views on the websites. Seen it referred to as 'the dreaded durolane injections'. Some people have said it has helped. Others llke myself have said never again. I have also read that that it can help to replace cartlidge but I do not know what evidence there is to support this. Hope this helps.

Maybe your medical professional could give you further advice. I am sure that it would not be so traumatic if you could have anaesthetic first. I wish you and your husband all the best. I would be grateful if you could keep me posted about this matter if you find any more information. With thanks

I get have never head of these injections, but I have had Synvisc injections several times, and they have helped me.

Best Wishes,
V

I think you should find another doctor if you need to have more injections. No one should have to suffer through pain like you described. If they can't give you enough medication for pain relief, they should have you under a general anesthesia for the procedure. Have you discussed the amount of pain you experienced with your doctor? I would seriously consider another doctor. That can't be normal to feel that much pain, for gosh sakes!

I feel lucky that my knees are the only joints that I have that don't hurt.

Good luck.

Had Durolane injection in BOTH knees yesterday. I have advanced osteoarthritis and have had several operations for chondromalacia related problems. I reacted exactly the same as rockaholic / earlier post. No anesthesia, total AGONY !! Sweating feeling faint and vomity etc etc...


I couldn't move off the examinating table for a half hour after the ordeal, and needed help to walk to car. I am well used to extreme pain as I have had multiple ops and I am unable to take regular pain relief or anti inflammatories due to severe allergies, I also had a sympathetic reflex dystrophy syndrome called Sudeck's atrophy in right knee for over a year with basically no pain relief, so I know about knee pain! This injection was roughly equivalent to immediate post op pain with no drug relief. I think it should always be administered with anesthesia, my extremely reputable doc has suggested that next time I should opt for the multiple injections of Hyalgan, or similar rather than one larger Durolane injection, as the Hyalgan is less dense and consequently may not be so painfull.

I have had Hyalgan injections in past, and it was a bit painful but absolutely nothing remotely like the agony of Durolane. That said, I have to admit that 24 hrs later, pain and swelling is gradually going down, still with walking stick today but I do think it will help greatly with joint mobility in long run. Underlying the post procedural ache I can feel the extra cushiony feeling on joint already. Just make sure you ask for some
anesthetic !! Or go with the multiple mini injections of Hyalgan.

Had to register because I had to reply to your comment.  I had an injection of Durolane at the end of June/12 and I have not been able to express just how much pain I had with my injection.  When I read your comment, I connected with you immediately.  I also had no freezing whatsoever and tried to suppress my screams of agony.  I normally have a high pain tolerance, and this was off the charts for me.  I also passed out then wanted to vomit.  Luckily a nurse got a cold compress for me and I was able to hold myself together.  The next few days were troublesome, as I felt that my progress went backwards since knee surgery the previous month, with the pain and stiffness.  Luckily that went away.

On the positive side, after a few days of taking it easy, I headed off to Europe for a long-planned vacation.  I would not have been able to tackle all the walking without the Durolane injection.  Beforehand, I could walk for about an hour and suffer severe joint pain.  Post-injection, I was able to complete my walking tours without discomfort. 

The injection of gel is supposed to 'do its thing' for about 6 - 8 months.  I have already rec'd a prescription for another dose to be administered when I feel the time is right.  I just don't know if I can go through that agony again ... I asked my OS why he didn't freeze my knee and he commented that the freezing needle goes into the joint just like the Durolane injection, so why have 2 needles instead of one?  I talked to another person recently and she said she was given a local anesthetic injected under the skin of her knee and she didn't feel the Durolane.  I have the number of her clinic to call:)

I had my first Durolane injection yesterday but was a little nervous after having been up from the arthritis pain since 3.30am, when i'd researched Durolane and found this site. So on the morning the injection is due, I've found theses posts about the terrible pain from the injection.
My specialist wasn't surprised about what I'd read, but told me he'd had nobody scream in agony or vomit. He told me he did both knees for someone who was fine on the first but tensed on the second and had pain.
I watched the 2 inch needle go in my knee and under the knee cap, only noticing the slight pin prick and experiencing no pain at all as i watched him push the fluid in. I was very happy and relieved by the pain free experience. He said it was about getting the needle in the right place and the patient being relaxed, i.e. Them not tensing up.
If your injection is really painful, then i'd suggest that maybe it's being done wrong and/or you're tensing as it goes in.
I felt mild relief in my knee almost immediately, which was wonderful. It is a bit sore right now but i'm keeping it up as much as possible for 48 hours. Then i'll start light exercise and water therapy to build the muscles up around it to help it heal.
All the things that are recommended to help the treatment last.

I am a new member as well as a nurse. Regarding the painful injection of durolane to the knees. Ask your physician if the procedure should be done under conscious sedation.

had an injection of durolane in my left knee july 2009, and was told it would last 6 mo. to 1 year.
still feels great. had an injection in my right knee 4 days ago and each day it gets a bit better.
I carried my stick under my arm when I left hospital. the doc. gave me local first and it hurt more than
the injection itself. I just turned 70 in June, and I am hoping to be back on the golf course soon.
If I went thru what I have read here, I probably would not have had it done, or found a new dr.

So it is just 24hrs later and I am feeling stiff in the knee but the pain is majorly dissipated. I just spoke with a friend that helped me with my dog last time and she said she remembers me whining a bit in pain too. So, I all I can remember from all those years ago is how good the injection was and how long it lasts and how I could walk my dog, cycle and workout. I'll be happy to make it to the gym on Monday morning.

cchrisc

Hi, I had a chondroplasty of the patellar 18 months ago following knee locking for years & pain ever since, following another MRI was told I had a considerable amount of wear & tear & I would need a knee replacement, but being 42 would try Durolane injections to prolong the need. I had my first injection 2 weeks ago toady, the procedure with no local anaesthetic was painful & I couldn't get off the bed for some time, I struggled with walking & consequently had 3 days from work resting, it was very stiff & uncomfortable. I was told it could take up to 2 weeks to feel any benefit but although I can bend my leg slightly more I cannot straighten it fully & have constant pain & discomfort more than before. Am I to assume it hasn't worked for me??