Durolane injection

Cat Woman


Hello and welcome to HealingWell. I have not had the injection but I am sure one of the members will respond to your post.



Glad you found us.



Kindly,

Kitt

Oh Durolane is the same as synvisc. I've had it before and it was really helpful. Once the swelling goes down I did feel better. I got the three injection series last time and after the third shot I was better, I got off my cane, and off painkillers. It's temporary though. i'm getting another round starting this week. But it does make you swell at first. Just hang in there. It worked wonders for me.

I have had the injections in both knees. I found the injection to be extremely painful (3" needle pushed under my knee cap) and hurt for days after. Had zero relief from the 3shot series and then had arthroscopic surgery. The surgeon told me the damage was stage 4 (down to bone) and that is why the shots were no relief. I think the relief you will receive all depends on how bad the damage is to the cartilage. IMHO

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?