As we age, the stress put upon our joints from everyday activities like walking, climbing stairs and bending begins to take a heavy toll on our knee joints. The knees are the largest joint in the body and have the responsibility of supporting your body weight every time you twist, turn, bend, walk or run. It’s not surprising then that the knees are often the first joints to begin feeling the painful effects of arthritis and aging.

There is a debilitating type of arthritis that affects the knees called Osteoarthritis or OA. A remarkable 16 million Americans suffer from this kind of arthritis. This condition is a painful and often debilitating type of arthritis that attacks the fluid inside the knee joint. This fluid, called synovial fluid, acts as a lubricant in the knee joint and absorbs shock put up on the knee by daily activities. OA begins to dissolve the fluid, which in turn leaves the cartilage that allows our knees to bend to become damaged. Once this happens it’s hard to even rise from a chair, let alone even attempt to climb a single stair.

Luckily, there is a new treatment for OA. In 1997 the FDA approved Synvisc, a medication, which helps replace the joint fluid destroyed by OA. In the past doctors have used anti-inflammatories, joint braces, and joint replacement surgery to treat patients affected by OA. Since its release, Synvisc has been used by millions of people with good results, and it may be used in combination with other treatments to provide long-lasting relief from pain.

Synvisc isn’t an oral drug. It’s derived from the exact same chemical found in joints, Hylan A. This substance is responsible for lubricating the joint and allowing flexibility. Synvisc has been manufactured into a substance that can be injected directly into the joint space where it can replace damaged synovial fluid and supplement your own bodily fluid to improve flexibility and range of motion. Though Synvisc is used primarily in the knee joint, some Physicians report having used it in the hip and shoulder joints with good outcomes.

Synvisc can be administered in a doctor’s office in a series of three injections, given one week apart. Once administered, patients have reported feeling consistent relief from joint pain within 8-12 weeks. Synvisc offers a long-term solution to chronic joint pain, and may be repeated 6 months to a year after the last series was completed. There have been no reported side effects to Synvisc, and because it’s not a drug, there are few contraindications to using it with other medications.

Though Synvisc offers a non-surgical alternative to joint pain, it may not be the first choice your physician offers to treat your OA. A trial of anti-inflammatories and possibly Cortisone injections to the painful joint are often tried first. Some insurance companies are requiring that doctors take these measures of treatment before giving Synvisc because of its high cost. Some insurance companies do not yet cover it, so be sure to check with insurance provider before your physician gives you that first injection.

As with any new medication, be sure to talk in depth with your physician before receiving it. Do your own research to make sure the treatment is right for you.