Although there is no cure for osteoarthritis of the knee, there are many treatment options available.

The primary goals of treatment are to relieve pain and restore function. In its early stages, arthritis of the knee is treated with nonsurgical methods.

Some of the more common options include changes in activity level, pain relievers such as acetaminophen or nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) like ibuprofen, as well as physical therapy, and corticosteroid injections.

Another treatment option is a procedure called viscosupplementation.

In this procedure, a gel-like fluid called hyaluronic acid is injected into the knee joint. Hyaluronic acid is a naturally occurring substance found in the synovial (joint) fluid. It acts as a lubricant to enable bones to move smoothly over each other and as a shock absorber for joint loads.

People with osteoarthritis (“wear-and-tear” arthritis) have a lower-than-normal concentration of hyaluronic acid in their joints.

Viscosupplementation may be a therapeutic option for individuals with osteoarthritis of the knee.

Viscosupplementation has been shown to relieve pain in many patients who have not responded to other nonsurgical methods.

Hyaluronic acid does not have an immediate pain-relieving effect. For the first 48 hours after the shot, you should avoid excessive weight bearing on the leg, such as standing for long periods, jogging or heavy lifting.

You may notice a local reaction, such as pain, warmth, and slight swelling immediately after the shot. These symptoms generally do not last long. You may want to apply an ice pack to help ease them. Rarely, patients may develop a local allergy-like reaction in the knee. In these cases, the knee may become full of fluid, red, warm, and painful. If this occurs, contact your doctor immediately. Infection and bleeding are also very rare complications of this procedure.

Over the course of the injections, you may notice that you have less pain in your knee. Hyaluronic acid does seem to have anti-inflammatory and pain-relieving properties.

Effects may last for several months. Viscosupplementation may be effective in relieving the symptoms of arthritis, but has never been shown to reverse the arthritic process or re-grow cartilage.