The primary use of hyaluronic acid injection treatments, also known as hyaluronan or HA, can treat various degenerative diseases such as arthritis. While there are many different ways that doctors can use this type of procedure in their treatment plans, including cosmetically, here are four benefits that make it an attractive option.
Joint pain is usually the result of trauma or a degenerative disease. Physical trauma can stem from sports injuries, falls, car accidents, or any other physical incident requiring an extended treatment plan. However, most chronic pain stems from a degenerative disease known as arthritis. There are three forms of arthritis:
Osteoarthritis (OA): According to the CDC, OA is the most common form, affecting up to 32.5 million people in the United States alone, and occurs where there is damage to the cartilage.
Rheumatoid arthritis (RA): RA is an autoimmune disease that usually occurs once a patient’s cells begin attacking themselves, causing inflammation (painful swelling).
Juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA): JIA, also known as childhood arthritis or juvenile rheumatoid arthritis, is when damage is caused to the body during childhood and leaves lasting negative effects on the joints, making it hard to do physical activities, such as walking or dressing.
Hyaluronic acid injections are an FDA-approved treatment for pain, especially knee and back pain. Hyaluronic acid is a natural substance found in the body that lubricates the joints. It does this by increasing the viscosity of synovial fluid within the joint, reducing friction between bone ends, and thus reducing pain. Our doctor will typically use the injection method if the patient has not responded well to medications.
Hyaluronic acid injection treatments act as signaling molecules in the body, which means that it sends signals to specific cells to perform specific functions. Specifically, hyaluronic acid binds to cells, causing an increase in intracellular calcium levels activation, signaling other molecules to increase the production of proteins involved in a process called osteogenesis. These proteins and molecules are essential for the proper formation of new bone tissue during fracture healing or repair of defects due to injury or disease.
COPD stands for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. It is a lung disease that makes it hard for patients to breathe. This is because the airways and lungs become damaged and inflamed, thereby limiting oxygen flow in the patient’s body. The main cause of COPD is long-term cigarette smoking. However, people who have been exposed to other things, such as air pollution or secondhand smoke, may also develop the disease. Over time, COPD causes permanent changes in the upper body, significantly impacting patients’ lifestyles.
Hyaluronic acid injection treatments can help treat COPD by reducing inflammation in the lungs. The injections also help improve symptoms such as shortness of breath, wheezing, and chest tightness by improving oxygen levels in the bloodstream. As a treatment for COPD, hyaluronic acid acts similarly to corticosteroid injections that are commonly used to treat asthma and allergies. However, unlike corticosteroid injections that only last for a short period of time, hyaluronic acid injection treatments can last for extended periods.
Hyaluronic acid injection treatments require minimal to no downtime after the initial injection and provide lasting results. In addition, the actual treatment duration will only take a matter of minutes, with the doctor injecting the hyaluronic acid and their physical assessment afterward. In addition, depending on the patient, the results can last between four and six months, meaning patients will only need to schedule a few short appointments two or three times a year.
The recovery time after the injection treatment will vary depending on the area of the patient’s body that was injected. Patients can typically resume their normal activities the same day. However, it is important for patients to avoid strenuous activities that will impact their recently injected joint area. For example, suppose a patient receives the hyaluronic acid injection treatment in their knees. In that case, they should avoid workouts and running for at least 24 hours.
Hyaluronic acid injection treatment offers many benefits, including many not mentioned here. If you or someone you know is struggling with chronic pain in the joints and believe hyaluronic acid injection treatment may help, please contact our Ooltewah office at (423) 424-1529. Our skilled team will evaluate your specific needs and craft a treatment plan to help provide relief.
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