What is it made of? hyaluronic acid is a stabilized, concentrated, non-animal hyaluronic acid (HA). It is made from the natural HA exactly as that found in healthy joint fluid. It is derived from a bacteria.

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What does it do? hyaluronic acid helps to replicate the environment of a healthy joint by increasing the healthy HA. This allows the joint to move easily and freely, while absorbing some of the shock during activity. This protects the bones from rubbing on each other directly, preventing the associated pain and wear.

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How many injections does it take? You will only require one injection of hyaluronic acid until the effectiveness begins to wane.

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How long does it last? One injection of hyaluronic acid typically will last six months or more. Some patients have reported relief lasting longer

than 12 months.

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What joints can I get treated with hyaluronic acid? We are able to treat any joint except the spine with hyaluronic acid

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Is there higher success in specific joints? hyaluronic acid is equally effective in any peripheral joint treated.

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How does it compare to other similar products? Ie. Monovisc, Synvisc hyaluronic acid is not derived from any animal products and does not use formaldehyde. Therefore, it has a much lower risk of an allergic reaction to the product. It is made using the advanced and unique NASHA technology, which means that the HA is natural, safe and is highly concentrated. It has a higher molecular weight and therefore takes longer to break down in the joint. This contributes to the long duration of relief because it stays viable in the joint longer.

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How does it compare to cortisone injections? Evidence shows that cortisone can contribute to the degeneration of the joint, whereas hyaluronic acid helps create a healthy joint environment that will slow down the degeneration process.

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Can I still get hyaluronic acid if my joint is “bone-on-bone”? hyaluronic acid shows the highest success in joints with mild to moderate osteoarthritis, but there have been cases of success for patients with bone-on-bone arthritis.

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What do I need to prepare for, in terms of recovery? You will need to avoid any high impact activity for at least 3 days, even if you feel up to it. This means no long walks, running or sports for the first 3 days after injection.

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Will I still need to get a joint replacement if I get this injection? hyaluronic acid has been shown to delay joint replacement surgery for an average of 3.6 years.

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How do hyaluronic acid injections compare to PRP? Most head to head studies done have shown PRP to be superior in terms of pain relief and duration, but this can vary between individuals with some people responding better to hyaluronic acid.  There are some recent studies suggesting that PRP and hyaluronic acid together maybe better than either one by itself.

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Is hyaluronic acid covered by insurance? Hyaluronic acid is covered by most, but not all health plans. There is no cost for the injection itself. PRP is not typically covered by health plans except for when using a health spending account. You will need to check with your insurance plan directly to get a definite answer.

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What is the cost of hyaluronic acid? We carry hyaluronic acid in our clinic and the cost is $300 for one 3 ml injection and $250 for one 1 ml injection. 3 ml injections are used for mostly larger joints like knees and hips and the 1 ml injections are for small joints like toes and fingers. Hyaluronic acid can also be purchased from any pharmacy. If you purchase hyaluronic acid at our clinic, you will be given a receipt so you can get reimbursement from you insurance if it is covered for you.