Orthovisc for Osteoarthritis User Reviews (Page 2)

• Fla...
• December 13, 2013

"I got diagnosed with chondromalacia in both knees 7 years ago. Fast forward to the present, it's now osteoarthritis in both knees and clearly visible on x-ray. I got the Orthovisc shots for the first time this month. The shots are rather unpleasant, sure, but they are totally worth it. Your knees will be rather sore for the next 24 hours, but it's tolerable. I'm extremely pleased with the results. I had been taking Voltaren for a few years, and that only alleviated the worst of the symptoms. The stiffness from sitting long periods or waking up in the morning is almost completely gone. Stairs no longer hurt. I still have to ice my knees and experience some stiffness after workouts. Nothing will bring my old knees back, I guess."

• Jan...
• April 3, 2016

"As a 64-year-old female, I was having severe pain and stiffness in both knees due to advanced osteoarthritis. Ortho doc recommended a series of 4 weekly Orthovisc injections in both knees. For me, the shots were very painful. There was no improvement until after the 3rd week. I am now 1 week post the 4th and final shots and have greatly decreased pain. I now can exercise regularly without pain. The only difficulty I still have is walking up and down stairs. I highly recommend the Orthovisc injection treatment."

• Sla...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• December 1, 2016

"I have now had these injections 2 times. They are a miracle. I used to be an avid runner and now bone to bone. Even with the injections, I don't run anymore but can bike and basically be without excruciating pain that I was in."

• Cin...
• Taken for 10 years or more
• August 4, 2016

"I've been getting Orthovisc knee injections for over 11 years, although not last year, 2015, due to no work time off. Recently moved to Charlottesville, VA, and just had my 3rd, final injection today, 8/4/2016 (good for 6 months). Found best orthopedic yet (I have a steel rod, torn ACL, no cartilage, bone on bone, bone spurs, left leg, started in '98 with broken tibia). The PA at UVA, Nick, best yet, yes, stings, and you feel the pressure of additional fluid for the first day. Well worth it and looking forward to wakeboarding next week, and longer hours on the slopes snowboarding this upcoming ski season. Makes a huge difference, and has always. I'm 51, too young for full knee replacement, and not sure I want to go through that anyway."

• Car...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• February 7, 2017

"It's been 5 weeks since the last shot in a series of 4 Orthovisc injections for my torn meniscus. My right knee is now super swollen, and my pain is now twice as bad as before the injections! I drug myself up to get to sleep, but I am awoken each night/morning with excruciating pain! I don't know what the heck went wrong! I'm only 47, with bone on bone, arthritis, etc. Had surgery to repair the meniscus, but it was torn again! Only 'fix' the doctors say is a total knee replacement. Trying to push it back till I'm older, but I've had problems with this knee since 2008! Can't take it anymore! Am I supposed to keep waiting for something to happen miraculously? I ice it daily, exercise, stretch, hot tub, etc. Any advice would be great!"

• Lyn...
• April 24, 2011

"I have a meniscus tear in my left knee which hasn't bothered me much until this year due to all the shoveling I had to do. My knee was aching with sharp pain for weeks, which led me to my doctor. He gave me a shot of cortisone, which didn't do much. He spoke to me about Orthovisc, which is a series of 3 shots within 3 weeks consecutively. I had the first shot last week, which wasn't too bad. After the shot, I had pain for a couple of days, it really didn't feel like I was getting any relief. I went back for the second shot 2 days ago. I had pain for the day, and now today, 2 days later, I have no pain at all. Nothing. My pain is gone. This medication is definitely working for me. I would HIGHLY RECOMMEND these shots for everyone with knee pain."

• Anonymous
• May 23, 2013

"Dr. gave me a numbing shot first, then followed with the injection. I've felt great relief, and I have been pain-free for a few years. I've had ACL recon, meniscus, etc., and this was the next step! I'm thankful to have the option as I don't want to just swim, I want to continue with soccer, paintball, etc. If you can afford it and/or have insurance, I highly recommend it. Ask for the numbing shot before, as my Dr. said most orthopedic Drs don't do that."

• Anonymous
• Taken for less than 1 month
• June 12, 2019

"It's been 2 weeks since the third and last injection of Orthovisc, and my knee is hurting significantly more than before the injection. I now have to take ibuprofen to get through the day, whereas before I only took one occasionally."

• FL ...
• December 5, 2016

"Last year had four injections in my right knee in November. It took a good three weeks after my fourth shot to be pain-free. It's a year later, and I needed to start the injections in my left knee. I have already started to feel some relief. I did not let the second knee get as bad before seeking this treatment. I'm back to tennis and will play Pickleball soon. I did start to feel some discomfort in my right knee again, so I will most likely start injections in that knee after the first of the year. Sure worth a try. Be sure to do your physical therapy exercises daily. I'm 66, so good luck!!"

• Myb...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• June 26, 2016

"I was told at 32 I needed a knee replacement in both knees due to a birth defect in both knees. A group of doctors wanted to try this new drug on me. At the time, it was a series of 5 shots. I could barely walk and was in a lot of pain. Couldn't get out of my car and was being shocked so bad I was being thrown to the floor. I tried the injections (which aren't pleasant), but what a blessing. The pain stopped after the 3rd shot and I was back to doing all the things I loved. They lasted about 2 1/2 to 3 years. I am 52 now and about to take another round of the miracle shots. The last ones kept me going almost 4 years. Thank you for creating it."

• Ten...
• November 19, 2014

"I have knee osteoarthritis. Medium to severe, with severe meaning I need to go down stairs one at a time. I am an active tennis player and have been for over 40 years. I am almost bone on bone. I did not feel the discomfort of the shots was any big deal. A little pinch or pressure, but nothing really. I made a concerted effort not to play tennis during the four-week period of the injections. After the fourth week, my knee pain went from a 7 to a 2. I was amazed and could walk down stairs with NO pain. A week later, buoyed by how great my knees felt, I went out and played three hard sets of doubles. Some discomfort after playing. Maybe up to a 4 in pain. Played a couple more times, and now I feel like I am right back where I started."

• Lin...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• December 5, 2016

"I got three injections, a week apart. The first two didn't hurt at all, but I got the third one from a different doctor, and it hurt. After the first injection, my knee felt swollen on the inside and stiff, it got worse with each new injection. I used to have pain pretty much only when I went on the stairs or twisted the wrong way. Now, it feels swollen in the joint and on my leg, from a few inches above the knee to a few inches below the knee. Like I am wearing a super tight bandage. The pain has increased to the point it is really painful to go up or down the stairs, and even at night, lying in bed, it's hard to find a comfortable position because it feels like someone is drilling into my knee."

• tnt...
• June 27, 2009

"I received my first series of Orthovisc injections in November 2007. My doctor told me it would last between 9-12 months. It is now June of 2009 and I can rarely tell which knee is the 'bad' one. I have returned to playing indoor volleyball for the past two years with no pain. Highly recommend this product."

• Cdi...
• October 15, 2013

"Six months ago, a doctor injected Euflexxa. My knee was sore for four months. In the fifth month, my knee got really bad, pain and swelling. A month later, the doctor started injecting Orthovisc. On the first injection, it felt like the doctor injected a knee, the inflammation went down and the pain went down 70%. Shot number two hurt, and I was swollen and had pain for three days. The third shot didn't hurt, and it was like the last piece of a puzzle. My knee feels amazing. Will definitely have these ones again. Let's see how long they will last."

• Mai...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• January 14, 2016

"I had my first of three injections of Orthovisc yesterday (1/14/16) into my left knee. The physician numbed the skin and injected the lubricant. I did not experience any discomfort. The day after the injection, I have not experienced any negative side effects. The overall effectiveness of Orthovisc is still up in the air, but I'm eager to keep moving forward with the treatment. I will post again after completing the three injections."

• Erm...
• Taken for 10 years or more
• August 23, 2013

"Received 3 shots in April. Very little relief. Now it's August, and I've been in agony since July, so it didn't work for me. I'm amazed at the comments about playing tennis, hiking, etc. It's all I can do to walk 3 steps."

• Pho...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• November 16, 2015

"My knees were so bad I could barely walk around the office without limping. I had cortisone shots in both knees, which helped, but the Orthovisc treatment has been remarkable. A very noticeable improvement: I am much more able to walk, stay on my feet for hours, work in the yard, etc. As many others have commented, the first injections (one in each knee) were painful and left me limping. The three remaining injections, however, were painless. I don't know how long the impact will last, but so far, so good. The only downside is the cost. I have a high-deductible plan, and I ended up paying over $1,000 for the treatment. I hope I do not have to do this more than once a year at the most."

• Tsk...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• November 9, 2015

"Just had the first injection (both knees) for the third series of Orthovisc. The first injection is always the worst-more painful, and I feel lazy the remainder of the day. I recommend getting the shots at the end of the day versus first thing in the morning if you can. The shots have been amazing for me. I am able to ski, ride my dirt bike, and hike with very little, if any, discomfort the majority of the time. Walking up and down stairs is no longer an excruciating experience."

• gma...
• December 14, 2019

"Knee is much worse than before Orthovisc injection. I have only had one and will NOT have it again. I am hoping that my knee will return to pre-injection status. My knee is now so swollen, stiff, and sore I cannot bend it. Doctor told me to try this before joint replacement. This is just awful!"

• Tam...
• May 19, 2011

"I was diagnosed with lupus 4 years ago and have been living in constant pain. My knees have been the worst, especially my right knee. I was offered the Orthovisc injections for the first time in May 2011. I just received my 3rd injection, and I could tell immediately after the first one my knee was 95% better. I cannot express how good it feels to walk pain-free for the first time in 4 years. I was near using a wheelchair every time I had to leave the house. I am so happy, looking forward to seeing how long it lasts. My back quit hurting as well, due to knee pain changing my gait causing back pain! I wish I had known about this sooner! I would recommend this to anyone. I'm so thrilled to feel like I used to and to be able to function."

• Pws...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• January 27, 2016

"I had a torn meniscus, and surgery was necessary. When they went into the knee, I was told the knee was full of arthritis, and the physician had to clean the knee out, leaving bone on bone. They suggested Orthovisc, which I agreed to. It has been two weeks since the third injection, and I am in more pain than ever. I have no relief at all, living on anti-inflammatories with little benefit. I am really hoping for relief soon because I am confined to bed with ice packs."

• Ban...
• April 27, 2011

"I am 48 years old with osteoarthritis in both knees. Had my first injection of a series of 4 weekly, then will go to twice a year. I can already tell a tremendous difference. Was able to do over 30 minutes on the elliptical machine and recumbent bike each for the past week with no pain. Amazing. The injections pinch a little bit, but probably won't this week as the doctor advised me to not overdo it the day before. If you are considering this treatment plan, I think you will be happy with the results. I am."

• Ste...
• October 9, 2013

"I have had all 3 shots, and my knees feel good, no pain. The shots were spread out 3 weeks in a row, the 2nd week it hurt some, but not as bad as the knee pain I had. I can tell you how nice it is not to have pain."

• Mel...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• August 2, 2019

"THIS DRUG IS NOT WORTH THE POSSIBILITY THAT IT WILL WORK. For those that found relief in these reviews, I cannot express my envy for you. Since my third injection, all I can say is my pain from before the injection has gone from discomfort but manageable with Ibuprofen or Naproxen to after the Orthovisc EXCRUCIATING, and no drug, prescribed or otherwise, can ease the pain! That 6.5 avg. rating is a pretty big clue, wish I'd read this before getting these injections. Every day since the Ibuprofen and Naproxen (that ruin your insides) stopped working, I have done everything possible - elevated, compressed, iced, and the pain is still keeping me in tears and unable to concentrate on any work. I swear I just want to get rid of my leg or worse... My Ortho doctors have no clue what the next step will be, and I cannot continue to live like this. GOD HELP ME, PLEASE! Just save yourself the trouble. I know insurance makes you go through worthless steps before approving knee replacement. This is TORTURE!"

• Cap...
• October 28, 2016

"Had my fourth and final shot 3 days ago. Walked 2.25 miles this morning, about 95% pain-free. I was told it does take time to get the full effect, and I sense it is really starting to kick in. Hopeful and grateful."