Orthovisc and Discomfort: What Users Say

• Ama...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• July 29, 2012

For Osteoarthritis "I have osteoarthritis in both knees. I had a torn meniscus repaired in my left knee a year ago. My knees were killing me. The surgery provided some relief, but they both hurt constantly, and going upstairs or an incline was awful! I had my first of 3 injections last week. The shot was uncomfortable but bearable. My knees hurt pretty bad for the first few days after the shot. Now, almost a week later, my knees feel so much better. It's unbelievable. I had learned to deal with pain when I stood from sitting and pain when I sat down! To not feel the pain when I stand is amazing! I highly recommend the injections!"

• Amb...
• May 16, 2014

For Osteoarthritis "I am 32 and have bad arthritis in my knee, basically bone on bone, the doctor says, but I'm way too young for a knee replacement. The doctor recommended the 4 Orthovisc injections every week for 4 weeks. Not going to lie, getting the shot itself was very uncomfortable. I have had 2 so far, and they have helped with pain, but it's getting the shots I don't like. They are helpful, but expect to feel discomfort during and for the few hours after the shot. My leg feels heavy until I 'walk it out.'"

• 15y...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• July 22, 2016

For Osteoarthritis "I obtained relief (from swelling, hot, painful knee joints) after religiously taking glucosamine-chondroitin and calcium for six months. I kept this up with good results until pain returned in May 2016. PCP referral to an orthopedic surgeon who took x-rays of my hip and both knees and told me there was virtually no cartilage left, bone grinding against bone and bone spurs near both knees. I got a cortisone shot in the one knee, then the following week in the other, and then after two weeks or so, started the Orthovisc 'gel' shots in my right knee-once per week for four weeks. The needle going into the knee was not bad, but the pressure of the gel filling the knee was uncomfortable, but only for a few seconds. Excellent relief after the third shot with good range of motion in the knee."

• Ten...
• November 19, 2014

For Osteoarthritis "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."

• FL ...
• December 5, 2016

For Osteoarthritis "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!!"

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

For Osteoarthritis "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!"

• JES...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• July 28, 2018

For Osteoarthritis "Spent last summer in physical therapy to no avail. I have since learned that physical therapy just builds up the muscles around the knee to help stabilize it. After much thought, pain, and more thought, I decided to try the Orthovisc injections. I started with the first injection the third week of October 2017 and had the last, third, the first week of November 2017. It is now July 2018, and it still seems to be working. The injections stabilized the knee, and I have been almost pain-free. The only reason I did not give this injection a 10 was that they were quite uncomfortable to get!"