Orthovisc and Swelling: What Users Say

• ann...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• October 30, 2014

For Osteoarthritis "I have osteoarthritis. I could not bend my knees. Walking was impossible. My Dr. discussed using the cortisone injections. They would help for a week or so, and then back to pain. Well, my Dr. discussed the Orthovisc injections. I'm on my 2nd injection and what a relief. There is some swelling after but nothing ice packs can take care of. I recommend these injections for me... they worked. Now hopefully they will help for 6 months... but I would certainly have them again."

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

For Osteoarthritis "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!"

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

For Osteoarthritis "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."

• Cdi...
• October 15, 2013

For Osteoarthritis "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."

• Cdi...
• October 15, 2013

For Osteoarthritis "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."

• gma...
• December 14, 2019

For Osteoarthritis "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!"

• PR-...
• August 19, 2011

For Osteoarthritis "It's 9 days before Ironman Louisville, and I just had my second shot. I'm 33 and ran 10 marathons last year, and this year I'm feeling it. I have received the steroid shots in the past, but two weeks ago got the first Orthovisc shot. That was on a Friday, and I swam 2.4 miles and biked 70 with no pain. This week I've run over 20 miles, one 13-mile run, and am still feeling good. The shot was no big deal - I just put ice on my knee the hour before I went in and right after, and this helped. I didn't need any assistance walking after - it just feels a little swollen. Oh well - time to go run!"

• ver...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• November 17, 2019

For Osteoarthritis "Horrible experience with Orthovisc and a lot of $$$$. Had 3 shots, I feel worse now than before the injections. I received the injections for bone-on-bone knee arthritis. Not only is my knee swollen, my leg is swollen right down to my foot! The Dr. really should have mentioned the fact that this medication only has a 6.5 patient satisfaction rating. Instead, he said that we should be able to postpone knee replacement for a year or two (maybe longer). Now I have to wait 90 days after my last injection before we can schedule a knee replacement. I could have had my surgery and been on the road to recovery by now. My advice is to tell the Dr. NO if this is suggested to you."

• Suz...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• January 30, 2016

For Osteoarthritis "11-23-15 I got shot #1 of Orthovisc. The shot itself was not painful, but afterwards, the pain became intense. There was swelling, redness at the injection site, and at times, excruciating pain. 11-30-15 I was given a cortisone shot to get the reaction under control. 12-3-15 I got shot #2. The injection wasn't painful, but afterwards, it was horrible. There was redness at the injection site; swelling from the thigh to the ankle; fatigue; weakness; mild edema; body-wide pain, with arthritis-type pain in my joints and the excruciating pain in the knee. 12-7-15 Given a prescription for Prednisone. Did not receive shot #3. Finally, for the last couple of days, I can say the symptoms are about half gone. 1-29-16 Do your research."

• Bat...
• February 14, 2019

For Osteoarthritis "My first injection was easy peasy, the second injection, easy peasy. I'm currently on the 3rd injection, and it has been a killer. It feels like the space in between my bone was separating, it was an odd, painful feeling and hurts 2 days later. I have swelling on top of my knee and around the injection site. However, this knee has been a mess since my arthroscopic surgery last year, so this could have something to do with excessive swelling. I'm hoping this will give me my life back. UPDATE: I had to do the 4th injection a week later than planned and, oh my gosh, what a godsend! This injection felt like my 1st injection (easy peasy). I highly recommend taking a week break between the 3rd and 4th injections. My ortho told me I won't see real benefit for several weeks. I currently can walk without excruciating pain."

• Sav...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• September 13, 2016

For Osteoarthritis "Not good, it's been a week since injection #3, and my knee is worse and can hardly walk this morning. I have more swelling, and the pain has gradually gotten worse with each injection. Waiting and hoping for delayed relief."

• Cap...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• March 19, 2017

For Osteoarthritis "Just had my second injection yesterday. After the first injection, I was somewhat sore and my knee was swollen, however, since yesterday, soreness has retreated and swelling has subsided. Feels good. It takes, as I understand it, 4-6 weeks to take full effect. So, we will see, but so far, so good."

• Chr...
• June 22, 2015

For Osteoarthritis "I have had Orthovisc every 16-24 months for pain in my knees (osteoarthritis). It seems to really work a couple of weeks to a month after the last of the three injections. I think the main reason is my knees are healing from the multiple injections. I use ice on my knees on post-injection days one through four after walking over 2 miles. Ice seems to help relieve the ache. I always start to feel better on Day Six, and the next day I start this all over again. It does help me. I go from barely walking 2 miles total a day to around 4. My swelling never totally goes away in my knees, although, I think about the pain less. I used to get the injections for free, but this time UnitedHealthcare PPO was $400, and you can ask to split payment over 4 months."

• HB ...
• April 25, 2017

For Osteoarthritis "I tore the lateral meniscus in my right knee when I took a spill on our stairs. Had a partial meniscectomy. The MD also found a small amount of OA on the lateral femur and had it off during that arthroscopic procedure. He recommended gel injections. I had the series of 3 beginning 7 weeks post-op. I had swelling and decreased ROM with increased pain after each injection; the second was the worst. I am 13 days post injections and still have some joint swelling, don't have full ROM back, and do not feel the injections helped; I think they regressed my recovery. If I had to do it over again, I would NOT do the injections!!! So frustrated!!!"

• She...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• September 7, 2017

For Osteoarthritis "Had my first injection 18 months ago. 1st injection of the series was no pain, 2nd of the series extreme pain, swelling, stiffness, 3rd injection no pain. I had no real knee pain for 18 months, remained active with Pilates, hiking, walking, circuit training. Pain started again in June 2017, started injections again in September, 1st injection no pain, next day no swelling but a few twinges. I hope I get another 18 months or more. Had surgery 2 years ago, knee remains stable right now, goal is to avoid any surgery from now on."

• Cat...
• November 26, 2018

For Osteoarthritis "Torn meniscus in my knee, given 3 injections of Orthovisc. Pain and swelling for a very long time. Drug was totally useless. Another orthopedic doc said I need knee replacement. Today I spent an hour on the phone with the pharmacy, BriovaRX, told them about the useless drug and that I wanted to speak with their CEO about a bill of $741.64. I found my insurance company paid them, are you ready? $2,083.20! I spoke with 4 different employees who kept putting me on hold and could not give me the name of their president or CEO. Then, to all insult, the 'resolution' employee tried to justify the outrageous cost of the drug. Told them I will not pay and will still pursue finding their CEO. I see a lot of unhappy people here, and a 6.0 rating for an 'expensive specialty drug' is poor. Next, will contact the manufacturer, Janssen Products. Apparently, a team of people decides how much this drug should cost. Defective product period."

• Hie...
• April 1, 2018

For Osteoarthritis "I have two shots two weeks in a row. The first one I felt relief in about 3-4 days. My second shot was nearly a week ago, and I am in pain around the area of the injection. If this pain was gone, I’d be feeling much better than 2 weeks ago. Not sure if the injection was too soon after the first or if I tensed up or some other reason. The area above my kneecap is swollen, and the area around the injection site is a bit inflamed and tender. Wondering if anyone has had this issue. My next shot is in a week and considering waiting longer."

• Hie...
• April 1, 2018

For Osteoarthritis "I have two shots two weeks in a row. The first one I felt relief in about 3-4 days. My second shot was nearly a week ago, and I am in pain around the area of the injection. If this pain was gone, I’d be feeling much better than 2 weeks ago. Not sure if the injection was too soon after the first or if I tensed up or some other reason. The area above my kneecap is swollen, and the area around the injection site is a bit inflamed and tender. Wondering if anyone has had this issue. My next shot is in a week and considering waiting longer."

• Dee...
• November 3, 2018

For Osteoarthritis "I am 4 weeks out after my 3rd and last injection. My knees are swollen and the pain is much worse. I am very disappointed. I can't take opioids."