Synvisc for Osteoarthritis User Reviews

• Pas...
• January 25, 2013

"I had my first 3 injections 5 years ago and helped me for 5 years of pain-free knees. Now 5 years later, I have had my first injection yesterday and the next 2 in the next 2 weeks. Hope this one will also do the job for the next 5 years. Had no side effects whatsoever. I had a great doctor who did my hip replacement and also did the Synvisc injections. The key is to get a good doctor to do the injections. I highly recommend this injection."

• Nei...
• October 17, 2008

"I have used Synvisc for 7 years (getting injections every 6 months) and my doctor said I could be the poster child for the treatment. It held off my knee replacement by at least 5 years. I'd recommend it to anyone."

• Ane...
• July 25, 2019

"I received Synvisc injections to both knees, and I wish that I could have had the steroidal injections instead. The PA was bragging about this medication, so I said go ahead if it’s more effective and the relief lasts longer than the anti-inflammatory steroid - I am ready. Before the Synvisc, I could take short walks with my dog, bend down to put his harness on, but it was painful. Now, one week since my third injection, and I have a terrible time trying to walk upstairs to my bedroom. The pain in both legs is unbearable, it feels as if I have fire in both of my thighs, knees, and calves. My legs are very heavy, swollen, and it feels as if I am carrying someone else’s legs. The pain and burning are nonstop. I try to find somehow a decent position with pillows to attempt to fall asleep. That is with taking my opioid pain medication, Gabapentin, and Tylenol PM. Once I find a fairly comfortable position and use ice packs to calm the pain, I then am afraid to stand up and fall."

• Met...
• June 29, 2017

"For anyone considering Synvisc, I'd like to share that I've had both knees done twice and will continue to have the injections. Some background: I'm 59 years old, 5'6', approximately 175 lbs. The first time I had Synvisc injections (in both knees), it took about 5 weeks to experience the full benefits, but once it 'kicked in,' there was zero pain and complete fluid mobility! For almost a year, my knees felt 'brand new!' I've recently had a second set of injections (both knees) and although there has been a bit more pain in the recovery, each day there is definite improvement. I must caution anyone who gets these injections not to panic if there is noticeable pain initially after the injections. Take it easy. It gets better!"

• 64...
• January 22, 2016

"Before injections, I had continuous pain in my right knee; even during the night with little relief from Aleve or Motrin. I had some relief with physical therapy. After the third injection, my night pain was totally gone; the injections were two years ago. Now, I only take aspirin (arthritis back and body) when I am doing strenuous exercise or gardening. I can walk 6-8 miles a day with only slight discomfort. I have not needed more injections."

• Cas...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• May 30, 2015

"Received three injections of Synvisc in January 2015. After the 1st shot, I experienced relief from severe pain I had been experiencing. After the 2nd shot, the stiffness I had been experiencing began to subside. After the third shot, my knees stopped hurting, and it has been uphill for almost 6 months. I experience an occasional catching of the right knee, but no significant pain."

• Jos...
• June 29, 2014

"My wife recently took her second injection of Synvisc One, about 6 months after the first. The first seemed to help reduce the knee pain a bit, and she was looking forward to a similar experience. However, it appears she had a severe allergic reaction to this second dose with many of the symptoms described in the adverse reactions section of the clinical trials. By the afternoon of the injection, she was experiencing severe back pain and thigh pain along with chills and shivering. By the evening, she was not improving, and her fever reached 104 with nausea and vomiting. We took her to the ER. They could find no evidence of infection through blood and urine tests. Her fever and nausea improved, but her stomach was still upset two days later."

• Anonymous
• July 26, 2009

"I had my third injection 30 days ago. I find the improvement to my knee to be ongoing. Kind of a two steps forward, one step back situation. I can now go up stairs almost normally. I no longer limp as I walk, and the knee is relatively pain-free. I have hopes that I will be able to play racquetball again sometime in the future."

• Yon...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• April 10, 2013

"I had my first set of injections back in October 2012. I got almost immediate relief after a couple of days of swelling. It worked great for about three months, then the effects started to wear off. I am hoping the second set of shots will work as well or better than the first."

• Sch...
• January 28, 2016

"Had my first shot in my left knee almost 3 years ago! Was amazing and still no issues to this day. My second shot was in the right knee, which lasted a little over a year, and I just had the third in that same knee. Almost pain-free in both. Far better than surgery!!! Highly recommend before opting for surgery!!"

• Uta...
• September 24, 2011

"I first had the 3-in-one injection 2 years ago, with instant benefits, and it lasted almost a year to the date. This is the 3rd time I have had the same injection, but this time my knees are so swollen that I cannot walk downstairs or get up from sitting. This is the second day, and I am still hopeful that after the swelling goes down, it will also last another year."

• Anonymous
• May 24, 2009

"Synvisc gave me significant, almost immediate relief from the bone-on-bone pain in my knees. Since then, as I continue to learn about my knee problems, I now understand that some of the pain is in the tendons around my knees, which are inflamed due to severe bow legs. Still don't understand why the bowing is increasing with my age, but this forces my tendons to stretch in an incorrect manner, more on the inside of each leg than on the outside. Unfortunately, Synvisc cannot address this problem, although it does provide a nice separation between the joint surfaces, which also suffer from excess pressure on the inside portion of each knee. I am currently looking into shoe wedges to improve leg straightness by preventing excess supination."

• Mir...
• August 19, 2016

"Initially had Synvisc-One injected into my knee, with only slight benefit (scale of 1-10, improvement to a 4 at best). Several months later, had knees treated with the 3 injection Synvisc, and it was a Godsend, on a 10-point scale, the improvement has been as high as a 9! Three months have passed, and some minor pain has returned, but still maintaining a 7 on a 10-point scale."

• Dog...
• July 10, 2016

"I had the triple shot 5 years ago to my left knee. My knee swelled up horribly, and I could not do any of my workouts or dancing for 6 weeks. I was miserable and did not ever want to have it again. The upside is that after 6 weeks of pain, it worked for 5 years. I just had the shot done to both knees and have not had any swelling, and it has been 48 hours. My right knee is catching with any quick movements. Hope to have success after a few weeks. It did hurt really bad during the injection, but I don't think that I received any local anesthetic this time. I think that may also contribute to the swelling when extra volume is added to the area. I also did not do any activities for 48 hours, which is difficult for me."

• Til...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• November 9, 2016

"I've had multiple Synvisc, cortisone, and aerations over the last 5 years. The process is easy and pretty much painless. The results were beneficial, but the pain would always return (usually in 6-month intervals) and get progressively worse in frequency and intensity. When the pain got so bad it was difficult to walk, then I would schedule another appointment. A little over 1 year and 3 months ago, I decided to start strengthening my leg muscles with weights as opposed to cardio by walking and the elliptical. Do not do the leg extensions as I found out these only make things worse. I do leg presses and reverse leg curls with a compression brace on both knees. Most of the pain is gone (90%) at this time period and is still getting better."

• Bah...
• June 6, 2019

"I had Synvisc on at least two or possibly three occasions, with a series of three injections one week apart. This was perhaps 8 to 10 years ago (i.e., in 2009 or 2011?). Each time I received very good results and relief, which lasted two to three years. I regard this as an acceptable alternative to a total knee replacement."

• Ivy...
• April 5, 2019

"I have osteoarthritis in both knees equally since 2008, so I got 3 Synvisc injections in the right knee in June 2008. My left knee never bothered me for some reason. Yes, the injections are painful. However, I don’t recall having any bad reactions. I keep reading in people’s comments that they last approximately 6 months. I have been pain-free for 10 years! However, now my left knee hurts like my right knee did 10 years ago, so I will be going back to get the same treatment done on my left knee. Hopefully, with the same results!"

• Sam...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• October 27, 2020

"Have had Synvisc shots every 6 months over the past 7+ years, and they provide excellent relief for up to 6 months after each shot. Both knees are bone-on-bone (no cartilage left), but Synvisc shots, occasionally knee straps, and icing when overdoing provide great relief. They should be freezing the injection site when giving injections. If you experience a great amount of pain when you are given the injection, find a new doc. Only had one PA that needed more schooling. That was painful, but the rest were just minimally uncomfortable. A great med!"

• pgc...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• April 14, 2018

"Had Synvisc shots in both knees 5 years ago. Within days, the knee aching I had suffered for several years went away. I began moderate exercise again and found knee stability much improved. No sense of the knee twisting or shifting unexpectedly. Went for two years before getting repeat injections. The improvement was again within days. Before the second shots, my knees were still better than they had been before the first shots. The shots are momentarily painful, but NOTHING compared to constant low aches that were cured. I would recommend it to everyone. Go before the knee deterioration is severe. This is not an alternative to knee replacement, it is what you do to prevent the need for knee replacement."

• Car...
• Taken for 10 years or more
• May 24, 2023

"I had the three-injection Synvisc 11 years ago with great results. Before the injections, I could barely walk from the pain of moderately severe OA in my right knee. I did a lot of researching and reading reviews and learned the importance of 1) finding a doctor who has lots of experience with knee injections, 2) asking for a pre-lidocaine type shot, 3) VERY importantly - keeping that knee elevated for a full 24 hours after each of the three injections, and for the next few days, do not walk any more than necessary as this allows the injected fluid to stay within the knee and not travel down to the calf muscle. I’m going to go through this process again for both knees soon. I hope to have such amazing success again."

• Sta...
• March 17, 2016

"I have had knee pain and swelling since age 12, it has gradually gotten worse over the years. Especially since I was diagnosed with lupus, SLE, and DLE. In the past year, I have had excruciating pain. I went to the ortho and was diagnosed with avascular necrosis. I have since had surgery to remove some dead bone. The pain got better, then worse again, so I got the shot of Synvisc. It has really, really helped. I am just scared something will change and I will be back on the sidelines of my own life. So much to deal with...."

• Anonymous
• October 4, 2015

"I received one shot and was told I couldn't have another for 6 months. It's been 3 weeks with no relief from the pain. I am still limping significantly. Hoping it is just a matter of waiting longer for it to take effect."

• Ang...
• July 1, 2019

"Had the first of three Synvisc shots last week. Since then, I have had terrible pain in the back of my knee, going down to my foot. Last time I had these shots three years ago, I had a good reaction. This time around, I spend my days crying. Supposed to have the second shot tomorrow, unless the doctor can prove this is normal, I'm not having the second shot."

• Bee...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• May 7, 2019

"Synvisc has worked wonderfully for me with osteoarthritis in my left knee. For me, it lasts over a year and makes me feel more stable in walking and standing. I have a sister who had it, and it did not work for her at all (she also has rheumatoid arthritis in addition to osteoarthritis, though). It seems to have a cumulative effect too, I need the injections less often over time. It has been more than 18 months, and I only now feel like I could use another injection."

• Anonymous
• September 11, 2015

"Extreme pain and inflammation on the site where the injection was done. It happened in my first and now my second set of injections. The swelling lasts for about a week. I will not be getting my 3rd set of Synvisc injections. Too painful."