Euflexxa and Severe Pain: What Users Say

• Mar...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• May 2, 2013

For Osteoarthritis "The Euflexxa provides relief for me for the pain of bone on bone in both knees. Originally, the relief would last for a year, now it's down to about nine months. I have extreme pain upon receiving the injections. I'm very interested to see that no one else seems to have this. My MD/PA ices the knee first and uses a topical spray, but the actual injecting of the Euflexxa causes me a lot of pain. Yesterday, the PA kept telling me to breathe. She was afraid I was going to pass out. The first shot of the series of three is always the worst, so I'm hoping next week's injections won't be so bad. This is probably my fourth time to have these shots."

• TX2...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• March 12, 2017

For Osteoarthritis "I'm 57 years old and suffer from moderate bilateral knee osteoarthritis. In October '16, I had to stop taking Celebrex due to gastrointestinal complications from NSAIDs. So, I opted to take Euflexxa injections for my knee pain instead of steroid shots due to a more 'natural' treatment. Two Wednesdays ago, I had my first Euflexxa shot, but the side effects were awful (unbearable knee pain for 4 days, chronic pain for 3 days, joint pressure). I searched on the Internet and found numerous reviews from people that experienced similar side effects. So this past Wednesday, at my appointment for the second set of Euflexxa shots, I explained my experience to the doctor and refused to continue the treatment. Euflexxa didn't work for me and left me more achy and very disappointed."

• Sla...
• November 7, 2013

For Osteoarthritis "I am 71 years old, and both knees are bone on bone. Total knee replacements are not an option for me. I was getting cortisone shots every few months, and they were helpful. The doctor advised me Euflexxa may help me, and I was given my 1st shot in the office, but with every shot I felt worse. I advised the doctor that the pain was so extreme that I couldn't walk. One week after the 3rd shot, I was given a cortisone injection in both knees, and one week later my left leg swelled up, and I was admitted to the hospital with a flesh-eating disease. I was close to 2 days from death and in surgery within a day to remove the bacteria. I was in the hospital and rehab for almost 4 months and am still in a wheelchair, getting home nurse care and on antibiotics."

• Anonymous
• November 2, 2011

For Osteoarthritis "I am in the middle of my second course of Euflexxa. I had it six months ago, and the pain relief was significant. One thing to note is that your doctor should place the injection exactly where your arthritis is. No improvement could mean he or she is not doing the injection in the right place. Another thing to note is that your activity tolerance in the first 48 hours after a Euflexxa shot can vary tremendously. I think most doctors use local anesthetic, and last shot I 'felt fine' and was walking around and using short flights of stairs too much, resulting in severe pain that night (Percocet needed) and still a lot of pain the next day. The third day I was fine, though. Today I got a shot, and I am taking it easy to avoid pain."

• old...
• July 17, 2016

For Osteoarthritis "Was having severe leg pain with 2nd shot, but Dr. gave me 3rd shot without listening to my concerns. 3rd shot disabled my walking for 3 months, lost energy to where I had to rest after taking a shower, unable to walk without a cane or assistance for 3 months, could not put a sock on my foot, as bending at all caused unbearable pain in the groin. Difficulty sleeping with pain without sleep aid. Would never want to experience that again. But, after 6 months, I am able to walk 2 miles daily without knee hurting at all. Primary doc said I had an allergic reaction to the medication."

• Joe...
• March 21, 2017

For Osteoarthritis "I just received my last of 3 shots today. I'm in so much pain, and I have a very important computer install tomorrow at a big company, and I'm worried now. The first shot wasn't so bad, the second was about the same, but within days after the second shot, I started experiencing shooting pains all throughout my right knee. The pain progressed as the days went by. With the 3rd shot, as soon as the doctor removed the needle from my knee, I tried to bend my leg to roll down my pant leg, and it felt like someone drove a screw right through my knee. And the drive home was even worse. I had a similar experience with a cortisone shot a few years ago. I was told by another physician that it might have been an allergic response to the meds."

• Chr...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• September 30, 2018

For Osteoarthritis "My doctor recommended Euflexxa as he believed it would last longer than the injections he had given me previously. A few days after the second injection, I started experiencing extreme pain in my knee and lower back. So severe at times, I couldn't walk. I told my doctor, and he suggested we wait an extra week before the third injection to see if the pain went away. He thought maybe it was the way he injected it. I had the third shot, and the same thing happened. Two days after the injection, I was in such severe pain again, my knee and my lower back. I again reported it to my doctor. I will not have this injection again. It is now two weeks after my injection, and I still have the pain."

• Mac...
• January 31, 2017

For Osteoarthritis "Euflexxa was a waste of my time. I had 3 injections, one every week. I did have some relief from the pain, but I still have pain some days worse than others. It's been 3 months now, and I have to do something else. I had the Synvisc about 8 years ago, and that worked good till now, it's starting to hurt, so I am now in a pickle with both knees. The problem with Synvisc is that it is horrific pain going in. But it only takes a short time. I would rather endure that pain and have it help and eventually be pain-free than this Euflexxa that gives only little relief. I still have to take over-the-counter pain meds to my disappointment. But I try to take them every other day."

• DON...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• September 24, 2021

For Osteoarthritis "Has not worked. Told doctor before getting last injection I was having some discomfort and more leg pain than before. He said after this last injection in a week to 10 days I should start feeling better. Well, I haven't done anything but feel better. I have severe pain in my knee and legs feel like my actual bones are hurting, charley horse light feeling going up and down legs and my feet. My legs, if you can even imagine, are worse since injections. Scared of how long these side effects are going to last."

• Pat...
• July 25, 2016

For Osteoarthritis "Had the first of 3 last week - 2nd injection tomorrow. The shot itself did not seem too bad - some bad pain the next 3 days - seems better today. Will update after 2nd shot. She suggested having a cortisone shot with the series of 3 - has anyone else done that? I was hoping to not do cortisone again for a while due to weight gain."

• Kat...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• January 19, 2022

For Osteoarthritis "Had all 3 injections outside of left knee 3 months ago. I've had severe pain on the inside of the same knee since shots. Would not do again. Pain never goes away."