For knee pain, which one is most effective, sodium hyaluronate injection or corticosteroids?

For patients with knee joint pain due to osteoarthritis, injecting drugs into the joint cavity is an effective method. Currently, the drugs injected mainly include sodium hyaluronate and cortisone, and the functions and effects of the two are also different.

Injection of sodium hyaluronate

Also known as sodium hyaluronate, the human body itself also produces sodium hyaluronate, which helps knee pain and lubricate, cushion, and keep joints moving smoothly. When you suffer from osteoarthritis, the hyaluronic acid in the joints will become thin, which It is not necessary to inject hyaluronic acid from outside the body right away, but to use conservative therapy or anti-inflammatory and analgesic treatment first. If it is ineffective, consider using it again. This is because the effect of sodium hyaluronate varies from person to person, and the effect for some patients is less than Painkillers are okay, but may not work for other patients.

In principle, sodium hyaluronate injections are a course of five times and injected once a week. However, in actual operation, it can be increased or decreased according to the severity of the patient. This injection is mainly suitable for patients with early or mild arthritis. If they have already In the advanced stages of development, the microcirculation in the joint has changed, making it more difficult for injections to work.

Sodium hyaluronate injection is mainly suitable for:
1. Joint pain.
2. Swelling and inflammation are not severe.
3. Patients with early-stage osteoarthritis hope to be physically active.

During the injection, the doctor first cleans the injection area. If there is swelling and fluid accumulation, the doctor first injects painkillers, then uses a needle to extract the fluid from the knee, and finally injects sodium hyaluronate into the knee joint. The injection method for other drugs is basically the same.

cortisone injection

Also called corticosteroid injections, the body itself produces corticosteroids, which are natural hormones that reduce knee pain, swelling, and inflammation. The artificial corticosteroid is called cortisone, which is more powerful than the natural one. It is an anti-inflammatory drug that can quickly reduce inflammation and swelling. Many studies have found that its effect is better than sodium hyaluronate. However, it also has side effects. Too much injection can cause damage to joint cartilage, which is not conducive to the control of chronic diseases such as diabetes. Some patients have more severe pain after injection.

Steroid injections are mainly suitable for:
1. Acute joint pain
2. Severe swelling or inflammation.

Because of its hormone-like effects, cortisone cannot be injected frequently, no more than 3 to 4 times a year.

The difference between the two

Sodium hyaluronate is a lubricant that is most suitable for people with mild or no osteoarthritis. Usually in the early stages of arthritis, when the body is more active, the patient has less joint pain, swelling and fluid accumulation, and People who hope to resume activities as soon as possible, such as those who have the habit of running or hiking, are generally younger. Sodium hyaluronate injection is also suitable for people who are allergic to steroid injections. Its disadvantage is that it does not have immediate effects after injection and may take several weeks. It takes effect but lasts for a long time, on average half a year to a year.

Cortisone is an anti-inflammatory drug. Although it has mild side effects, it can relieve pain more quickly. That is most suitable for patients with mid-to-late stage osteoarthritis. It has obvious effects on inflammation, swelling or knee joint effusion, and its effect is quick. It is faster than hyaluronic acid and can quickly relieve pain after injection. A typical example is knee joint swelling caused by acute gout. The effect generally lasts for several months after injection. Its side effects are mainly the destruction of cartilage, but Patients with mid-to-late stage osteoarthritis have already suffered a lot of cartilage damage. At this time, in order to relieve pain, the side effects of cortisone on the cartilage do not need to be consider too much.

Can the two be used together?

Yes, in order to achieve better results, patients with joint pain and swelling can be inject with cortisone first, and then injected with sodium hyaluronate 4 weeks later. Depending on the patient’s condition, the doctor may also use a combination of them at the same time. Please consult your doctor for specific conditions.