New Gel injections for joint pain

[katieoxo60]

Hi all does anyone know more about the new arthritic gel injection for joints and what it is called more specifically. Its not a drug just gel injected into joints to stop bone on bone rubbing that causes pain. Thanks for any info on this subject.

[cyberbarn]

Do you perhaps mean hyaluronic acid? It is a naturally occurring substance that is found in the synovial fluid surrounding the joint and can be injected to act as a lubricant.

This isn't a new thing, it has been around for a while. But it is not available on the NHS in the UK because it is not deemed to be cost effective. There isn't enough evidence that it actually makes things better for enough patients.

However, it is possible to get it privately, but you have to pay for it.

[katieoxo60 in reply to cyberbarn]

Thank you, I was looking for more details for another person wasn't aware it was only available privately. The info passed to myself suggested it was available on the NHS.

[cyberbarn in reply to katieoxo60]

In order to get it on the NHS it has to be individually approved. My podiatric surgeon tried to get it for me but couldn't. So it isn't impossible, but with NICE saying that it shouldn't be used, the CCGs have to approve it and most of them won't.

[katieoxo60 in reply to cyberbarn]

Understand what you mean, a bit like some of the cancer drugs. Always smile as how can you see if its cost effective or not if no one is allowed to use it on the NHS. Evidence of it working is only obtained by trial or research . Private patients don't have to disclose what they are using. Thanks again for extra info it is useful.

[katieoxo60]

Hi all I had heard of Hyleronic acid but did not realise that was the gel they inject too. They have tried stem cell inplants on knees I beleive too. Yet there are millions of us still tolerating pain . I only had one injection and it was so painful I refused to have anymore.

[cyberbarn]

There is a lot of research going on, but very little information gets to the patients. Some of it hasn't been tested, and much of it when tested doesn't work particularly well, such as the stem cell implants which were disappointing.

One area of research that is promising is TGF-beta and the WNT pathways. This is a recent publication.

journals.sagepub.com/doi/pd...

[katieoxo60 in reply to cyberbarn]

Thanks for link.