Anyone have Hylan shots for OA (Osteoarthritis)?

[ellenrr]

These shots provide artificial joint fluid. Not the cortisone shot.

I have a torn meniscus and OA in knee. I have done 4 months of physical therapy. PT helped a LOT, but in the last month I have reached a plateau and have not seen any improvement.
My doctor says to think about the Hylan.
Other options: surgery, cortisone shot.

[fadedrose]

1. I have never heard of the Hylan shots

I'd like to know more about them as far as effectiveness and cost are concerned. I hope you get a large response to your post..

Thanks....

[ellenrr]

2. I hadn't heard of them either...

and I've talked to my MD several times in the last 4 months as far as options; this is the first time he mentioned them.
ah..cost-- $600/shot!
(I have medicare which covers the cost, but that is obscene).

He told me that 1 person in 10 would not have any effect, 30% would have some pain relief for a time (months), and the larger proportion would have a better outcome.
He told me one 90-year - old lady had these shots, and she was able to ski again.

It's called Hylan G-F 20 if you want to look it up. One brand name is "Synvisc".
Like any other pharmaceutical there are side effects and dangers.

the pamphlet I have (from Synvisc) is not as sunny as my dr. It says "lubricates and cushions your knee, can provide up to six months of osteoarthritis knee pain relief."

I'm not rushing into it. I'm not one who has a lot of faith in the medical profession. (comes from doing a lot of research)

[fadedrose]

3. Might be cheaper to get a prescription for POT

And has no side effects from what I heard. Are you in a state where you can get medical marijuana?

$600 per shot is really high. Your deductible won't be cheap. Lots of insurance companies don't want to pay for something that they are not sure will help.

When I had my cortisone shot, they made me take a 6 hour test with just a tiny sample of the shot. If there wasn't at least a 40% improvement in pain relief, the insurance company will not pay. I had to keep a 6 hour log that showed how much relief I felt every hour...

[ellenrr]

4. I don't have a deductable, and acc. to my dr office,

medicare has no problem paying for it.
but it still is an obscene amount of money,