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Get relief from your osteoarthritis knee pain

There are several different options when it comes to relieving knee pain associated with osteoarthritis, ranging from lifestyle changes and oral medications, to injections, and even surgery.

Lifestyle changes

Simple lifestyle changes are a good place to start

Whether you’ve already begun a treatment regimen or have just begun researching knee pain, there are simple lifestyle changes you can start today that could help lessen your osteoarthritis knee pain.

Infographic of knee exercises Show me detailed instructions for each exercise

Stay active and strengthen your knees

Try adding simple exercises to your routine—specifically, ones that will help strengthen the muscles that help your knees function.

  • Practise low-impact exercises (e.g., walking, biking, swimming) to strengthen your muscles.
  • Rest when you experience any pain or swelling in your knee.
  • Apply heat or ice to reduce knee pain.
Woman making a salad Get tips to kick-start your weight loss

Kick-start your weight loss and knee pain relief

Losing weight reduces the pressure on your joints. Even a small amount can make a big difference. In fact, 5 pounds of weight loss represents a reduction of 20 pounds in the load exerted on your knees per step during daily activities.

Pharmacist opening drawer filled with painkillers

Pain medication

Painkillers like acetaminophen can help provide knee pain relief. Your doctor might also recommend ibuprofen or topical medications to soothe aching knee joints. If your condition escalates, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) such as Aspirin® (acetylsalicylic acid) or corticosteroid injections may be prescribed to relieve the pain and inflammation.

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Viscosupplementation

When oral medications aren’t enough and you’re not ready for surgery

Cingal, Monovisc and Orthovisc needle

There are different types of injection treatment options to relieve osteoarthritis knee pain. They are divided into the following categories:

  • Viscosupplementation
  • Combination viscosupplementation and corticosteroid injection
  • Orthobiologics

Not sure if it’s osteoarthritis?

Learn more about osteoarthritis and its symptoms here.

Learn about osteoarthritis

Should you consult a doctor?

Learn about the signs that indicate you should consult a doctor for your knee pain.

Dr. Bhandari Watch other videos

Viscosupplementation

Viscosupplementation, such as Cingal®, Monovisc®, or Orthovisc®, is the injection of a clear gel-like substance containing hyaluronic acid.

A single injection of Cingal® or Monovisc®, or three injections of Orthovisc®, can help alleviate pain caused by osteoarthritis of the knee for up to 6 months. In addition, the corticosteroid found in Cingal® can provide rapid knee pain relief in as early as 1 week.

Hyaluronic acid is a naturally occurring substance found in the synovial fluid of the knee joint. Viscosupplementation—or the injection of hyaluronic acid into the joint—is thought to lubricate the cartilage (much like oil lubricates an engine), thereby reducing friction and pain.

Monovisc link Learn more about Monovisc®

Combination viscosupplementation and corticosteroid injections

A corticosteroid and viscosupplementation combination treatment like Cingal® is a single intra-articular injection that provides the quick knee pain relief of a corticosteroid with the long-term knee pain relief of a viscosupplement. Cingal®, the one and only combination treatment, offers the convenience of both.

The patient literally hobbled in and, after using Cingal®, made her physician cry because she said it meant so much to her that she could bend her knee.

Individual results may vary.

Cingal link Learn more about Cingal®

Injection treatment options

Consider Cingal®, Monovisc®, and Orthovisc® for osteoarthritis knee pain relief

Cingal syringe

1x
injection

Fast relief:*
As soon as week 1

Relief lasts up to
6 months

Learn more
Monovisc syringe

1x
injection

Relief lasts up to
6 months

Learn more
Orthovisc syringe

3x
injections

Reassurance of weekly visits

Learn more

*Significant reduction in pain measures seen at Week 1 vs. saline (ITT p=0.008).

Find a specialty clinic near you

Treatments can vary greatly depending on the cause of your knee pain. In general, if your knee pain disrupts your daily activities, it might be time to find a sports medicine clinic and consult with a specialist.

Are you covered for Cingal® or Monovisc®?

Access our private insurance coverage guide for reimbursement information on Cingal®, Monovisc®, and Orthovisc®.

Download the coverage guide

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Surgery

The artificial knee: knee replacement surgery

Knee replacement surgery is considered when the pain, disability, and stiffness have a serious effect on your daily activities and when medicines and other treatment options no longer relieve symptoms.

The decision to perform surgery depends on many factors, including:

  • General health
  • Active infection or risk of developing an infection
  • Muscle strength surrounding the knee joint
Inner view of a knee after a replacement surgery