Sodium hyaluronate is a fluid that works on the joints in our body. It behaves as a lubricant and shock absorber for our joints. It is used to treat knee pain caused by our osteoarthritis. This injection is usually given when we don’t get other arthritis medications that have not been effective.
Information about sodium hyaluronate
We should not receive a sodium hyaluronate injection if we have an infection in our knee or in the skin of the knee. We need to make sure sodium hyaluronate is safe for us, tell our doctor if we have ever had:
- an allergy to feathers
- an allergy to birds, or egg products.
- A circulation problem in our legs or blood clots.
It is unknown if this injection will harm an unborn baby. We need to tell our doctor if we are pregnant or plan to become pregnant in near future. It is unknown if it passes through our breast milk or if it could affect our nursing baby. It is our duty to tell our doctor if we are breastfeeding.
How does sodium hyaluronate work?
It is injected directly into our knee joint. A health assistant will give us this injection. Sodium hyaluronate is given once every week 3 to 5 times. Follow our doctor’s dosing instructions very carefully.
In order to prevent swelling and pain, our doctor may recommend resting our knee or applying ice for a short time after one injection. It is our responsibility to read all medication guides as well as patient information, and instruction sheets provided to us. Ask our doctor or pharmacist if we have any questions.
What happens if we miss a dose?
We must call our doctor for instructions if we lose an appointment for our sodium hyaluronate injection.
What happens if we overdose?
Usually, it doesn’t happen regularly. If it occurs, then we shall have to inform our physician immediately.
What shall we have to do after receiving sodium hyaluronate?
For at least 2 days after one injection, avoid strenuous activity, jogging, or high-impact sports such as tennis or soccer. We must avoid standing for more than one hour at a time or weight-bearing activity. Ask our physician how long to wait before we resume these activities.
Side effects
We must get emergency medical help if we have signs of an allergic reaction such as lips, swelling of our face, hives, difficulty breathing, tongue, or throat. We need to Call our doctor at once if we have to swell around the knee after one injection or severe pain.
Common side effects:
- Pain, warmth, redness, bruising, stiffness, or puffiness where the injection was injected.
- Nausea and stomach pain.
- trouble in walking on roads.
- back pain, muscle pain or joint pain.
- A headache, tingly feeling or numbness.
- sneezing, runny or stuffy nose, sore throat.
- Feeling tired or
- skin irritation around the knee or itching.
Along with these side effects, sodium hyaluronate injection may be caused some unwanted side effects. Although not all of these side effects may occur, if they occur they may need our medical attention.
Check with our doctor immediately if we face the following side effects that occur when we take sodium hyaluronate injection.
Less common side effects are:
- Cough,
- flushing or redness of the skin,
- troubled breathing,
- Dizziness or feeling the faint,
- Fever,
- difficulty in swallowing,
- hives, and/or itching,
- pain or redness at the place of injection
- skin rash,
- stuffy nose,
- swelling of face, eyelids or lips,
- tightness in the chest, and/or wheezing
Some side effects of this sodium hyaluronate injection may occur that we don’t need medical attention. These side effects can’t create any harmful situation during the period of treatment as our body adjusts to the medicine. Also, our health professionals may be able to tell us about ways how to prevent or reduce these side effects. Check with our health professional if we face these following side effects continue or are bothersome or if we have any questions about them, these are:
Common side effects:
- Diarrhea
- stomach pain
- itching of the skin
- headache
- large, or purplish patches on the skin
- loss of appetite,
- non-elevated blue,
- nausea and/or vomiting
- swelling of the knee and hand.
