What Is Viscosupplementation?

Do you have osteoarthritis in a knee or other joint? Then, you know the pain and limited mobility this degenerative process causes. At Central Florida Pain & Rehab Clinic in Winter Park, FL, Dr. Enrique Umpierre-Schuck offers innovative viscosupplementation, injections that limit the pain and improve range of motion when conventional measures fall short. Could this therapy help you?
 
In your knee or elsewhere
Osteoarthritis also is called wear and tear arthritis. The CDC says that it is the most common form of this degenerative condition, and it impacts millions of Americans, particularly with advancing age.
 
Common sites of osteoarthritis include the hip, knee, lower back, and neck. The articular cartilage and lubricating synovial fluid decrease in efficiency and quantity, resulting in pain, redness, stiffness, and decreased range of motion (ROM).
 
What can help
Conventional management strategies include daily exercise to increase the range of motion and limit stiffness and pain. Over the counter medications, such as ibuprofen, help too, as well as weight loss, application of heat and/or cold to affected areas, and injections of cortisone.
 
However, for many arthritis sufferers, these common-sense tools do not provide enough relief. That's where a comprehensive evaluation and treatment at Central Florida Pain & Rehab Clinic can help.
 
Dr. Enrique Empierre-Schuck is board-certified in Physiatry and Pain Medicine. His expertise in rehabilitation for acute injuries and chronic degenerative conditions and pain makes him uniquely qualified to help patients who have not responded to more traditional orthopedic and chiropractic care plans.
 
The details on viscosupplementation
Regarding your osteoarthritis, Dr. Empierre-Schuck may recommend injection therapy called viscosupplementation. These weekly injections effectively decreased the pain in the knee and increase the lubrication in the joint.
 
If you qualify, the doctor will administer 1 to 3 weekly injections of hyaluronic acid. This thick preparation reduces pain and inflammation and facilitates the freer movement of the joint. Patients experience optimal results within days and results last up to six months.
 
Learn more
You can reduce your level of pain and experience a better quality of life with the therapeutic services provided by Central Florida Pain & Rehab Clinic in Winter Park, FL. Call us for a complete evaluation by Dr. Enrique Umpierre-Schuck, and ask him if viscosupplementation is right for you. Phone (407) 673-9533.