One of the most commonly asked questions we receive here at Reflex is “What should I anticipate after my first Hyaluronic Acid injection?”
When Hyaluronic Acid (HA) is injected directly into a knee joint it helps reduce inflammation as well as cushion and lubricate the movement of your knee. It is important for patients to understand the preventative aftercare steps of an HA injection to help this process.
Ice & Elevate
Some patients may experience mild soreness and stiffness, which can last 24-48 hours following your injection. Icing and elevating your knee (s) 20-30 minutes 1-3 times a day can help the soreness to subside.
Avoid High Impact Activities
As much as we would love to see our patients get back to life as soon as possible, we recommend avoiding high impact activities such as running, jogging, and jumping for the first 24-48 hours after your HA injection. This can cause additional inflammation that could cause swelling and pain. However, we do recommend low-impact non-vigorous activities such as walking, swimming, or cycling. These low-impact activities can help the HA fluid circulate throughout the knee joint. Once the HA has been injected, it is already working to improve both the lubrication and cushioning effects inside the joint space.
Anti-Inflammatory Drugs (NSAID)
The area around the injection site or inside the joint may experience a temporary increase in pressure. This is completely normal and should not be a cause of concern. Patients with these symptoms can resort to over-the-counter anti-inflammatory analgesic medicine such as ibuprofen to minimize their discomfort. The peak improvements from the injection procedure are expected to show effect 6-8 weeks after your third injection. We highly recommend the use of an all-natural health supplement called Phyto-4 for long-term inflammation management.