Q: What is Gel-One Hyaluronate?
A: Gel-One Hyaluronate is a transparent, sterile, and viscoelastic gel made from sodium hyaluronate (hyaluronan). Hyaluronan that is used to make Gel-One comes from rooster combs and is highly purified. Hyaluronan is also a natural substance found in the human body and is present in very high amounts in joints. The body's own hyaluronan acts like a lubricant and shock absorber in the joint and is needed for the joint to work properly. Osteoarthritis (OA) is a condition that involves the wearing down of cartilage (the protective covering on the ends of your bones). In joints with OA, there may not be enough hyaluronan, and there may be lower quality of hyaluronan in joint fluid and tissues. Gel-One Hyaluronate is available in a 3.0 mL (approximately ½ teaspoon) pre-filled syringe. Gel-One Hyaluronate is injected directly into your knee joint.
Q: Is Gel-One Hyaluronate right for me?
A: Gel-One Hyaluronate is used for patients who do not respond adequately to other available treatments for osteoarthritis such as non-steroidal antiinflammatory drugs (NSAIDS) or from simple pain medications, such as acetaminophen, or from exercise and physical therapy.
Q: What potential benefits does Gel-One Hyaluronate treatment offer?
A: The potential benefit of Gel-One is that it may reduce knee pain due to OA for up to 26 weeks following treatment.
Q: Will Gel-One Hyaluronate interact with any of my current medications?
A: You and your doctor should discuss all medications that you are taking prior to beginning treatment with Gel-One Hyaluronate.
Q: What are possible complications?
A: Common side effects (also called reactions) are sometimes seen when Gel-One® is injected into the knee joint. These can include: knee pain; swelling; and/or fluid build-up around the knee. These reactions are generally mild and do not last long. Reactions are generally treated by resting and applying ice to the injected knee. Sometimes it is necessary to give pain relievers by mouth, such as acetaminophen or NSAIDs, or to give injections of steroids, or to remove fluid from the knee joint. Patients rarely undergo arthroscopy (a surgical inspection of the knee joint) or other medical procedures related to these reactions.
If any of these symptoms or signs appear after you are given Gel-One Hyaluronate or if you have any other problems you should call your doctor.
Q: How is Gel-One Hyaluronate given?
A: Gel-One Hyaluronate is given as a single injection directly into the joint space. Your doctor may recommend the use of a local anesthetic to reduce possible discomfort associated with an injection.
Q: What do I need to do after I get the Gel-One Hyaluronate injection?
A: For 48 hours after you receive the injection, avoid any strenuous activities (such as jogging, tennis, other active sports, heavy Iifting) and prolonged weight bearing activities (such as standing on your feet for more than one hour).
Q: When might I feel some pain relief?
A: Even though every patient responds differently to the treatment, a medical study showed that some patients experienced a reduction in pain in as little as three weeks after the injection of Gel-One Hyaluronate.1