Re: Synvisc

March 25, 2003

After diagnosis of OA in my right hip in 1997, I took a series of

Synvisc ($$$) injections...I also started taking CosaminDS daily and

started a program of stretching and strengthing. Which, if any, of

these made a difference I don't know but 5 years later I'm no worse

than then. I went to see Dr. Grecula(was originally at JRI in Los

Angeles) at the University of Texas Medical Branch in Galveston last

August and his evaluation of my x-rays showed that the status of my

hip was fairly constant (my local bone doc in Mississippi had me

scheduled for THR when I found out about resurfacing). I would

choose to do the Synvisc again even though I'm not sure that it was

the reason I've been able to postpone surgery. I go back to Texas

in August for evaluation and understand that I will have to have the

surgery at some point. Hope this helps.

DP

> Greetings...

>

> Has anyone ever had an OS suggest trying Synvisc (Hyalan)

injections

> for hips to rejuvenate the synovial fluid, lubricate remaining

> cartiledge & alleviate pain for OA. I would be interested in the

> outcome if anyone has tried this.

>

> Needless to say, I was quite surprised when I met to see if

> resurfacing was a possiblity for me & this was suggested along

with

> some PT & acquatic exercise for rehab. Several years ago (the last

> time I saw an OS about my hip) I asked about it, but was flatly

told

> it was just for knees & wouldn't work in a hip.

>

> When it was offered as a preliminary option to surgery, I jumped

on

> the bandwagon. Hopefully it will work...I should know by the end

of

> April. But in the meantime, if anyone has any info or websites

they

> can share about this, I'd be grateful. Most of what I've found so

far

> relates to using this for arthritic knees.

>

> Thanks...

> Barbara

March 25, 2003

I'm sorry if I indicated that surgery is scheduled...what I meant to

say is that I have an appt. in Aug. w/ Dr. Grecula to evaluate my

situation. He certainly feels that eventuality I will need

resurfacing...I've just bought some extra time thru ... ??? synvisc,

CosaminDS, stretching & strengthing..?? And again, as Dr. Gresula

reviewed the x-ray history his comment was that you appear to be no

worse today (Aug '02) than you were 5 years ago. My OA is a rare

side effect of Crohn's disease(not as a result of steriods, an

autoimmune illness that normally affects the small intestine but can

also impact joints and eyes.\

Thanks, DP

- In surfacehippy , " michele " <michele@f...> wrote:

> No worse? That seems extraordinary. But then, why surgery now?

Theoretically couldn't you continue with Synvisc indefinitely, if in

fact you have not declined? The other strategies - glucosamine,

stretching, stenghtening, etc. - may have slowed the progression,

but 6 and 1/2 years later I am certainly worse than I was when first

diagnosed. Maybe Synvisc does make a difference... Good luck, with

whatever.

> Michele

> Re: Synvisc

>

> After diagnosis of OA in my right hip in 1997, I took a series

of

> Synvisc ($$$) injections...I also started taking CosaminDS daily

and

> started a program of stretching and strengthing. Which, if any,

of

> these made a difference I don't know but 5 years later I'm no

worse

> than then. I went to see Dr. Grecula(was originally at JRI in

Los

> Angeles) at the University of Texas Medical Branch in Galveston

last

> August and his evaluation of my x-rays showed that the status of

my

> hip was fairly constant (my local bone doc in Mississippi had me

> scheduled for THR when I found out about resurfacing). I would

> choose to do the Synvisc again even though I'm not sure that it

was

> the reason I've been able to postpone surgery. I go back to

Texas

> in August for evaluation and understand that I will have to have

the

> surgery at some point. Hope this helps.

> DP

>

> > Greetings...

> >

> > Has anyone ever had an OS suggest trying Synvisc (Hyalan)

> injections

> > for hips to rejuvenate the synovial fluid, lubricate remaining

> > cartiledge & alleviate pain for OA. I would be interested in

the

> > outcome if anyone has tried this.

> >

> > Needless to say, I was quite surprised when I met to see if

> > resurfacing was a possiblity for me & this was suggested along

> with

> > some PT & acquatic exercise for rehab. Several years ago (the

last

> > time I saw an OS about my hip) I asked about it, but was

flatly

> told

> > it was just for knees & wouldn't work in a hip.

> >

> > When it was offered as a preliminary option to surgery, I

jumped

> on

> > the bandwagon. Hopefully it will work...I should know by the

end

> of

> > April. But in the meantime, if anyone has any info or websites

> they

> > can share about this, I'd be grateful. Most of what I've found

so

> far

> > relates to using this for arthritic knees.

> >

> > Thanks...

> > Barbara

>

March 25, 2003

You're in great hands with Dr. Grecula..his only agenda is doing

that which makes the patient's life better. Again, I do not know

that it was the synvisc that has allowed me to delay surgery. It

was a part of the whole package but to determine exactly what may

have helped is an undertaking that requires more than my ancedotal

evidence. I play golf regularly (ride in cart) and on those days

when it's cart path only, I may experience some pain that night..the

big difference is how quickly I recover. I spent all day (6 1/2

hrs.) Saturday working in the yard and was in real pain Sunday but

as of today, I'm back to normal. (My wife finds it unusual that

golf has so little impact on my hip but that yardwork,etc. does!!)

If I felt everyday as I did on Sunday, I would schedule resurfacing

asap. My quality of life is not as good as 6-7 yrs. ago but on

balance I do most everything (lift weights,etc) that I used to do

but am learning to use more caution with certain acitvities. By the

way, Total Approach Golf (Joint West Physical Therapy) in Houston

are the folks who got me started on a good stretch,strength

program. I read about them in a golf magazine; they work with

several pro golfers. Best of luck to you!!

DP

> > After diagnosis of OA in my right hip in 1997, I took a series

of

> > Synvisc ($$$) injections...I also started taking CosaminDS daily

> and

> > started a program of stretching and strengthing. Which, if any,

of

> > these made a difference I don't know but 5 years later I'm no

worse

> > than then. I went to see Dr. Grecula(was originally at JRI in

Los

> > Angeles) at the University of Texas Medical Branch in Galveston

>

> DP

>

> Thanks for your remarks and experience. I just wish the OS I

> originally saw 4 years ago would have been agreeable to trying it

or

> that I had been more agressive in my search for alternatives. He

> just told me to call him when I was ready for a THR - not what I'd

> expect from a sports med OS if there were other options.

>

> I found Dr. Grecula recently when I made up my mind that I

couldn't

> stand the life I wasn't living anymore & that it was time. In that

> process I discovered resurfacing & met with him in hopes of being

a

> candidate for that procedure. Coming away with the suggestion of

> Synvisc, PT & stretching/strengthening exercise was more than I

ever

> hoped for.

>

> It may be expensive, but it's a lot cheaper than a resurf or

> THR...not to mention the recovery. And if it buys me some more

time,

> who knows what other developments will turn up in the meantime.

>

> If you don't mind my asking, how would you categorize your general

> level of activity? Were there things you could not do before that

the

> Synvisc injections et al has allowed you to resume (ie walking as

an

> aerobic exercise)?

>

> Barbara

March 25, 2003