Hi Ron,   Please check with your RD about those shots.   I do not believe
they rebuild anything.   It would be better to have a full understanding of
what is taking place.
Harv

Synvisc is a brand name for it. I took them in the summer of last year...I
don't really believe that it helped me that much..But my knees are bone on
bone...Cox 2 inhibitors don't do anything either...I get about as much
relief taking regular aspirin or ibuprofen...Here is the web site for it.
http://us.synvisc.com/
I think that my alternative will be new knees...Just I am not ready yet...
But I take Lortab 7.5s for my FM/OA, Psuedogout pain...So If I didn't have
this to help me through..I would probably be more ready to think of the knee
replacements...I just worry that the FM pain would still be there anyways..

Hugss Cindy

First of all, you need to talk to your doctor some more and do some reading
to be sure you have enough information to make a right-for-you decision.

The shots don't rebuild the cartilidge.  It's a safe, gel-like replacement
for the synovial fluid that keeps the various parts of the knee joint
protected and "oiled".  The idea is to replace the fluid that gradually
diasppears due to the arthrtis and recreate the cushioning effect that keeps
the bones and cartiledge from rubbing together.  The big question people
have about these shots is "This seems scary - is it worth it?"   In my case
I tried the shots in both knees:  one has been 90% pain free for eights
months now and shows no sign of wearing off.  The other, worse knee has been
75% pain free and lasted six months.  I went from needing crutches to doing
most things almost normally.  My Dr does alot of them and she tells me that
only a couple people find the shots painful.  My very first shot was
difficult because of all the inflammation but the rest have been pretty
bearable.  Some I've hardly noticed.  The results vary for each person but
the effects can last for a year.

I can't say I like getting the shots but, for me, they have been very much
worth it.  Remember though, YMMV and you should always end up with treatment
*you* feel confident about.  Read and research and ask around some more. hth

Skip

The injections do NOT rebuild the cartilidge.  It's a fluid
that helps lubricate the joints.

I had the series of 3 injections.  The doctor used a freezing
spray and a local anesthetic.  I felt nothing after that.  The
entire process took about 15 minutes, so you know the
doctor didn't just rush through it to get to another patient.

The relief lasted about 8, maybe 9, months, and I am just
now at the stage of inquiring about another series.

... Intel on the inside.   Idiot Tom on the ourside.