Am tentatively set up to get series of 3 Hyalgan inj. on very bad r. knee around mid Sept. Does anyone have any experience with this, what it was like, whether it helped or not and for how long? I did a search on old threads and the only comments seemed to suggest that it didn't help much.
Of course, maybe with those folks it helped a lot, maybe they're out running and dancing and not checking or posting on the arthritis board any more :D

For me it provided about 3 weeks of relief. I ended up getting a total knee replacement within 3 months. It is one of the "logical" steps that the insurance folks seem to insist that the doctors follow prior to surgery.

Big needle, but my doctor sprayed some very cold liquid first to freeze the injection site. Very little discomfort.

Hubby had the Synvisc in both knees last year, and it helped a lot at first, and gradually it quit. He is back where he started, but he cannot have knee replacement due to other medical problems. Don't pin too much hope on this procedure. I haven't heard anyone say it solved their knee trouble in the long run.

Hermit

I have not personally had them done primarily because there is only a 50/50 chance they will work and it seemed like an exhorbitant amount of pain to go through for that type of risk. I personally have problems with numbing medications such as novicaine, they either do not work or take hours to work and my doctor was not willing to work with me on it so I by passed them.
From what I understand if they do work then you are in lot's of luck because I do hear they work well.