Frequently Asked Questions
What is Osteoarthritis?
- A disease of all the tissues of the synovial joints (freely moveable joints, such as the knee and shoulder)
- A disorder of diverse causes
- Can affect the small and the large joints; either singly (localized) or in combination (generalized)
| Localized | Generalized |
|---|---|
| Knee | Three or more areas |
| Hip | |
| Hands | |
| Feet | |
| Other single sites |
- Can be attributed to wear and tear at the joints (i.e. degenerative joint disease)
What are the causes of OA?
- Link between obesity and OA of the knee is more consistent in women with the biggest prevalence in knee OA
- A study in middle-aged women suggested that the risk of knee OA increases by 35% for every 5kg of body weight gain
What are the symptoms of OA?
At the diseased joint when moving or after a period of rest (first mobility)
What is the occurrence rate of OA?
- The greatest incidence of OA occurs at 45 years, when OA develops in the interphalangeal joints and the carpometacarpal (CMC) joint. This is then followed by knee joint and hip.
- The prevalence of OA of the knee among adults aged 55 to 74 years is greater in women than in men
What are the treatment options?
Hyaluronic Acid (HA) falls under the category of viscosupplementation. HA is found in the synovial joint and in OA patients, the level of HA is greatly diminished in molecular weight and concentration.
Viscosupplementation is the term used to indicate the administration of HA into the synovial fluid to help regain the natural balance which has been lost in an OA joint.
What is RenehaVis™?
RenehaVis™ is a product containing 2 different HAs in different concentrations for knee OA. RenehaVis™ is an innovative new product which has shown in a clinical trial to help patients experience less pain faster and obtain better symptom relief than other HA products. What grades of knee OA may be treated with RenehaVis™?
RenehaVis™ can be used for Grades 1, 2A and 2B knee OA.
Why should I ask for RenehaVis™?
In our pivotal Canadian clinical trial, RenehaVis™ was able to help patients by the 2nd injection better then other HA products, and 3 injections are able to provide up to 12 months pain relief (up to 24 months in some patients) (this is subject to a current product extension application) and greater symptom improvement than shown by any other HA product. RenehaVis™ patients also had a better global satisfaction compared to the patients on other products including significantly lower need for pain killers to treat breakthrough pain.
How long do I wait before I can resume my normal activities after the administration of RenehaVis™?
Patients are usually asked to wait for a couple of hours before resuming regular activities, with a slow progression especially if effort is needed.
Does my knee return to normal after using RenehaVis™?
There has been no clinical evidence of the reformation of the cartilage layer found in the knee of OA patients. However it is proven that patients that use viscosupplementation may delay the progression of the disease and need for more comprehensive therapy such as surgery.