How does Hyalgan compare to surgery and steroid injections?
Unlike surgery, Hyalgan® is minimally-invasive. It’s possible to postpone the need for surgery for months, even years, with Hyalgan® treatment, avoiding a long and painful recovery process before getting back to even basic joint function. The cost of surgery is also greater with all but the most extensive insurance coverages, often costing the average American thousands of dollars out of pocket. What’s more, joint replacement is not permanent; patients who opt for joint replacement in their 50’s may go through 2-3 more replacements during their lifetime. And in some cases, replacements are rejected by the body altogether. Normal surgical risks like infection and bad outcomes are also possible. Steroid injections like cortisol are actually potentially harmful to joints, causing inflammation and, in some studies, has shown weakening and wear to tendons and cartilage. Treatment with steroid injections carries risks like infection and pain as well.
