2) They are not a first-line medical treatment.

3) Hyaluronic acid injections are classified as medical devices.

Doctor examining patient’s knee

PhotoAlto / Michele Constantini / Getty Images

“Examples of other class III devices are breast implants andpacemakers.

4) Not all hyaluronic acid products are created equal.

There are eight brands of hyaluronic acid approved by the FDA for treating knee osteoarthritis.

According to the manufacturers, all are effective for up to six months.

The most common ones affect the injection site, including:

These tend to be temporary and mild.

Confirm this with your healthcare provider, but you should not have to stop taking your regular medication.

Both Medicare and private insurance typically will approve hyaluronic acid injections no more often than every six months.

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Epub 2018 Jun 29. doi:/10.3892/etm.2018.6371