Do Hyaluronic Acid Injections for Thumb Arthritis Hurt?

If you have pain at the base of your thumb, you may have heard about hyaluronic acid injections. These are shots that doctors give to help treat thumb arthritis. But many people wonder if these injections hurt.

This article looks at a medical study that tested how much pain people felt during these shots. The study looked at 16 people with severe thumb arthritis. The researchers wanted to know if the injections were painful and if the pain was different depending on how the doctor gave the shot.

Here are three important things the study found:

• Hyaluronic acid injections can help people with thumb arthritis who do not want surgery.
• The injections do cause pain and discomfort.
• Using a special x-ray machine during the injection actually caused more pain than doing it without the machine.

What Is Thumb Arthritis and Who Gets It?

Thumb arthritis is also called rhizarthrosis. This is a fancy word that means arthritis at the base of your thumb. The joint where your thumb connects to your wrist is called the trapeziometacarpal joint. That is a very big word for a very small place.

According to this study, thumb arthritis mostly affects middle aged women. This is important to know because it helps us understand who might need this treatment.

The study looked at people who had stage 3 or 4 thumb arthritis. These are the more serious stages. The doctors use something called the Eaton staging system to measure how bad the arthritis is. Stage 3 and 4 mean the arthritis is quite advanced.

You may be wondering why this matters. When arthritis gets to these stages, people often need help managing their pain. Many people with severe thumb arthritis choose not to have surgery. That is where other treatments come in.

What Is Hyaluronic Acid Treatment?

Hyaluronic acid is a substance that naturally exists in your body. It helps keep your joints smooth and moving well. Think of it like oil for a squeaky door.

When arthritis damages a joint, the natural hyaluronic acid breaks down. Doctors can inject new hyaluronic acid into the joint to help replace what was lost.

Research shows that most people with thumb arthritis can be helped without surgery. According to this study, viscosupplementation is one of those conservative treatments. Conservative means treatments that do not involve cutting or operating.

Here is where it gets interesting. The study tested whether these injections are painful and whether people could tolerate them.

How Was This Study Done?

The researchers divided 16 people into two groups. Each group had eight people. All of them had stage 3 or 4 thumb arthritis.

Both groups received the same treatment. They got three injections of hyaluronic acid. Each injection was one week apart. Each shot contained 0.3 cubic centimeters of sodium hyaluronate. Sodium hyaluronate is just another name for hyaluronic acid.

Let us look closer at what made the two groups different:

• Group A received injections under fluoroscopy control
• Group B received injections without fluoroscopy

The doctors measured how much pain each group felt during the injections. They also asked the patients to rate how well they tolerated the treatment. Tolerate means how easy or hard it was to go through with the procedure.

What Did the Study Find About Pain?

The study results were surprising. Both groups said the injections were tolerable. That means people could get through them even though they were not comfortable.

But here is the important finding. According to this study, patients complained of pain and discomfort during the injections. So while people could tolerate the treatment, it was not painless.

Medical evidence from this research shows something unexpected. The pain in group A was much greater than in group B. Remember, group A got their injections with the fluoroscopy machine. Group B got their injections without it.

This finding is important because many doctors think using fluoroscopy is better. The x-ray machine helps them see exactly where the needle is going. But in this study, using the machine actually caused more pain.

Why Was There a Difference in Pain?

The study does not tell us exactly why the fluoroscopy group had more pain. But we can think about some possibilities.

When doctors use fluoroscopy, they may need to adjust the needle more to get it in the perfect spot. This extra moving around might cause more pain. The procedure might also take longer when using the x-ray machine.

The study authors still recommend using fluoroscopy even though it caused more pain. They believe it is important to make sure the injection goes into the right place. If the medicine does not go into the joint, it will not work as well.

What Does This Mean for You?

If you are thinking about getting hyaluronic acid injections for your thumb arthritis, this study gives you helpful information.

Studies indicate that viscosupplementation is a viable treatment option. Viable means it is a good choice that really works. This is especially true if you have stage 3 or 4 arthritis and do not want surgery.

But you should know that the injections will probably hurt. Research shows that this is a tolerable procedure but not a painless one. Being prepared for some discomfort can help you make a better decision.

Talk to your doctor about whether they will use fluoroscopy. According to this study, fluoroscopy causes more pain during the injection. But it also helps make sure the medicine goes exactly where it needs to go.

Common Questions

Are hyaluronic acid injections painful?

According to this study, yes, hyaluronic acid injections do cause pain and discomfort. Patients in the research complained of pain during the injections. However, the treatment was tolerable, meaning people could get through it even though it was uncomfortable.

How many injections do I need?

Research shows that patients in this study received one cycle of three injections. Each injection was given once per week. So the full treatment took three weeks to complete.

Does using an x-ray machine during the injection make it hurt more?

Medical evidence from this study indicates that yes, using fluoroscopy (a special x-ray machine) during the injection caused much greater pain than doing the injection without it. However, doctors still recommend fluoroscopy to make sure the medicine goes into the right place in your joint.

Who is a good candidate for this treatment?

Studies indicate that viscosupplementation is a viable option for patients with stage 3 or 4 thumb arthritis who do not want to have surgery. According to this research, the treatment predominantly helps middle aged women, though others can benefit too.

Conclusion

Thumb arthritis can make everyday tasks difficult and painful. If you have advanced arthritis and want to avoid surgery, hyaluronic acid injections might be an option for you.

This study shows that the treatment is tolerable but comes with pain during the injections. Using fluoroscopy causes more pain but helps ensure the medicine reaches the right spot.

Talk with your doctor about whether this treatment is right for you. Ask about pain management during the procedure. Understanding what to expect can help you feel more prepared and less anxious.

Remember that you have options. Conservative treatments like these injections can help many people manage their symptoms and keep doing the things they love.

Disclaimer

This article is for informational purposes only. It is not medical advice. Always talk to your doctor or healthcare provider about your specific condition and treatment options. Only a qualified medical professional can give you advice about your health.

Research Citation

This article is based on research by Karalezli, N., Ogun, T. C., Kartal, S., Saracgil, S. N., Yel, M., and Tuncay, I., published in Clinical Rheumatology in 2007.

Read the full study here: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10067-006-0354-7