Vale Health Clinic

Cingal Knee Injection

Experience fast and lasting relief from knee discomfort caused by osteoarthritis with Cingal®—providing a quick and effective solution for your pain and stiffness

AT A GLANCE

TREATS

Knee Osteoarthritis 

Anaesthesia

None needed 

Duration

30 minutes

Recovery

Avoid heavy impact and intense loading activities for 10-14 days

Cingal® is a single-injection osteoarthritis knee pain relief treatment that combines the quick relief of a steroid with the long-lasting relief of a hyaluronic acid.

CINGAL®: An innovative blend of viscosupplement and steroid designed to alleviate knee pain effectively.

LUBRICANT AND ANTI-INFLAMMATORY PROPERTIES WORKING TOGETHER

A single of Cingal® can provide fast osteoarthritis knee pain relief that’s felt as early as 1 week following the injection and that can last up to 6 months.

Reducing Pain Improving Mobility

The combined effects of lubrication and anti-inflammatory properties are essential for effectively managing osteoarthritis knee pain.

Over time, changes in synovial fluid and the breakdown of joint structures can lead to the development of osteoarthritis-related knee discomfort.

Hyaluronic acid, a naturally occurring component of the knee joint’s synovial fluid, plays a key role in this process. Viscosupplementation involves injecting hyaluronic acid into the joint to lubricate the cartilage, much like oil lubricates an engine. This method offers long-lasting relief with a gradual onset, focusing on sustained pain reduction.

Cortisone, with its powerful anti-inflammatory properties, is used to reduce swelling within the joint, providing rapid short-term pain relief.

CINGAL TREATMENT
Vale Health Clinic

Cingal® distinguishes itself with a unique formulation that combines hyaluronic acid (HA) viscosupplement with cortisone in a single injection.

HA serves as a crucial lubricating component in synovial joint fluid, essential for maintaining the elasticity and resilience of healthy cartilage. However, in individuals with osteoarthritis (OA), HA levels in the joints are often reduced. To address this deficiency, HA-based viscosupplementation products are specifically developed for OA, helping to alleviate pain while lubricating and cushioning the joint.

The purification and formulation of Cingal® are based on naturally sourced hyaluronic acid, designed to replenish the HA lost from the synovial fluid in arthritic knee joints due to aging or injury.

Because cortisone is insoluble in water, it is suspended in the HA gel as particles. In Cingal®, both the cortisone and HA components remain separate and stable, preserving their integrity within the formulation.

WHAT HAPPENS DURING AN ULTRASOUND-GUIDED CORTISONE INJECTION?

During an ultrasound-guided cortisone injection, your injection practitioner will select the appropriate cortisone and dosage based on the area we are injecting, clinical history, and severity of your issue. We will begin by taking your case history, orthopedic, and neurological examination followed by a diagnostic ultrasound scan. This comprehensive approach allows for accurate diagnosis and for the best treatment modality to be used.

Assuming there are no contraindications, the practitioner will proceed to inject the cortisone directly into the inflamed area, such as a joint or the surrounding soft tissue identified during the diagnosis. Most patients find these injections to be comfortable and well tolerated.

Depending on your medical history and examination, we may need to postpone the injection if certain conditions are present, such as unstable blood pressure or fluctuating blood sugar levels due to diabetes. In such cases, specific written consent from your GP may be required before proceeding with the injection.

Following the injection, it’s common for the local anesthetic to provide immediate relief from pain. However, this initial numbing sensation typically subsides within a couple of hours. The full effects of the cortisone may take several days to start, usually resulting in a significant reduction in pain within a week post-injection. We will also advise specific rehabilitation exercises, pain and anti-inflammatory medication, ice, compression, and activity modification.

Depending on the area we are injecting, it is normally advised to avoid driving for 1 hour after the injection, as you may experience some numbness.

For joint injections, it’s recommended to refrain from strenuous exercise for approximately two days afterward. Similarly, if the injection is near a tendon, avoiding heavy impact and intense loading activities for 10-14 days post-injection is advisable. We will provide guidance on returning to normal activities on the day of treatment and may advise a course of shockwave therapy or physiotherapy.

If you experience pain relief from the injection and alternative treatments have been ineffective or unsuitable, repeat cortisone injections can typically be administered safely, but we would not normally have more than 3 per year. Some injections serve to create a ‘window of opportunity’ for engaging in exercise and rehabilitation. As your pain becomes better managed, the emphasis often shifts towards exercise and conservative management, potentially reducing the necessity for further injections. Once the pain levels have reduced to a more tolerable level, we may also advise other treatment modalities such as focused shockwave or HA injections.

  1. Have an infection
  2. Exhibit allergies to local anesthetics or cortisone
  3. Feeling unwell or have fever
  4. Have upcoming surgery planned in the same area
  5. Are unsure or hesitant about receiving the injection
  6.  

Please book your free initial 10 minute free telephone or face-to-face consultation to ascertain the suitability of the injection and the different treatments we offer. 

Procedure Specialists

Injection Therapist 

 Ultrasound guided Cingal Injections

Gary Edwards

£350-£400

THE ULTIMATE NATURAL SOLUTION

Cingal stands out as a clear gel, meticulously crafted from ultra-pure, non-animal-derived, high molecular weight hyaluronic acid.

CORTISONE COMBINATION

UNMATCHED SPEED AND LONGEVITY Renowned for its rapid onset and extended effectiveness, Cortisone provides lasting relief for up to 21 days—significantly longer than the usual 8-14 day duration of other cortisone treatments.

ENHANCED CROSS-LINKED HA

In Cingal, hyaluronic acid (HA) is gently cross-linked to extend the retention of HA molecules within the knee joint. This process provides longer-lasting pain relief, ensuring sustained comfort over an extended period.

HIGH VISCOSITY

Cingal features a unique formulation engineered for optimal water binding, resulting in highly viscous polymers. These polymers greatly improve the synovial fluid's ability to cushion the knee joint, providing exceptional shock absorption.

HA CONCENTRATION

Cingal contains a high concentration of HA at 22 mg/mL, providing a total dose of 88 mg of HA. This formulation is designed to mimic the abundant HA levels found in healthy synovial fluid, ensuring optimal support and functionality for the knee joint.

EXPERIENCE THE CINGAL ADVANTAGE

Hyaluronic acid (HA) is crucial for maintaining the elasticity and function of synovial fluid. Cingal acts to replenish the reduced HA levels often seen in osteoarthritic knee joints, while its cortisone component quickly combats inflammation, providing pain relief within days.

By combining a high concentration of HA with a proven cortisone, Cingal offers a powerful, fast-acting, high-viscosity solution. This formulation not only cushions the knee joint during everyday activities like walking and biking but also provides rapid relief from discomfort.

With a single injection, Cingal delivers lubrication, cushioning, and protection to the knee joint, allowing patients to quickly return to their active lives with reduced pain.

After the procedure,  typically we dvise refraining from engaging in strenuous physical activities for several days to allow your body to recover optimally. It’s essential to prioritise hydration by drinking plenty of water to help flush out any toxins and aid in the healing process. If you experience any discomfort or pain, Paracetamol can be safely used for pain management as needed.

It is important to follow your clinician post-procedure instructions carefully and attend follow the knee rehabilitation programme.

YOUR SIMPLE 4 STEP JOURNEY

Step 1. Free Intial consultation

At Vale Health Clinic in Tunbridge Wells, we offer every patient a free consultation with one of our injecting practitioners.

This no-obligation consultation provides an opportunity to discuss your concerns in depth and explore the potential benefits and risks of the treatment.

Osteoarthritis (OA) affects around 10 million people in the UK, with approximately 6 million women and 4 million men experiencing the condition. Among these, an estimated 5.4 million suffer from knee osteoarthritis, while 3.2 million are affected by hip osteoarthritis.

STEP 2. MEET YOUR PRACTITIONER

We will allow time to find out more about the procedure, understand the advantages and risks with the procedure, and to give time for you to ask questions We may need to refer you for an MRI

 

We  will then take your medical history, examine which may include diagnostic ultrasound then proceed with the guided injection. 

STEP 3. PREPARATION FOR THE INJECTION

You’ll be given individual pre-injection advice to reduce your chance of bleeding or infection and support your recovery and aid healing

It’s important to let your practitioner know if you’re on any prescription or over-the-counter medications. You may be asked to stop taking aspirin or anti-inflammatory tablets, which can increase the risk of bruising. It’s also important to stop smoking cigarettes and e-cigarettes before and after the procedure because they can disrupt the healing process.

Local anesthetic is not needed for this procedure and the procedure is tolerated very well. 

STEP 4: RECOVERY & after care

Following the procedure, most individuals can return home and resume their normal activities. Our clinical team will be available to offer water and provide guidance on post-injection care.

For the next twenty-four hours, it’s advisable to refrain from strenuous activities and alcohol consumption. Don’t be alarmed if you don’t notice immediate effects; it typically takes around five days for the injection to take effect, with the full results becoming evident over the course of several weeks.

A follow-up appointment or phone consultation will be scheduled for four weeks after the procedure to review the progress. 

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MEET THE TEAM

Gary Edwards —

Chiropractor

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