Dr Nicholas Jones (63) is a recently retired Consultant Anaesthetist from Bromley, South London
Dr Nicholas Jones (63) is a recently retired Consultant Anaesthetist from Bromley, South London, who underwent treatment with the hydrogel injection, Arthrosamid®, in June 2024.
Eight months on, Nick’s still feeling “80-90% pain free” and back to enjoying his regular 5k runs without the fear of his knee swelling and stiffening up.
Here, he explains more about his experience of Arthrosamid® and why he’s happy to recommend the procedure to friends and former colleagues:
“Almost 10 years ago, I underwent arthroscopy surgery and partial lateral meniscectomy due to a “mechanical” problem which was causing my right knee to pop and occasionally, lock, leaving me unable to walk and so, with no real alternative! But I always knew that this procedure could leave me at risk of developing knee osteoarthritis later down the line – and indeed, for the past few years, I’ve been increasingly suffering with pain, inflammation / swelling and stiffness in my right knee, particularly following a run.
“Keen to do something about this nagging problem – and in order to maintain my fitness routine – I decided to speak to my orthopaedic colleagues about non-invasive alternatives to the inevitable knee replacement surgery (something that I was hoping to avoid until at least my mid-70s).
“During my career as a Consultant Anaesthetist - in both the NHS and private healthcare sector - I’d been in operating theatres during 100s of knee replacements and it was certainly something I wanted to put off for as long as possible! So, I was really encouraged by a conversation with Rohit Jain – a highly reputable Kent and London-based Consultant Orthopaedic Surgeon – who suggested hydrogel injections and felt I would be an eligible patient. I was referred to Jorja Healthcare Paddington and on June 17 2024, I was treated with the single dose Arthrosamid injection.
“As I expected, the local anaesthetic felt like a fleeting ‘bee sting’ but after that, the procedure was pretty much painless…and quick. And within a month, post-treatment, I really could notice the difference - a significant reduction in pain and swelling. In fact, I was actually back out pounding the streets within 3 weeks, such was the improvement.
“As a doctor, I’m interested in the ‘synovial science’ around hydrogel injections – and I’m also really encouraged by the emerging, published data showing that patients are recording a reduction in the pain and discomfort caused by knee for up to 4 years. I’d certainly consider a ‘top up’ if needs be (if it meant staving off knee replacement surgery even longer) and I’m also starting to think I might eventually need an Arthrosamid® injection in my left knee, too!
“I’ve certainly already recommended Arthrosamid® to friends and colleagues and would urge other people in a similar position to me to explore this treatment as a very real alternative to knee replacement surgery.”
