Interstitial Cystitis Overview

Q: What is this I hear about using some type of "rooster comb" to inject into the knee joints for arthritis?

A: Osteoarthritis (degenerative joint disease) - also "wear and tear" arthritis - is common in the knees of the middle-aged and older, perhaps to millions of people worldwide. The normally smooth, shiny cartilage surfaces of the joint start to wear and there is a compromise of lubricating joint fluid. The process you are referring to is called viscosupplementation, and involves injecting hyaluronic acid to act as a joint lubricant. This is a natural-occurring substance found in normal joint fluid. The early form of the drug was actually manufactured from rooster combs - hence, the layman's term. Much of it now is synthetically manufactured.

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