75-year-old Eunice, a keen golfer and walker since her fifties, noticed worsening osteoarthritis pain in her right knee, meaning she relied on painkillers to keep active. That was until she received our innovative hydrogel injection, Arthrosamid®, from Consultant Orthopaedic Surgeon, Mr Matthew Oliver, in December 2024.
What symptoms were you suffering from?
“I suffered from mild pain on the inside left of my right knee for about five years. I had a similar problem with my left knee 15 years ago and it disappeared after some time, so I thought this pain would disappear as well in the same way, but it didn’t. In fact, it got worse. I had an x-ray done on my knee after a consultation with my orthopaedic specialist and was diagnosed with osteoarthritis.
“I was recommended some exercises to strengthen my knee, which I did regularly. But being a golfer, I noticed that my knee pain got worse during and after playing golf. In fact, during one golf game too many (golf trip to Spain playing too much golf!), I was in so much pain I stopped playing mid game.
“As the pain got progressively worse, every time I played golf, I would take two paracetamol capsules before a game, and then another capsule before going to bed. If I didn’t, I would be in painful discomfort towards the end of my game and wouldn’t be able to sleep. When I’m not playing golf, I also do a lot of walking, and I would do the same for that too. It was only when I was playing golf or walking that I would feel the pain in my knee. Normally the pain was not there or very mild when I did less physical exertion.”
What happened during your initial consultation?
“My husband underwent a procedure at Benenden Hospital and he showed me an online webinar on knee pain. One of the procedures discussed was the Arthrosamid® injection – an innovative, injectable gel used as a treatment for knee pain and other symptoms of knee osteoarthritis - without the need for surgery. After the webinar, Benenden Hospital offered free consultations and I booked one with Consultant Orthopaedic Surgeon, Mr Matthew Oliver.
“He was very welcoming and had two x-rays taken of my knee, clearly explaining from the X-rays that osteoarthritis was causing my knee pain. He discussed treatment options based on the level of osteoarthritis I had. Since it was still at an early stage, he recommended the Arthrosamid® injection.
What was your experience of Benenden Hospital?
“My Benenden Hospital experience was excellent. The whole hospital atmosphere and surroundings were welcoming - quiet, wholesome, open and comfortable. The staff were efficient and friendly, from the reception to the actual staff manning the consultation rooms. The nursing staff were very good, friendly and very helpful.”
Why did you choose to have an injection over having a knee replacement?
“My knee osteoarthritis was still at an early stage, pain was not constant, only when I did more intense physical activity like golf or walking. But the pain was steadily getting worse.
“With early-stage knee osteoarthritis, a knee replacement was not an option for me but because the pain was steadily getting worse, I knew I wanted something that would provide me longer term pain relief, without the need for surgery. Therefore, I opted for Arthrosamid®, which Mr Oliver and I agreed would be the best treatment option.”
What happened on the day of your Arthrosamid® injection?
“I had my injection on 3 December 2024. Pre-op was very good; the nurse was efficient and clearly explained the procedure being done. Admission was straightforward, with pre-admission instructions clear. Mr Oliver and the Anaesthetist came to my room to explain what would be done.
“The actual treatment was also straightforward; every step was clearly explained. All in all, the treatment experience was very good. The worst bit was the injection of the local anaesthetic, which was painful. After that, everything went as planned and explained. Mr Oliver and the theatre staff were very professional and helped calm me.”
How long was your recovery period to get back to doing what you love?
“I was in my hospital room for about three to four hours to recover, before going home. My knee was swollen and painful for the first 24 hours, but that was to be expected. Pain and swelling subsided after a day or two and I had three weeks of recovery with no heavy physical activity.
“I noticed I was pain free after 10 days and the time following that, which was already a big improvement. I continued to be pain free for two months with normal day to day activities, including short walks. I did play golf - nine holes - and my knee hurt afterwards, but the pain lasted for only an hour or so
“We went to Costa Rica for two weeks in January 2025 and did walks in the jungle, but they were not overly strenuous, and I was fine with it. I had no knee pain, apart from twinges every now and then, for about eight weeks, which was excellent. I had not taken paracetamol at all.
“But everything changed after 14 weeks! My knee no longer hurts, even while playing golf. The literature on Arthrosamid® did say that full benefits will be felt after 13-14 weeks. And I had just that. From 14 weeks, my pain has disappeared. A few twinges every now and then but nothing compared to the pain I felt pre-treatment.”
Would you recommend this treatment at Benenden Hospital to others and why?
“Absolutely! For early-stage osteoarthritis, I highly recommend the Arthrosamid® gel injection. It really works for me. This week, I played golf twice and I had no knee pain at all.”
Book your consultation today
Take the next step toward managing your knee osteoarthritis. Book a consultation at Benenden Hospital today and explore Arthrosamid® as an option for lasting pain relief and an improved your quality of life.
You can book using our online booking tool or by calling our Private Patient team on 01580 363158.
Published on 14 April 2025