Suggest Treatment For Erosion Of Cartilage In The Knee

Hello Doctor, I am in my mid fifties. I have a bad knee. X Rays showed an erosion of cartilage and I was advised knee replacement. I wish to avoid this. I would like to know about hyaluronic acid injections, its effectiveness, side effects, how often it should be taken and the cost of the injection. What are the other safe options? Thanks