PRP or Platelet Rich Plasma injections have once again been shown to be effective for minimizing the pain associated with arthritis of the knee.
PRP for Knee Arthritis
PRP, or platelet rich plasma treatments involve the injection of your own blood, concentrated platelets and other healing growth factors into your knee. PRP will then aid your body in resolving the inflammation associated with osteoarthritis. PRP Injection have been shown to slow the progression or worsening of osteoarthritis.
Injections of PRP for knee arthritis is an office based procedure where a small amount of blood is collected from you — the sample is prepared in a special apparatus placed, into a centrifuge and then injected back into the site to be treated.
In prior years PRP was investigated for the treatment of tendon related disorders such as tennis elbow. PRP has recently received a lot more attention as a treatment to minimize or alleviate the pain associated with arthritis of the knee.
Other common injections for knee osteoarthritis include cortisone and Hyaluronic Acid (Synvisc, Hyalgan, Orthovisc, etc). This scientific paper shows that patients who received PRP injections for osteoarthritis of the knee responded better than their counterparts who received the Hyaluronic Acid injections alone.
The average recovery time from a PRP injection for arthritis varies… most patients begin to feel better in two to four weeks. Sometimes a second injection is necessary if partial relief was obtained from the first injection.
Evidence for PRP effectiveness for arthritis
In a recent 2013 study published in the The American Journal of Sports Medicine it was shown that PRP or Platelet Rich Plasma was effective in alleviating or improving the pain from arthritis of the knee. In this study, two different doses of PRP were given to patients and then compared to a saline injection (placebo). One group received a single injection of PRP, another group received two PRP injections, and the third group a single injection of saline or sterile salt water.
Statistically significant improvements in pain and function were noted in the PRP groups within 2-3 weeks and lasted 6 months. The saline treated group noted worsening of symptoms. The group that received one PRP injection for arthritis showed no difference than the group that received two PRP injections for knee arthritis.
Are you suffering from arthritis of the knee? Have you exhausted other alternative treatments for arthritis of the knee?
Do you have questions regarding an Orthopedic injury or longevity?
Do you want to talk to an expert who can listen to you for 45-60 minutes and explain the options in detail?
Dr. Howard Luks offers remote guidance sessions to review your X-ray or MRI images and explain your options.
Dr. Luks has also received hundreds of requests for educational sessions on the topics discussed in his book, Longevity Simplified.
Be sure to shop around. Most insurance plans do not cover PRP injections and my own research in my area revealed that physicians charge anywhere from $1000 to $5000 for a PRP injection.
Contact us… we would be pleased to review the alternatives available to minimize your discomfort.
Jon
After getting a PRP treatment for Knee Osteoarthritis, how soon can you return to activities such as swimming and cycling? Then how soon to start doing impact exercises like light jogging.
NO clear cut answer Jon … non-impact activities can resume when you are comfortable. Impact activities may need to wait 5-6 weeks… I would ask your doc.
Ekta
Hi Dr. Luks,
I wanted to clarify the results of the study. After 6 months did pain return for patients? It doesn’t seem very sustainable of a treatment if every 6 months you have to get another injection and it can get quite pricey I assume if the price per injection ranges for $1K – $5K. On the high end that could be almost $10K/year!
Thank you for your insights,
Ekta
Most offices only charge a few hundred dollars for an injection. Go elsewhere if they are charging more. Typically, relief is noted for 8-12 months
Natalie
Hello Dr. Luks, from sunny Costa Rica ! :)
About 8 months ago I had bi-lateral arthroscopy and partial medial meniscectomy, along with micro-fractures in the left joint to encourage cartilage growth. Despite Physio 3x a week I’m still not quite recovered or at 100% and I experience pain when walking, post exercise or with certain movements. I’ve had Synvisc applied (series of 3 shots) already and those have helped a bit but there’s still some pain. My Orthopedic surgeon now recommends we try PRP, 3 shots 2 weeks apart between each.
My concern is, will the PRP hurt more than the Synvisc during application? I have a low pain threshold and am kind of scared of going through even more pain!! Also what medications should I avoid post-PRP? My Dr. said none, but I’ve researched online that anti-inflammatories like Ibuprofen and others should be avoided.
I would really appreciate your advice/guidance!
Thanks!
Natalie
PRP injections into the knee do not hurt much. You should avoid NSAIDS for one week before the injection and 4 weeks after the injection. Otherwise they will shut down the PRP process.
James Lane
Doctor Luks,
Could PRP be beneficial for a 59 year old who has had 2 arthroscopic surgeries (1986, 1994) for cartilage tear on one knee and medial collateral ligament and cartilage tear (1980) on the other knee?
Thank you Doctor for helping me come to a decision to try PRP.
Jim
All I can say is that it might improve your pain… it certainly should not be thought of as a cure for arthritis.
Iñaki
Dear Doctor,
I have been suffering a tendinitis in both knees for more than a year. Therefore I went for the PRP treatment during last Christmas. The specialist advised my to have 3 injections with a period of 1 week of separatios. The first 2 shots were great, after 48 hours I was able to walk properly. However this latest one it has been much more painfull. I have a big inflammation in both knees although I am icing. According to the doctor, this is due to the fact that the tendon was almost “filled in”. (latest shot, no more room for more blood)
Do you think that it is normal this reaction? I hope that the swelling will dissapear soon…
Many thanks!
Mike
Would it be harmful to have prp shots and let’s say orthovisk at the same time?
Does one affect the other ?
Thx
I honestly do not know … I usually stagger them.
Laura
Hi
Do you think PRP can help resolve pain with bone marrow edema? I have read your subchondroplasty/BME article and was wondering if you may have seen some resolution of BME with PRP?
Laura
Sorry Laura… It is unlikely that PRP would help for bone marrow edema