Nearly one in five American adults has osteoarthritis (OA), a chronic condition that occurs when cartilage around the joints deteriorates due to trauma or wear-and-tear. As a result, your bones can rub against each other, increasing the risk of pain, inflammation, and mobility issues.
If you have OA, you may assume medication or surgery are the only treatment options, but that isn’t necessarily the case. Thanks to advances in regenerative medicine, such as platelet-rich plasma (PRP), many patients are exploring alternative approaches to pain relief.
Our team of expert rheumatologists at Arthritis Associates in San Antonio, Texas, offers PRP. This article explains what it is, how it may help with OA-related pain, and what to expect during treatment.
Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) is a regenerative medicine treatment. It involves drawing a sample of your own blood and placing it into a machine called a centrifuge. The centrifuge separates the platelets and plasma proteins from the rest of your blood, which may help promote healing.
Once the solution is ready, we transfer it to a syringe and inject it into an arthritic joint, such as your knee. Since platelets contain growth factors and other substances associated with healing and repair, the goal is to reduce inflammation and promote recovery.
Research is ongoing, and there’s no proof that PRP can regrow cartilage. However, one study found that PRP injections offered meaningful pain relief and functional improvement for people with mild-to-moderate knee osteoarthritis.
It depends. Some studies have found that PRP is more effective than single-joint injections, while others have produced mixed results. Regardless, the treatment may be worth considering if OA affects your mobility or quality of life and you want to try to avoid surgery.
Your results can also depend on several factors, including how the PRP solution is prepared, the severity of your OA, and how many injections you receive.
After discussing your symptoms and completing a physical exam and diagnostic imaging if necessary, we can make personalized treatment recommendations.
PRP treatment is a quick, outpatient procedure that typically takes 60 to 90 minutes.
If we determine you’re a good candidate, we draw a blood sample and place it in a centrifuge. The centrifuge spins rapidly, separating the platelets and plasma from the rest of your blood. Once the PRP solution is ready, we transfer it to syringes and inject it into the treatment site.
For example, if you have knee OA, we inject the solution into your knee joint. It’s normal to feel a mild pinch with each injection, but we administer a local anesthetic beforehand to keep you comfortable.
After we administer the PRP, most people return to work and other activities right away. However, our recommendations will depend on the treatment site and your individual symptoms. You may experience mild redness or bruising at the injection site, but this should improve within a day or two.
For optimal results, we typically recommend a series of PRP treatments spaced several weeks apart. The number of sessions you need will depend on your symptoms and their severity.
If you’re struggling to manage osteoarthritis-related pain, platelet-rich plasma may help relieve it. To see if you’re a candidate, schedule an appointment at Arthritis Associates today. Call the office or click the online booking feature.
