How PRP Injections Can Help Your Knee Pain
Your knees are complex joints that make it possible for you to walk, sit, and be physically active. When you’re bothered by persistent knee pain, it can significantly impact what you can do and lower your quality of life.
At Precision Regenerative Medicine, we offer customized regenerative medicine therapies that offer many benefits in the treatment of knee pain. Tammy Penhollow, DO, specializes in regenerative therapies like high quality platelet-rich plasma (PRP) injections to help your knees heal from the inside out.
Why your knees hurt so much
Muscles, ligaments, tendons, and bones all work together to form your knee joint. When any of the structures of your joint are damaged by trauma or disease, you may experience persistent knee pain and be limited in your mobility.
Common causes of knee pain include:
- Fractures
- Bursitis
- Tendinitis
- Osteoarthritis
- Meniscus tears
- Rheumatoid arthritis
- Anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) tears
You may also be at increased risk for developing knee pain if you have weight challenges, participate in sports, or if you lead a sedentary lifestyle.
When to seek help for knee pain
You should schedule a diagnostic evaluation at Precision Regenerative Medicine for knee pain that doesn’t get better with rest and over-the-counter medications.
You should also schedule an appointment if your knee pain gets worse, even with home care or if you’re limited in your mobility because of pain and swelling.
We offer comprehensive diagnostic testing services on-site to accurately diagnose the root cause of your pain. Dr. Penhollow can discuss your options for treatment with PRP injections.
How PRP can alleviate chronic knee pain
PRP is a substance already found in your blood that contains special growth factors. These factors trigger your body to produce new, healthy cells to replace those damaged by injury or disease.
However, NOT ALL PRP IS CREATED EQUAL! It can be confusing to see media reports and articles where in one study the PRP provided great relief for osteoarthritis pain and function, but in another study, it did not. This is because the level of response is DIRECTLY proportional to the number of platelets (this is the commonly measured component but the other growth factors and anti-inflammatory mediators are with the platelet layer). Many of the practitioners out there are using simple blood collection tubes which trap the platelets (and all the other factors) under a gel separator. All they are injecting is platelet POOR plasma not platelet RICH plasma. Often times, the platelets in the injectate are 1 or 2 times the concentration from baseline! We believe the “sweet spot” for optimal results is 6-8 times the concentration from baseline. Dr. Penhollow injects a high concentration of PRP from a superior quality system that provides that optimal concentration, and she injects it into your knee joint under live ultrasound guidance to exactly the right area(s) of the knee; her goal is to stimulate your body’s own ability to heal itself.
As new cells grow, soft tissue strains and tears begin to heal naturally. PRP injections can also reduce inflammation surrounding your knee joint, so you can enjoy long-lasting pain relief.
The many benefits of PRP injections
Many people notice a significant reduction in their knee pain in the weeks after their initial PRP injection. These results were also long-lasting because PRP injections address the underlying cause of your pain.
With less pain, you can reduce your reliance on pain relieving medications that can have potentially harmful side effects. Regenerative therapies also have minimal risk for complications because the PRP Dr. Penhollow uses in treatment comes from your own blood.
If you lead a busy life, know that PRP therapy is a relatively simple procedure we perform on an outpatient basis. You can expect to go back to work with minimal limitations and over the four to six weeks return to full athletic activity.
When PRP injections aren’t an option for your knee pain, Dr. Penhollow can determine if you’re a candidate for treatments like stem cell injections or prolotherapy.
To find out how PRP injections can help you find long-lasting relief of knee pain, call Precision Regenerative Medicine today to schedule an appointment or book one online.
