Severe knee arthritis is debilitating. It can leave you unable to do everyday tasks or engage in the hobbies you once loved. For many, this severe joint pain can feel like an incurable part of their daily life. But what if you didn’t have to live with immense pain forever? Platelet-rich plasma treatments can help improve your quality of life, but it might be a treatment you haven’t heard of before. In this blog, we will cover:
- What PRP injections are
- How many PRP injections are needed for knee arthritis
- What the process looks like
- The safety of this treatment
What Are Platelet-Rich Plasma Injections?
A platelet is a type of healing mechanism. Your platelets are responsible for healing your body when you experience an injury, like a cut or scrape. These tiny cells help clot your blood, but they also contain growth factors. (Growth factors are proteins critical to healing.)
When we create your PRP treatment, we take a sample of your blood and separate these platelets to create a highly concentrated dosage. We then inject these platelets into your knee area.
The idea is that this dose will signal your body to increase the amount of platelets you produce. As a result, the platelet-rich plasma can help your cells multiply, alleviate stiffness, repair soft tissue, and speed up the healing process.
Are PRP Injections Safe?
Since your specialist uses your blood and yours alone, there is little risk of contamination or allergic reaction. Similarly, the risk of contracting HIV, hepatitis, or other diseases is very low.
You shouldn’t experience any adverse reactions, but you might feel some pain and swelling up to two weeks after the treatment. However, your discomfort shouldn’t persist beyond that timeframe.
How Many PRP Injections are Needed for Knee Arthritis?
While many of our patients have seen great outcomes, the results come gradually — usually a few weeks after your session. There are also several different factors that affect the effectiveness of the treatment, such as the state of your health.
When it comes to how many PRP injections are needed for knee arthritis, the answer varies from patient to patient. You will likely need to undergo numerous sessions to see results. Some patients require three to four treatments to return to a more active lifestyle, but this will depend on how severe your arthritis is. Your specialist will usually spread these treatments out over several months. As you can see, PRP treatments aren’t a quick fix, but they can create sustainable long-term relief.
Is Knee Arthritis Keeping You From Enjoying Your Life?
If physical therapy, painkillers, and other treatments or medications haven’t provided you with any relief, then PRP injections could be the treatment you need to avoid surgery. We can provide you with a free consultation to determine your treatment course. To schedule your first consultation today, call us at 1-800-826-5366.