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Platelet-Rich Plasma (PRP) Treatment for Knee – What You Need to Know

PRP injections are a novel treatment method that is used by many to manage pain arising due to osteoarthritis of the knee. In the coming years, PRP will become an even more effective option for knee treatment.

If you are willing to get PRP knee treatment, we strongly urge you to conduct your research and get your treatment done by an expert. Below, we have delved a bit deeper into what PRP injection for knee is and how it is a great option for osteoarthritis.

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What Is Platelet-Rich Plasma

Platelet-rich plasma is a sort of regenerative medicine that utilizes injections of your own blood platelets to assist healing. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has not yet accepted this treatment. Nevertheless, a lot of specialists are offering it in the U.S. nowadays. Platelet-rich plasma contains two major elements, i.e.

  • Plasma: The liquid portion of the blood.
  • Platelets: A blood cell type that plays a pivotal role in healing throughout our bodies. Platelets consist of growth factors that can stimulate tissue regeneration and cell reproduction. Basically, PRP is blood that consists of more platelets than normal.

PRP In Knee Procedure

Although it might seem daunting, the PRP for knee is only a three-step procedure. We have discussed these steps below to help you understand them more clearly.

  • Step No.1: A medical expert will draw a blood sample from your arm and put it into a centrifuge to segregate the components. This will obtain a concentrated suspension of platelets within the plasma.
  • Step No. 2: Next, these skilled professionals will numb your knee and administer the knee plasma injection. At this step, they might even use ultrasound to guide the injection.
  • Step No. 3: After a short time, you will be perfectly able to go home, leaving all the pain behind. However, it would be best if you ask someone to drive you home. Many patients might experience some stiffness and pain right after the knee PRP injection.

PRP Knee Injection Recovery

Speaking of pain, a lot of people stress over it. Taking out the blood is only slightly painful, with a sharp and rapid pinching sensation. Many patients report that they feel dizzy while their blood is drawn. The PRP injection knee might hurt a bit. But it depends on the precise area or how sensitive your joint is. 

Deep breathing and relaxing help you alleviate the pain. The good part is that it won’t take an expert more than a minute or two to inject. However, the site of injection might be a bit tender afterward, but it won’t be painful. And with that, the difficult part of PRP For Knees is over. Now, to help your injected site heal faster, your doctor might advise you to:

  • Use cold compresses to reduce pain and decrease swelling. A lot of patients have reported that alternating cold and hot packs helps them deal with the pain. It is also advised to ice your knee for 20 minutes each 2 to 3 hours for three days.
  • You can also take over-the-counter pills to help manage any pain or discomfort.
  • Steer clear of using any anti-inflammatory drugs, i.e., ibuprofen and aspirin. These medications might interfere with your treatment. Patients who require something to relieve their pain can feel free to ask their doctor for other options.
  • After getting PRP for arthritis, you should give yourself plenty of rest and refrain from activities that put weight on your knee.
  • You can also wear a splint for the first few weeks to stabilize your joint. Many experts suggest using crutches to avoid putting any unwanted weight on the joint.
  • Elevate your joint in the night by sleeping with your affected joint raised on a bunch of pillows.
  • Be mindful of following all the instructions given by your medical expert.

If you notice any unusual pain or swelling, you must immediately contact your doctor. Medical professionals at Jersey Joint, Spine, & Regen are always happy to help you with any queries.

What Happens During Recovery?

And with that, the difficult part is over. Now, to help your injected site heal faster, your doctor might advise you to:

  • Use cold compresses to reduce pain and decrease swelling. A lot of patients have reported that alternating cold and hot packs helps them deal with the pain. It is also advised to ice your knee for 20 minutes each 2 to 3 hours for three days.
  • You can also take over-the-counter pills to help manage any pain or discomfort.
  • Steer clear of using any anti-inflammatory drugs, i.e., ibuprofen and aspirin. These medications might interfere with your treatment. Patients who require something to relieve their pain can feel free to ask their doctor for other options.
  • After being treated, you should give yourself plenty of rest and refrain from activities that put weight on your knee.
  • You can also wear a splint for the first few weeks to stabilize your joint. Many experts suggest using crutches to avoid putting any unwanted weight on the joint.
  • Elevate your joint in the night by sleeping with your affected joint raised on a bunch of pillows.
  • Be mindful of following all the instructions given by your medical expert.

If you notice any unusual pain or swelling, you must immediately contact your doctor. Medical professionals at Jersey Joint, Spine, & Regen are always happy to help you with any queries.

Also Read: What is Non-Surgical Orthopedics?

What Is PRP Treatment Used For?

PRP injections are effective against a wide range of conditions, from cosmetic procedures to musculoskeletal injuries and pain. Let’s examine the various benefits of this treatment.

Tendon, Ligament, Muscle And Joint Injuries

PRP injections are responsible for treating various musculoskeletal conditions and injuries. For instance, chronic injuries in tendons, including jumper’s knee or tennis elbow, might take much time to heal. However, PRP treatment has proved to be pivotal in stimulating the healing process, enabling the patient to return to activities and decrease the pain sooner.

Post-Surgical Healing

Medical experts first utilized PRP to boost the healing process right after plastic or jaw surgeries. Nowadays, post-surgical PRP injections have become widely used to help heal elbow ligaments, tendons, and muscles. We all know that such tissues have reputedly long recovery times. Platelet-rich plasma helps them heal way faster than they could heal naturally.

Osteoarthritis

Plasma injection for knee treatment helps to manage osteoarthritis by using blood drawn by the patient. The growth proteins and growth factors in PRP can help stimulate cartilage production, promote tissue healing, and reduce inflammation. This procedure elevates the natural healing mechanisms, potentially leading to improved joint function and pain relief. PRP therapy provides a minimally invasive option to more aggressive treatments. Needless to say, it comes with a shorter recovery period and fewer side effects. It is a widely chosen method for patients who are willing to get relief from the symptoms of osteoarthritis.

Hair Loss

You can now get help with your hair loss by using your own blood to promote hair growth. Fascinating, right? All you need to do is opt for a genuine professional. The medical experts at Jersey Joint, Spine, & Regen are highly skilled due to their years of experience. They draw an ignorable amount of blood and centrifuge it to concentrate platelets. After the platelets are separated, these professionals inject them into the scalp. The proteins and growth factors present will trigger the hair follicles, promote cell growth, increase blood supply to hair roots, and stimulate tissue repair. This can lead to you having stronger and much thicker hair. Ultimately, it reduces hair thinning.

Skin Rejuvenation

Often, PRP injections are used as an effective anti-aging procedure. However, there is little to no evidence that concludes that PRP helps reduce signs of aging, such as wrinkles. Platelet-rich plasma therapy rejuvenates the skin by harnessing the naturally occurring healing properties of the blood. The concentrated platelets are applied topically or injected with micro-needling. Consequently, it triggers collagen production and combats fine lines and wrinkles.

There are many benefits to PRP. For instance, it improves skin texture, elasticity, and tone and boosts tissue repair and cell regeneration. All of this eventually leads to a more radiant and youthful glow. This technique uses one’s own bodily resources to get natural-looking results. No wonder it is becoming a highly sought-after choice for those seeking skin rejuvenation.

PRP Therapy Risks And Side Effects

If you are planning to get knee injections PRP, we suggest you discuss your condition with a healthcare expert. At Jersey Joint, Spine, & Regen, you will find many PRP specialists who are aware of all the risks and benefits. So, contact them right now and say hello to a journey of getting pain-free joints.

PRP Therapy Benefits

There are many benefits to PRP. For instance, 

  • It improves skin texture.
  • Adds more to elasticity and tone.
  • PRP boosts tissue repair and cell regeneration.
  • It leads to a more radiant and youthful glow. 
  • This technique uses one’s own bodily resources to get natural-looking results. No wonder it is becoming a highly sought-after choice for those seeking skin rejuvenation.

PRP Therapy Risks

Plasma therapy for knees normally does not cause any major side effects, as it is an extremely low-risk technique. However, since it requires to draw your blood, you need to make sure that you have eaten properly beforehand and stay hydrated. By doing so, you can easily steer clear of feeling lightheaded. After the treatment, you might experience some bruising or soreness at the site of injection.

As we have established, these injections are made by using one’s own plasma and cells. Thus, the risks of having an allergic reaction are very low. Comparatively, other injectable medications, such as corticosteroids, have higher risks of an allergic reaction than PRP. Still, a handful of patients, after getting PRP treatment for knee, experience symptoms such as

  • Nerve injuries.
  • Bleeding.
  • Infection.
  • Tissue damage and more.

Summing It All Up!

Plasma-rich platelet – PRP treatment for knee is an effective therapy. It is especially promising for the ones who are dealing with severe tissue damage, skin issues, hair loss, and other conditions. However, as we mentioned above, there are some ongoing controversies related to this treatment. As of now, there is no convincing evidence to prove the standardization or effectiveness of PRP therapy for knees. But, since it is a completely safe and minimally invasive procedure, there is technically no harm in getting it done. 

You can opt for Jersey Joint, Spine, & Regen Treatment to get your PRP if you wish to get instant pain relief. There is one thing that you need to be aware of. PRP injections are not covered by medical insurance. Consequently, it might become expensive for people who need to get it done repeatedly.

Frequently Asked Questions

Platelet-rich plasma helps to improve the painful symptoms of knee osteoarthritis. People often suggest that Plasma for knee pain treatment is more effective in contrast to hyaluronic acid, placebos, and steroids.

This therapy has given remarkable results for patients suffering from primarily Grade 2 or even Grade 1 knee pain. More than 80 percent of the patients showed significant improvement in the overall function of their knees after undergoing PRP treatment. Needless to say, the pain also left no trace.

There is no common consent among the researchers as to how long the effects of PRP therapy for knees can last. Some suggest that the results can last for up to 12 months after getting the injections. At the same time, others debate that the benefits vanish in thin air after 24 months.

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