PRP For Mild Osteoarthritis
Using PRP to treat joint pain.
PRP Treatment for Mild Osteoarthritis
There's some excellent medical literature that proves that platelet-rich plasma would be superior to either cortisone or hyaluronic acid for osteoarthritis of the knee. There's also emerging evidence that it is similarly superior for osteoarthritis of the hip.
Additional conditions in the lower extremity that platelets have been used for with very good results, would include patellar tendon just below the kneecap, plantar fascia in the sole of your foot, the achilles tendon at the back of the heel, various running injuries including Pes Anserine bursitis, groin strains, and repetitive motion injuries.
In the upper extremity, the areas that I would commonly inject with platelet-rich plasma would include injuries of the rotator cuff, biceps tendon, and the supraspinatus tendon. At the elbow, we would commonly deal with pain at the outside corner of the elbow called tennis elbow, and pain at the inside corner called golfer's elbow.
Then, at the wrist, we would commonly deal with some arthritis at the base of the thumb.
"In 2014, I undertook 3 separate trips to Kelowna from Victoria to have Platelet-Rich Plasma treatments for both of my knees. This was one of the best decisions of my life. Seven years later, I am still using my legs to walk and function normally.
Before my first visit to the clinic, I was scheduled to two knee replacements since I could only walk about 100m before enduring much pain in both knees. Today I can still walk briskly over 2km and simply do not think about my mobility as I go about my daily routine. Thank you Dr. Pagdin."
Consultation Information
We will be happy to set up a 15 minute no-charge consultation for you. This can be either at our Kelowna office or by telephone.
Frequently Asked Questions
There is excellent level one evidence for the merits of PRP in mild-to-moderate osteoarthritis of the knee, and for tennis elbow. There is also a good level of evidence for benefit in patellar tendons and plantar fasciitis, and emerging evidence for its usefulness in rotator cuff injuries, ankle sprains and other osteoarthritic joints.
PRP is sourced from your body and is superior to either cortisone or hyaluronic acid. It is full of growth factors that can accelerate healing.
Please contact our office for pricing.
For soft tissue injuries, the healing benefit can be permanent. For osteoarthritis, benefits may wear off after 6-9 months.
Blood is drawn from your arm, and spins in a centrifuge to concentrate the platelets. The purified platelets are then injected into the area of injury, usually guided by ultrasound.
From start to finish, treatment takes a little over one hour. Pain is very minimal as we have very effective local anesthetics.
This depends on the injury, and the response to the first injection. In many cases, only one injection is needed, but for certain conditions, 2-3 treatments may be required.
Given that the platelets release their growth factors within the first hour after injection, improvement can happen quite quickly: within 1-2 weeks.
Avoid all anti-inflammatories for 48 hours prior to the procedure, and 7-10 days post treatment with PRP. This applies equally to over-the-counter medications like aspirin, ibuprofen, and Aleve, as well as prescription NSAIDS like Naproxen, Voltaren, and Celebrex, together with anti-inflammatory supplements like Omega 3, Curcumin, Boswellia, and White Willow Bark.
Resume activities as soon as comfort allows, usually the very next day, but avoid high impact such as running or jumping sports for 1-2 weeks.
The procedure can be repeated if necessary, as symptoms dictate.
If we are using PRP for an arthritic joint, an X-ray within the past 1-2 years is required. We also require a CBC (complete blood count) drawn within the last 3-6 months. If you do not have either of these please contact our office for assistance.
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