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Platelet-Rich Plasma (PRP) Knee Injection

By Author
June 6, 2022

INTRODUCTION

Platelet-rich plasma abbreviated as PRP is widely known as a modern culture in the treatment of various orthopaedic conditions and this includes sports injuries. The blood includes several major components including red blood cells, white-blood cells, plasma, and platelets. The tiny discoid blood cells known as platelets contain granules with clotting and growth abilities (factors) which are released during the healing process. The inflammatory cascade is hastened by the platelets and healing as well, by the discharge of granules with growth ability or factors. The lifespan of platelets is known to be seven to ten days on average. The blood specimen that is normal is known to contain six percent platelets while the PRP (platelet-rich plasma) concentration of platelets is much higher.

A platelet-rich plasma injection is highly recommended for muscle injures treatment having a 70 to 80 percent success rate. Complete healing will take four to six weeks. For an individual having a low count of platelets, a disorder of bleeding, medications involving blood-thinning, or people with local anaesthetic agents allergies and pregnant women should seek special precautions.

WHAT DOES PRP KNOW FOR?

A concentration of platelets is taken from the blood sample of the patient and PRP is made or prepared from it. Generally, the work of Platelet-rich plasma is to use the natural healing system of the body to ensure the improvement of problems related to the musculoskeletal. The platelets that are now activated are then injected directly into the tissue that is affected. The growth factor is then initiated stimulating and raising the reparative cells number the body produces. The injured joints, muscles, tendons, and ligaments' healing process can be heightened by platelet-rich plasma injections.

WHY KNEE OSTEOARTHRITIS PATIENTS CAN OPT FOR PRP INJECTIONS

PRP injection is helpful especially when it comes to healing painful knee injuries and other conditions. This is made possible only by using the blood sample that belongs to the own patient. This makes it unique from other traditional ways of Osteoarthritis management of knee pain like surgery, anti-inflammatory medicines, and physical therapy, and cortisone injections as well. Platelets-rich plasma injections knee Osteoarthritis therapy does its best in downing inflammation in the areas that are affected ensuring restoration of hyaluronic acid. This is a substance that is clear in the body and helps in repairing the tissues that are aging or damaged through the platelet's growth factor. They send the signals to the cell division and migration promoting the formation of tissues eventually.

DOES THE PRP INJECTION FOR THE KNEE ONLY?

Platelets-rich plasma is directly injected into the parts of the body areas that are affected. This includes the tendon, ligaments, or joints that are damaged. PRP can also be administered in the painful parts that the patients feel the pain. These injections at some point will require the help of ultrasound as the doctors are able to identify the injection site that is appropriate.

HOW LONG CAN THE KNEE OSTEOARTHRITIS HEAL AFTER THE INJECTION?

After the patients have received the PRP dose, may begin to realize stiffness and pain reduction somewhere between six weeks to three months. The patients may also sense significant improvement in the function and mobility of the knee within this period of time. The PRP injections efficacy study for the knee Osteoarthritis report has proven that functionality and the pain of the knee became better after the PRP injections. The patient’s knee Osteoarthritis condition not becoming worse after the injection is also considered a significant finding.

HOW DOES THE PRP TREATMENT DONE?

It is recommendable for the patients to consider doctor’s consultation about the way best for them to prepare before undergoing the PRP treatment, depending on their particular case. The patients should prepare for the procedure under the following guidelines from their doctor's advice.

  • Before the PRP treatment procedure, you should refrain from consuming anti-inflammatory medicines for a whole week.
  • So that the doctors can have enough time to determine the extent of your knee damage, you should submit the MRI first.
  • After you have received the injections, you should possibly prepare to use the crutches.
  • Most of the families in their homes have a car and during this period the affected should be drove home.

WHAT ARE THE PATIENT’S PROCEDURE EXPECTATIONS?

This is what the patients should expect during the PRP injections procedure. The doctor conducting the exercise should draw the blood sample from the patients and put it into a centrifuge blood sample for 15 minutes. The work of centrifuge in this context is to separate the blood into the following compounds.

  • Plasma
  • Platelets
  • White blood cells
  • Red blood cells

This blood sample is significant as the doctor will utilize it to come up with Platelet-rich plasma. Then the doctor will numb the patient’s knee infusing the PRP treatment into the affected area. The tenderness of the PRP injection site may be experienced after the treatment but the pain should not be felt. A small wound or a bruise to some patients may develop at the site of the injection.

WHAT SHOULD BE DONE BY THE PATIENTS AFTER THE PROCEDURE

After a successful procedure, the patients should apply a compress that is cold on their knee that is affected for every 2 to 3 hours for twenty minutes and should be a continuer’s process for 3 days. During this period, the patient may consume some medications to help ease the pain and sensation that is uncomfortable. Doctors will also advise the patients to get rid of physical activities which will restrain or put much weight on the knees. During this healing period, the patients should consider using crutches to lift the weight from the knee. The patients will therefore after six to eight weeks do a follow-up check-up in order to assess the treatment effectiveness and patients' knee Osteoarthritis status.

The patients should contacts the doctor with immediate effect if experience severe swelling on the knee or on the injected area. Physical therapy may be recommended after the treatment to help restore the mobility of the patients in the joints. This will prevent the worsening of the condition and indeed minimize the future injuries risk. Osteoarthritis should not at all become a gap between you and your best life. Platelets-rich plasma for Knee Osteoarthritis treatment is here to ensure you regain back mobility and movement as well.

HOW EFFECTIVE IS PLATELET-RICH PLASMA?

According to the research done, the PRP research outcome on the following areas has proven to be even more effective.

PRP for Knee Arthritis

Larger reviews recently in different many studies of high-level, Platelets-rich plasma proven its effectiveness in treating patients with knee arthritis. Some other research has shown that PRP works better for those patients having less severe arthritis. Another research has proven that the severity of arthritis creates no difference.

PRP FOR TENNIS ELBOW

This is another area where the PRP injection has shown a great success of its effectiveness compared with steroid shots in the tennis elbow treatment.

PRP INJECTION FOR SPINE

Platelets-rich plasma effectiveness is much higher than steroid shots when it comes to sacroiliac pain treatment. It is of much help to those patients experiencing low back pain triggered by painful and bad discs. For facet joints pain, PRP injection is much recommendable than steroid injections.

IS PRP INJECTION COSTLY?

In most cases, platelet-rich plasma is not covered by health insurance but significantly coverage varies depending on insurance plans. Some of the employee-sponsored healthcare plans only cover platelet-rich plasma procedures. Other, insurance plans like workmen and auto accidents plans cover PRP procedures only.  So the answer to the question of whether the PRP is covered by health insurance should be received from your clinic or your healthcare insurance cover.

The PRP injection cost can also vary depending on your area of residence or the resources available for medication in your community. For a single joint, the PRP injection average cost lies between $1000 to 2000 dollars.

CAN PRP INJECTION HURT?

Hurting of PRP injection is determined by different factors like the area of injection, the injury severity, the needle size and the size of the area to be treated. The injection of PRP goes directly to the areas that are hurt therefore need for an appropriate local numbing and guidance from adequately trained personnel for handling the issue.

CAN PRP INJECTION BE PERMANENT?

It is most unlikely for the PRP to have a permanent effect, especially where the treatment is focused on arthritis which is a disease that is degenerative. According to the clinical experience I hold, arthritis that is mild, PRP may provide one or two years of relief and few months for severe arthritis. In comparison, there may exist a permanent relief for the partial tendon and ligament injuries as PRP's prevailing thought are that it may heal the tear.

HOW HELPFUL PRP INJECTION IS TO SPORTS PERFORMANCE?

It is good that now you have a basic knowledge of what PRP injection is and what they are used for. The question is, can you go for PRP injection for your sports performance enhancement? Right here, right now let’s get the answers. If you have been an athlete for some time it is likely that you may be dealing with some repetitive body injuries like rotator cuff tear or even tennis elbow.

The fact remains that many of the physicians that you will visit will have a prescription of the medications as a treatment plan that is long-term. Well, having this PRP injection you can finally do away with this chronic condition. There is no need to strive with these injuries anymore like it was there before this great invention. Platelets-rich plasma will assist your body to receive the assistance of healing in requires for the sake of healing the sector of your body.

You can imagine how great it can be going back to the sports you love without any pain. Most of the patients after receiving the treatment will start recognizing significant charges within few weeks. The healing process will be determined highly on injury severity and its body location. When you compare the healing process of surgery to that of PRP, the time taken to completely heal from surgery is longer than PRP injection. The treatment is innovative more than you can imagine.

IS THERE A NEED FOR A MULTIPLE PRP INJECTION?

For this consideration to be made, you must seek guidance from your doctor about the number of injections you may need. There are few factors that will determine the numbers and that is the location of the injury and how severe the injury is. This will determine the number of recommended Platelets-rich plasma injections. The body produces less PRP as we age so age will be also a general rule of thumb. The patients with conditions that are chronic will need two or three Platelet-rich plasma treatments.

MEDICATIONS OR PRP?

For the patients, with all the injuries pain is a major burden. In most cases, anti-inflammatories or even such strong medications are prescribed by the physician to help ease the pain patient feels. With PRP-injections, the need for consuming all these medications is considered null and void. This is because the body is able to heal quickly with less pain involved and the need for medicated therapy is minimal.

CONCLUSION

Platelets-rich plasma is a concentration obtained from the own blood of the patients. The platelets which are one of the blood components contain chemical mediators and as well growth factors that are useful in reducing inflammations, pain and improve the blood flows which gears up the process of healing. Hamstring, patellar and as well as Achilles tendon injuries, knee osteoarthritis among many are some of the growing indicators of PRP. It is very unfortunate that PRP is not covered by health insurance programs or Medicare as the cost of PRP per injection rises to 2000 dollars. The rise of the cost per injection may differ depending on the area you are living in, the specialist, and the facility as well. When receiving the treatment you may experience pain depending on different factors as mentioned earlier in this article.