Arthritis of the knee: PRP injections may help

Suddenly, your knees hurt. Getting up from a chair becomes an ordeal. Walking into the kitchen seems like an endurance test. Swelling. Stiffness. Pain.

That’s arthritis.

About 30 million people have knee arthritis caused by simple aging.

The cartilage in the three knee bones begins to thin and wear away and in late stages, the bones rub together causing pain. This causes pain, stiffness, and swelling.

Although there is no cure, a relatively new technique is thought to be effective and safe for osteoarthritis of the knee joint. Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) injections use your own blood to create a concentrate of platelets that are injected into the knee. The process can be quick. as little as 15 minutes for each injection. Patients may need from three to six injections for maximum relief

According to the National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI), PRP injections are safe and effective, especially for early stages of osteoarthritis of the knee.
Unfortunately, Medicare and major insurance companies do not cover PRP injections, which can cost from $500 to $2,000 per injection. The treatment is still considered experimental.