Statistics show that over 45% of adults over the age of 50 are suffering from knee pain in the United States. About half of that number can be attributed to osteoarthritis, which is the most common variety of arthritis among the older population. However, there are younger people afflicted with knee pain as well, every one in four individuals to be exact, some of which are children. PRP injections may be able to relieve their knee pain and possibly help their body begin to heal itself.
What Are PRP Injections?
While PRP injections have been experimented with for decades, it is still considered a fairly experimental pain treatment. A pain management doctor will extract blood from a patient’s arm and then separate the plasma using a centrifuge. The plasma may then be prepared with other components depending on the procedure and is then injected into the injured area. The idea behind this technique is that by using the body’s own platelets, it will be able to reduce pain and heal the area faster. Because the treatment uses one’s own blood, there is no risk of rejection.
PRP Injections & Knee Pain:
Subjective studies have confirmed that PRP injections are effective in relieving knee pain and in some cases, healing it completely. The procedure may be particularly successful in the following causes of knee discomfort:
- Osteoarthritis: PRP knee injections have been used most often for individuals affected with osteoarthritis. Since OA affects the cartilage in the knee joints, PRP injections can help to rebuild the tissue which will relieve the pain.
- ACL Tears: an ACL injury occurs when there is a tear in the tissue connecting the femur to the tibia. It is most commonly caused by sports or other forms of physical activity. Some cases require surgery to replace the torn ligament and others require rest. For those with continued discomfort, PRP injections can assist in stimulating growth of the torn ligament which will provide some pain relief.
- Torn Meniscus: this is one of the most common forms of knee injuries as it can occur quite easily. By simply twisting your knee in the wrong way while standing, the cartilage can tear causing a great deal of pain. Some tears may heal on their own while others require other forms of treatment. Similar to the ACL tear, the PRP injections can help stimulate the regeneration of the torn tissue.
- Knee Bursitis: the bursae are small fluid-filled sacs located next to the knee joints. If one or more of them becomes inflamed, it can become very painful and may limit mobility. PRP treatment may reduce inflammation and improve flexibility in the knee joints.
- Patellar Tendinitis: also known as ‘jumper’s knee’, this injury is found most often in athletes who put excessive strain on their patellar tendon (the ligament connecting the kneecap to the shinbone). Treatment usually involves physical therapy to stretch the muscles in the injured area. As one can imagine, this can be quite painful. PRP injections can ease the pain whilst healing the tendon.
PRP therapy can be extremely beneficial to individuals suffering from pain of any kind. The procedure is simple and nominally invasive and can be another method of treatment for those who have not yet found relief for their pain. Call Elite Pain Queens today to begin your healing journey.
Elite Pain Queens Back Neck Knee PRP & Cortisone Injections by Dr Y. Abrakhimov NYC 62-40 Woodhaven Blvd Suite p17, Queens, NY 11374 (718) 200-8846 https://www.elitepainqueens.com/
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