PRP Treatment
When you have osteoarthritis of the knee, you may be wondering what the best treatment option for it is. Should you speak with your doctor about booking the surgery? Are there any medications you can take to relieve your pain? While either of these are potential options, you may be interested to learn more about how platelet-rich plasma (PRP) therapy can help with your knee osteoarthritis. PRP therapy can be a great way to use your own body’s natural methods for healing as a way to repair your knee when you have osteoarthritis.
What is PRP therapy?
Your blood has certain growth factors that your body produces naturally. When you inject these growth factors into areas of your body that are damaged, it is possible for these growth factors to begin healing your body by reducing inflammation where the damage has occurred.
Does PRP therapy work?
No doctor can guarantee that a treatment will work for you. PRP therapy has been highly effective in many patients and doctors have found that patients who suffer from knee osteoarthritis have reported reduced pain in the afflicted area and more mobility. Discussing these matters with an orthopedic knee doctor from a clinic like Premier Osteoarthritis Centers of Pennsylvania could be of some help.
Am I the right candidate for PRP therapy?
If you have tried other methods to reduce your pain from osteoarthritis and are even considering something as serious as getting surgery for your knee, it may be time to look into PRP therapy and determine if this is a better course of treatment. It is important to note that many insurances may not cover PRP therapy so you should speak with your doctor and your insurance about payment options before signing up for treatment.
Preparing for PRP Therapy
If your doctor has approved you for PRP therapy and you are ready to begin the process then you can begin preparing for it in a few ways:
- Arrange to have someone available to drive you home after your appointment;
- Speak with the doctor about an MRI to see the extent of your knee damage;
- Do not take anti-inflammatory medication for a certain number of days before your therapy;
- Speak with your doctor about what kind of assistance you will need from people after your therapy and if you should use crutches.
