How well does PRP work?
When compared to other chronic tendon disorder treatments, clinical trials show that PRP outperforms other types of treatments such as corticosteroids and viscosupplementation (hyaluronic acid).
Both corticosteroids and PRP are very effective treatments. But corticosteroids can suppress your immune system locally at the injection/pain site, whereas PRP will not. Corticosteriods may also weaken your collagen structures after multiple treatments. With PRP, there’s no known disadvantage to receiving multiple doses.
What is PRP treatment good for?
PRP is a reasonable treatment option for symptoms of osteoarthritis, inflammation, and tendinopathies such as tennis elbow (lateral epicondylitis), jumper’s knee (patellar tendonitis), certain types of hip pain (gluteus medius tendinopathy), and plantar fasciitis.
How much does PRP cost? Is it covered by insurance?
PRP costs approximately $900 for the first treatment area and around $1,100 for two treatment areas. It is not paid for by insurance.
How long does it take for PRP to work? What is the patient experience like?
Many people start to experience symptom relief a few days after their PRP treatment. For some, it can take up to six weeks for PRP to work depending on their condition. Treatment lasts a minimum of six weeks, to an average time of three to six months and at maximum approximately one year.
For the PRP treatment process, you will typically visit a clinic where an assistant will draw a small amount of blood for testing (about one to three vials of blood). The blood is then processed in a machine that separates and concentrates the PRP. These platelets (along with an anti-coagulant) are then injected back into your body during the same visit. The total visit on average takes 60 minutes.
Is PRP treatment safe?
Yes. PRP uses fractions of the patient’s own blood and reintroduces them to the body with no additives other than an anti-coagulant. PRP simply removes the parts of the blood that aren’t effective in the treatment process and concentrates the beneficial parts.