PRP Injection Experiences

[rtraverdavis]

I recently learned that I've got arthritis and am bone-on-bone in both my knees, and my docs have recommended a series of PRP and stem cell injections, along with some intensive physical therapy. The docs believe that I can undo a fair amount of the damage that my knees have sustained over the years, but it's going to cost me. My insurance doesn't cover anything but the PT, so the stem cell treatment suggestion is out for now. (Stem cell treatment alone would be about $15k.) The PRP treatment is also expensive, but more manageable.

So I'm wondering if any of you have tried PRP treatment for joint issues, and if so, what was your experience? Do you feel it helped heal your joints to a greater degree than physical therapy alone? Is the price tag worth the results?

I'm 41 and have every intention to be able to hike the hills until my 80s, so I need to get this figured out before they start talking about replacements and saying things like I need to "recalibrate" my expectations for what I can do. My knees hurt a fair bit, but so far haven't kept me from doing what I want to do. I want to keep it that way. Thanks all.

 

[mxracer317]

I recently learned that I've got arthritis and am bone-on-bone in both my knees, and my docs have recommended a series of PRP and stem cell injections, along with some intensive physical therapy. The docs believe that I can undo a fair amount of the damage that my knees have sustained over the years, but it's going to cost me. My insurance doesn't cover anything but the PT, so the stem cell treatment suggestion is out for now. (Stem cell treatment alone would be about $15k.) The PRP treatment is also expensive, but more manageable.

So I'm wondering if any of you have tried PRP treatment for joint issues, and if so, what was your experience? Do you feel it helped heal your joints to a greater degree than physical therapy alone? Is the price tag worth the results?

I'm 41 and have every intention to be able to hike the hills until my 80s, so I need to get this figured out before they start talking about replacements and saying things like I need to "recalibrate" my expectations for what I can do. My knees hurt a fair bit, but so far haven't kept me from doing what I want to do. I want to keep it that way. Thanks all.

Knee replacements if it’s that bad.

 

[rtraverdavis]

Knee replacements if it’s that bad.

Trying to avoid that for as long as possible.

 

[Bob-WY]

Arthritis is one thing, bone on bone is another. My TKR was 2018, but at the time stem cell and PRP my doc said wouldn't do squat there was little to nothing to regenerate.

TKR has come a long ways in recent years, I have found docs lean to certain answers, get a 2nd opinion

 

[TOGIE]

Doesn’t it seem like the best long term solution is just knee replacements? Aren’t they like better than real knees anymore?

I’m no ortho, but I feel like at this point there’s honestly like no real solution to your problem, no?

Why not? Are they not covered either?

 

[rtraverdavis]

Doesn’t it seem like the best long term solution is just knee replacements? Aren’t they like better than real knees anymore?

I’m no ortho, but I feel like at this point there’s honestly like no real solution to your problem, no?

Why not? Are they not covered either?

I don’t think I’m quite there yet as far as cartilage degeneration goes. The bone-on-bone is only in certain spots. I don’t know—I was sort of overwhelmed when they went through the whole explanation of everything with me. I go back in next week to discuss treatment options. A total knee replacement would be covered under insurance but jfc, I’m only 41.

 

[TOGIE]

A total knee replacement would be covered under insurance but jfc, I’m only 41.

Yeah I definitely get that. For real.

My gut just tells me that a knee replacement would get you hiking like you’re 25 again until you’re too old to hike anyway. Maybe with like a year off to heal.

Contrasted with expensive therapies that maybe help and only prolong the inevitable.

But, I think multiple opinions is the answer. Primary care and ortho specialists combined.

I feel like I always find you can just get good, simple, really helpful opinions from primary care docs you trust. Obviously you need the specialist opinions at the end of the day tho for these things. but there’s something about the more “off the cuff” opinions ive gotten from a generalist I trust that I really appreciate

 

[TOGIE]

Of the several people I know, and granted they’re much older than you, that had replacements, their prevailing opinion of them is “holy cow I should’ve done this years ago”

 

[rtraverdavis]

But, I think multiple opinions is the answer. Primary care and ortho specialists combined.

I feel like I always find you can just get good, simple, really helpful opinions from primary care docs you trust. Obviously you need the specialist opinions at the end of the day tho for these things. but there’s something about the more “off the cuff” opinions ive gotten from a generalist I trust that I really appreciate

Agreed, and appreciate the advice. I’m not about to rush into anything without multiple opinions. We just moved, so haven’t established a new pcp. That’s next on the list. Thank you and the others who offered advice.

 

[shrapnel]

Trying to avoid that for as long as possible.

If you avoid a knee replacement for any reason, you don’t need one. When you can’t walk or stand you will know it is time…

 

[jryoung]

My good friend/colleague of my wife is an ortho, I'll give her a call tomorrow, but at a high level if you're bone on bone knee replacement is the better option (on paper).

We've supported many of her patients that have gone the SC/PRP route, but all had tissue available to repair.

 

[OntarioHunter]

I will be 71 in a couple of days. Man, have I been lucky. In Africa I had no trouble keeping up with my PH and tracker. Both were genuinely impressed. I hardly ever work out. Arthritis is taking a toll in my hands and elbows but otherwise fine and still doing what I want to. Yes, very lucky.

 

[Hilljackoutlaw]

Do not know much about this but I've heard of it. Might be worth your time to investigate it.

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[NVLongbow]

I recently learned that I've got arthritis and am bone-on-bone in both my knees, and my docs have recommended a series of PRP and stem cell injections, along with some intensive physical therapy. The docs believe that I can undo a fair amount of the damage that my knees have sustained over the years, but it's going to cost me. My insurance doesn't cover anything but the PT, so the stem cell treatment suggestion is out for now. (Stem cell treatment alone would be about $15k.) The PRP treatment is also expensive, but more manageable.

So I'm wondering if any of you have tried PRP treatment for joint issues, and if so, what was your experience? Do you feel it helped heal your joints to a greater degree than physical therapy alone? Is the price tag worth the results?

I'm 41 and have every intention to be able to hike the hills until my 80s, so I need to get this figured out before they start talking about replacements and saying things like I need to "recalibrate" my expectations for what I can do. My knees hurt a fair bit, but so far haven't kept me from doing what I want to do. I want to keep it that way. Thanks all.

I have had PRP injections and they helped a little but eventually I got both my knees replaced. Have skied over 100 day/year for the last 10 years and the replaced knees are the best joints in my body. A friend of mine from Boise had stem cell treatments in both knees and that bought him another 2 years before he got them replaced. When your knees get to a point where they hurt to much to sleep at night, it’s time to replace them.

 

[rtraverdavis]

I have had PRP injections and they helped a little but eventually I got both my knees replaced. Have skied over 100 day/year for the last 10 years and the replaced knees are the best joints in my body. A friend of mine from Boise had stem cell treatments in both knees and that bought him another 2 years before he got them replaced. When your knees get to a point where they hurt to much to sleep at night, it’s time to replace them.

I’m not there—yet. Now I’m starting to feel like this doc over-played what he showed me on the x-rays. Anyway, you guys are making knee replacements sound pretty good. Ha.

 

[rtraverdavis]

My good friend/colleague of my wife is an ortho, I'll give her a call tomorrow, but at a high level if you're bone on bone knee replacement is the better option (on paper).

We've supported many of her patients that have gone the SC/PRP route, but all had tissue available to repair.

Thanks JR, I appreciate it. I’m getting the feeling the doctors at this pain center I went to (which specializes in physical therapy and non-surgical treatments) may have overplayed the severity of the problem. They told me I was bone-on-bone, but maybe that isn’t the case. I know my knees hurt, and x-rays in the past have shown arthritis, but my knees aren’t killing me to the point that others are describing. So maybe they were blowing smoke to dupe me into dropping a ton of money on treatments that ultimately won’t help? I don’t know. The fact of the matter is that a second opinion is clearly in order and I intend to pursue that.

 

[Treeshark]

My first advice is to save your money for a hunt or something else cool rather than jack $15k on PRP or stem cells, at least you’d get something out of it. One thing I would recommend you look into is Hyaluronic Acid injections (sounds scary, but it’s a gel that basically acts as a lubricant). Far cheaper and has actually broken away from placebo.

Regarding getting a total knee at 41, that is a tough one. They have come a long way with Vitamin E bearing surfaces, pressfit surface texture (vs cementing the metal parts in place) etc. But if it was my knees, I would hesitate to rush into it before trying more conservative treatment options. While they can feel like a “new knee,” the studies I’m familiar with in this space all seem to indicate that the worse your knee is prior to surgery, the more satisfied the patient is. On the continuum of really bad knees, it sounds like maybe yours are not quite there yet.

To add- I’m not sure if you’re a big guy, but of the most be beneficial things for many people with “early onset” knee issues is to lose some weight. That would probably help as much as anything and it doesn’t cost a dime, whether you are trying to prolong your natural knees or improve the longevity of artificial ones.

It’s a big surgery with a long and challenging recovery, even in 2023. Sorry your knees are giving you grief man, hope you find something that works for you.

 

[Jwill]

Listen on Podurama : #264 ‒ Hip, knee, ankle, and foot: common injuries, prevention, and treatment options - https://podurama.com/episode/68b8f7bb-ca24-5dd8-adaf-1f18eeffac0f

I’d avoid replacement as long as you can. Get a good ortho, do some pt, maybe lose some weight, try the treatments as a second to last resort.

 

[Nameless Range]

No experience with this but a thought based on the experience of a friend:

Knee replacements last around 15 years. That's the average of the average person. If you use your knee more than the average person, it likely won't last as long. A gentleman on our VFD just got his 3rd knee replacement. He cuts wood and hunts sheds for a living, and so his "new" knees were only lasting ten or so years. He's in his 70s and still an absolute savage.

Just that, if as I think is the case with you, you plan to put a lot more miles on your knees than the average person, at 41 a knee replacement is likely not gonna be a permanent fix. Hope you find a way forward that works well for you.

 

[BRI]

I was about the same age as you when my knee started bothering me in 2010. Was arthritis, bone on bone and told it's not if but when I'll have to do the knee replacement and that I was too young. Started the "pain management" phase with the Euflexxa injections but after a couple years didn't feel there was any benefit from that. Cortisone only helped for a brief period. Basically just felt like I had to deal with the pain. Some days ok, some days not so good. In late 2020, I had a friend have knee replacement at 48 and saw him go through it with no issues. I went and talked to his doctor and asked about being too young for the replacement. He said I needed a knee replacement but I was the only one that would make the decision when I was ready. He said the most common wear spot is in the joint where the meniscus would usually be and that wears out at roughly 1% per year. He said I shouldn't worry about wearing out a knee replacement. I'm finally ready and have November 29 set on the calendar for the replacement. Nervous as hell but excited at the same time.

Good luck and certainly don't hesitate to go talk to a few different doctors.