Samuel G Oltman, ND, RMSK
When a condition like knee osteoarthritis develops over years and decades, it generally takes more than one Platelet Rich Plasma (PRP) treatment to achieve long-term, significant pain relief. With wear-and-tear conditions like osteoarthritis, there are long-entrenched patterns that need to be disrupted by a regular series of PRP treatments. Treating the knee with high-dose platelets over a sustained period of time allows for the pain-relieving and regenerative effects to take hold and build momentum over the long term. We see this clinically with our patients, and it continues to be backed up by the evidence.
More PRP = Less Pain
A new study looked at over 1,000 knees treated with PRP and found that there was a larger decrease in pain with 2 or more PRP treatments (1). This was true in early stage and late stage osteoarthritis, with the later stage (more severe) knees needing more than 3 for best results. For most patients at Cascade Regenerative Medicine, we do 3 treatments spaced out by 4 weeks each to start. Depending on the severity, many patients may do best with 1-2 “tune-up” treatments per year as needed.
PRP Proactively
The study also found that addressing the problem early paid off. More severe cases of osteoarthritis need more total treatments to get good pain relief. The option we discuss with patients in these more severe cases (that is not covered in this study) is MFAT. Knees with earlier stage osteoarthritis needed less treatment to achieve significant pain relief. This is just the old adage “an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of treatment”.
PRP Is Superior To Cortisone
This approach is in contrast to the current standard of care which is to utilize serial cortisone injections into the knee. While this may provide short term symptomatic relief, it breaks down the knee faster over time. It perpetuates the wear-and-tear cycle by shutting off your healing response. PRP, on the other hand, improves your knee health over the long term.
Invest In Your Health
PRP injections are an investment in your health. Following through and doing a full plan to get sustained healing is key. Getting high-dose platelets with each treatment is another key component in which we are experts. Benefit from a sustained healing response is what we see with all of our patients and it is what is supported by the scientific evidence. If you have knee pain and are looking for a better option than steroids and surgery, see us today and experience the Cascade Regenerative Medicine difference.
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