PRP (platelet rich plasma) injection?

Helpful, hopeful info about allowing time for the platlett healing to take place. My issue is also my patella and has been for 40 years, but it's gotten dramatically worse the last 5 years. I don't have access to fresh Bitter Melon. I may give the capsuales a try, although fresh I'm sure is more beneficial.
I've had physical therapy and do leg strenthening exercises daily which don't involve bending my knee.

I buy the dried bitter melon when my garden is done. Asian grocery stores sell it fresh. I buy the dried bitter melon on Amazon. Just stick in water and I use it in cooking. My knee became bad from repeated steroid shots when I did martial arts unaware that these do destroy cartialage. I have my limitations and I accept that as opposed to getting a replacement which I can't do as I am extremely hypersensative.

Dried bitter melon sounds like a good substitute for fresh. Good tip.
I stopped all steroids years ago because of side effects. Steroids are only a treatment which help temporarily, but detrimental with side effects in the long run.
I was involved in high impact arobics which was popular in the 80's, we would do 1,000 butt squats. Super damaging to the knees. Yet for some that wouldn't matter. In my case I developed condromalacia patella. Today the ortho says I have arthritis in my knees.
My Allergic Contact Dermatitis, ACD, prevents me from getting knee replacements.

I checked out the dried bitter melon slices on Amazon. Do you preferance as to the brand?

I received two injections about a year ago for my tennis elbow. I was going to have it surgically repaired in 2016, but had to pass on the operation, which after a screw-up in facilities left me little time to recover before my move to South America. I'd already had bi-lateral shoulder surgeries when I was young--early 1970's--before arthroscopic surgery would have made the operations fairy routine. Instead, I adapted to the ongoing pain and limited range of motion and continued to surf regularly, played tennis a couple of times/week, and continued with my marital arts training and teaching. When I came back to the states to apply for Parkinson's Disease compensation from either Agent Orange exposure in Vietnam or toxic drinking water while stationed at Camp Lejeune, I was told by the Veterans Administration that the VA regional hospital in my area was offering PRP injections, I didn't hesitate to take one or two since I'd heard that several world-class athletes had taken them: Stephan Curry, Rafael Nadal, and Aaron Judge. And since the injections are considered experimental, not covered by normal health insurance, getting them for free seemed a no-brainer. I figured I'd be able to play tennis relatively pain-free and go back to hitting with my dominant hand before PD effects progressed to the point where I'd have to permanently "retire" from surfing and tennis. I followed the instructions from the administering doctor, but had little if any improvement in my elbow--just a slight reduction in the swelling and some pain relief using my one-handed backhand. I took a second injection six months later and once again was disappointed in the noticeable lack of improvement. It no longer matters now that my tremors and coordination have worsened due to PD. Maybe it'll work for other injuries, but I'd had tennis elbow for at least a decade before the PRP injections. I'd been a surfer and tennis player for mor than sixty years, so I don't really miss either, and I practice tai chi chuan as the martial art as it's intended to be. These days, I just try to keep my physical and mental health from deteriorating: daily exercising, a healthy diet, lots of rest and socializing, and keeping my mind active reading and learning new languages. I no longer take any pharmaceuticals--even for my PD. The bid drug companies can __________! As a teenager, I'd had my first near-death experience after passing out underwater in giant storm surf; no big deal, and I haven't been at all worried about dying, except for how it will affect my wife and close friends. Three of those experiences in one lifetime will do that to a person.

I will have the Prp September. I have been bone on bone I tried the injections. The Cortizone and this is my next step. I will try everything I can before total knee replacement. I am hoping it works.

Give it 2 weeks and see. My knee has slowly improved. I still use my knee sleeve prescribed by the dr, I use that for yard activities , golf , biking etc

Do you get. the bitter melon at an Asian grocery story and how do you prepare it? Is is very bitter?

I grow it but it can be bought fresh at an Asian grocery store. During non growing seasons I buy it from Amazon. Its dehydrated but i put it in water and its ready to use. Yes, the fresh can be very bitter but you get use to it

New to this group. I have had both PRP and steroid injections.

The first steroid injection for torn hip labrum was miraculous. I went for 2013-2022 with no hip issues.

My PRP injection to my tennis elbow also miraculous. No more issues at all.

However - subsequent Steroids to my hip 8 months ago was useless. It did nothing to help the progression arthritis stiffness of my hip. A follow-up PRP in hip also didn’t work.
I’m be moving to hip replacement soon.

I will avoid steroids injection in my personal future as they weaken my tendons. They are detrimental in my case.

Good luck!!