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I will testify that PRP is great for some like my son, who damaged his knee when he fell ,and not so great for others like me who is over 75 and has osteoarthritis. I also have had cortisone which worked for about 3 or 4 months and 5 injections of hyaluronic acid which did little or nothing. I have had "Soft Wave" and other non invasive frequency therapies. I still walk like a duck and rely upon my biceps to carry my weight when doing stairs with a railing. Will I have surgery? No. I have seen others who have had knee surgery still complaining that their legs are not in great shape. Pain is something I am living with but so far I am refusing to stop trying to do many of the things I like to do. I feel very limited though-not a good thing at all.
Replies to "I will testify that PRP is great for some like my son, who damaged his knee..."
Hi Kris,
I'm sorry about the pain you are in. Having to literally haul yourself up a stairway with your arms is just too much.
I'm 70 now. Like a lot of others on here, I have osteoarthritis everywhere. To add to it I ran a lot of marathons in my 30s and 40s. In 2022 I had both knees replaced. I worked with a trainer for six months prior to the surgeries to strengthen the muscles that support the knee - primarily the quads and hamstrings. I selected a young surgeon experienced in knee replacement with a robotic (Stryker/Mako) assistant.
After the surgery, I did all of the suggested rehab obsessively for two months. It's over two years now, and getting my knees replaced has been life changing. I can't run anymore, but I'm in the gym everyday and I spin 5x/week. It feels so much better after all the pain I was in.
So please don't rule out knee replacement without doing some more research. I realize that forums like these attract a number of people who have had a bad experience, for a number of reasons. But a great deal of the outcome is in the patient's hands. Find a great surgeon, ideally someone in their 30s or 40s with a solid med school/residency pedigree - a surgeon who has already done thousands of these procedures. Look at the surgeon's reviews, ask questions, get in the best shape you can and go for it.
PRP, cortisone, and other injections are band aids, and temporary band aids at that.
I wish you the best, regardless of your decision. I really believe that we don't have to live with the pain and inconvenience of worn out, painful knees.
All the best. Joe
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i am in the same boat. Had TNR 11 years ago. Still painful. Surgeon says its phantom pain. Yea, right. The other knee i do PRP every year. Yes, its expensive. As i am in my 80's i get the full dose and i can still bike, play golf and garden. I can get on that knee to garden. What PRP does is goes after the arthritis. It also grows hair for women. It works for me. I would rather pay the out of pocket than go thru the 3 month painful rehab that i had with TKR. I wish i had a do over on that knee.