PRP (platelet rich plasma) injection?

I had 2 PRP injections for a similar issue but no relief. It’s been 2 1/2 years of this.
I am trying to find out if stem cell treatment is a possibility as I refuse to spend my retirement like this, cost be damned.

Thanks Sue. Well it sounds like you're handling everything with a lot of grace. Good for you.

I had an aunt, not related by blood, who had RA in her hands. It was bad but she was always such a cheerful person in spite of the pain she must have had. Now this was the 60s, so there weren't any good treatments. Just curious, but how do you manage your RA?

I had a little knowing laugh when you mentioned wanting a year with no surgery. I had my right hip done in March and thought my shoulder could hold out until 2026. Nope, but it's 8 weeks post anatomical TSR and things are going very well. I only have the same left hip and right shoulder I had at birth, so I'm running out of joints to replace.

Well I guess we can hope, for both our sakes, that neither of us will need surgery in 2026!

All the best to you Sue.

Joe

Hi Celia - hey good for you for going to the gym and doing the work! I don't know about your gym, but where I go - and I'm only referring to the men - they place more importance on showing up at the gym than actually working.

That's why I like spin and spin class. There are a lot more women and they work very hard. I like that, as it pushes me to be better. I guess in general men are intimidated by healthy women. Men treat everything like a competition. Women, all in all, are much more balanced and self-aware.

If you don't have arthritis, your joints are probably in good shape - and your workout regimen helps a LOT.

I'm so sorry about your Mom. At 84 it's very hardtop have such a major surgery. It's a very difficult choice.

I wish you and your Mon the very best. And my thanks for your inspiration.

Joe

@heyjoe415 Hi Joe, I use an anti-rheumatic drug to help with the inflammation, supplemented by Voltaren rub, Tylenol, heat, and braces...some days are really good, others not so much. But all in all, I feel lucky to live in 2025, when there are many options.

Yep, we count a good week when neither of us has a medical appointment! (PT doesn't count - we call that maintenance.) And a year without any surgery is a blessing - one year out from rotator cuff repair, I am happy to say I seem to have full use and 80-90% strength.

Thanks Joe, let's try to hang on to our remaining original parts.

I have heard both success and failure with PRP. I have gluteal tendinopathy and feel tendinitis in many other places also. it flares and can get bad. One orthopedic doctor recommended also. He said 6 in 10 get relief. I didn't jump in at that time but feel I could try it now. My issue is that I still don't know what the underlying cause of all of the "opath"y or "itis" is throughout my body.

Amen to that Sue. I'm glad your RC repair went well. That's a long recovery, even longer than a replacement in some cases. Good for you.

Voltaren gel is helpful, and I'm glad there are anti-rheumatic drugs to help. Attitude is everything, and you've got that nailed!

Take care Sue!

Joe

I have had tendinitis and tenosynovitis for going on 19 years. It’s in my wrists, started in music school at 18 yrs old from playing guitar, and it all but heals with rest, up to the remaining 20% or so, and so therefore it very easily flares back up with use and activity. After lots of medical digging, I found out I have L-HSD localized hypermobility spectrum disorder, a gene negative connective tissue disease involving the immune system. From my research, the best plan is to get PRP injections into specific tendons where Cortisone injections were previously helpful. PRP is expensive, and because Cortisone is covered by insurance, you can use the corticosteroids as a test. If the corticosteroid gave relief for say 10 days in the tendon an 0 days in another, your best chance is to put the PRP where you had the most relief from the steroid. This is what I was told. I lost my job and have not been able to get the PRP yet, but I’m definitely planning on doing it. It does seem to be the best solution for tendinitis, tendinopathy, Tenosynovitis.

@jackbartlett123

From what I understand, PRP is for tendon issues. Stem cells are for issues with joints/arthritis/discs etc