PRP (platelet rich plasma) injection?

My research is it’s not necessarily a bandaid. If you need a knee replacement this won’t ever stop that diagnosis. It’s similar to steroid injections where it helps with discomfort and can speed recovery and hopefully some relief of inflammation.
It is not covered by any insurance due to lack of research and or FDA approval.
It may happen in the future, but not yet. My choice to book an appointment is because I’m allergic to steroids and other injectable’s. I had to cancel recently because my CBC was abnormal. Your doctor in my opinion should get labs first. This is because you’re using your own blood. If your platelets are low, red cells are low which mine are then they did and iron profile. You can research how these low levels till better yiu need to hold off on the injection.
I had it done years ago for severe dry eyes and it did nothing. I do know from speaking to many who have done both feel the old injectable’s work far better and covered by insurance.
I honestly don’t know but it’s something a lot of folks consider due to the high cost. Keep doing research.

@dee53 At this time 2026 Medicare will not pay for it and still classified it as “experimental”.
It may take another year or so before it approves it.
Medicare usually follows for example Blue Cross and Blue Shield, if they start covering it, Medicare usually does also.
Right now i believe it’s still a “cash only” procedure. We are at the mercy of insurance companies as usual.

@dee53
My hand doctor offered PRP as one of the alternatives for my CMC arthritis, but said the research is mixed on effectiveness and still considered experimental so insurance wouldn't cover. He said a treatment for one hand would be over $700 out of pocket, but there was a doctor within their practice that could do it if that's the choice I made. I decided to go a different direction.

@dee53 unfortunately, I'm not sure any insurance companies pay for this treatment right now. Hopefully that will change.

@dee53 I don’t think any of the insurance companies pay for it.

Medicare does not cover any of the expense so shop around for the best price. I paid $1,600 for both knees given to me by my Branson, MO ortho. I recently learned from my Bullhead City, AZ ortho that it is only $500 per knee. At any rate I noticed zero improvement in either knee after the PRP treatment.

@mothermary1
Did you learn about your steroid allergy from the 5 Day Extended Patch Test?
With that test I tested allergic to only 1 of the 5 classes of steroid. Thus I am able to tolerate the powerful Kenalog 40 corticosteroid for example
What class of steroid are you allergic to?

@granddilulsion What direction did you choose? I chose CMC surgery using the "tightrope" procedure. Both surgeries, by two different doctors several years apart, were successful. While the recovery was not fun, and took several months, I would do it again in a minute.

@sueinmn I am opting for the denervation surgery first. The surgery is less invasive and the recovery time is FAR less. And... I can still have the bone removal if it doesn't work. My surgeon says that at the end of a year, research shows the two surgeries have similar outcomes. I've been trouble finding people who have gone through it, however. I'd love to hear first hand (pun intended) accounts.

@gardeningjunkie I had 1 knee injected in Bullhead city at a cost of 500.00 with zero improvement.