Platelet Rich Plasma injections for tears in glute minimus and tendons

At best the chances of it helping are 50/50 from I've seen, and it isn't covered by any insurance company that I know of.

Strongly recommend looking up Dr Jeffrey Peng on YouTube. He spells out the difference between someone trained in PRP administration and those who haven’t. Very educational. It surely helped me ask the right questions to discern whether the Dr was doing the “Poke & Hope” method or really knew what they were doing.

Best of luck.

The subject came up before one of my surgeries at UCSD and the response I got was that there has to be a certain level of plasma, rich ingredient to be effective and private doctors don’t offer it and people are just being ripped off. I know some people that paid the money and had no positive result there private doctors who are snake oil salesman and will just take peoples money who are willing to open their pocketbook to them. Please be very careful and contact people who have had the procedure from the doctors office you think you want to use. Stay away from people as references who are still using the program because the placebo effect(them wanting a positive result so they feel their money is not wasted) bias, the answer they give..

@loriesco I had PRP for complete tears in gluteus minimus and it helped tremendously. Had it through an ortho doctor at UCSD. I agree there is no guarantee.

If you can afford it you have nothing to lose. Keeping in mind the 50/50 chance of success. Were you offered any other alternative treatments or have you run the gamete and this is a last resort?

Hi Everyone, thanks so much for the information, I will follow up on that You Tube video

I have tried physio for glutes, if feels like an endless fly wheel, of physio, proscribed exercises, pain meds and cream, stretching, resting, ice, heat, still pain and can't walk very far. FYI, I have just been told by a spinal surgeon I am a candidate for de compression surgery on L 3 4 and L 4 5 both sides. He's sure, after MRI and detailed discussion of my symptoms that de compression surgery will bring relief. My physio thinks both things are in play. The Surgeon is quite ok with Plasma rich injections he just thinks the evidence for improvement is limited so I decided to check out actual patient experience. My "injectionist" is a specialized Nurse Practitioner with extensive experience in a Radiology practice as well as having completed 200 American Medical Association credits for ultrasound guided injections for the treatment of muskoskeletal pain, he works in a practice dedicated to muscle/skeletal issues and pain management. FYI I live in Canada and most of this will be on my dime, not insurance or government programs. I could do the surgery via public health care but I would have to wait quite awhile. As I am 77 I want to get on with my preferred life if it is at all possible.

Thanks again for all the advice, I really appreciate it.

I did PRP! Studies show it's effective on tissue repair. I refuse to do cortisone, so I had a strong PRP done by a neuro in July. About a 35% pain reduction, which is HUGE! I was barely functioning before. Cost depends on your issues. Mine was $3700, but worth every tiny penny. I researched it extensively. You can get PRP from pain interventionals, but I needed a stronger concentration. I have herniations & stenosis in my cervical, thoracic and lumbar. My nuero does PRP full time, which is important to me.

@christyvandermolen I was just told by my pain management doctor that PRP would not be an appropriate procedure for the problems with my back. I don’t know his reasons for that opinion. I have never been to a neurosurgeon for an evaluation because I am too old for surgery but what you’ve told me here gives me hope.

I’m wondering if neurosurgeons are the practitioners who usually do PRPs. Also, can you tell me where you had these injections?

@jenatsky
Gamut

I just had PRP on 23 Sep 2026 from Dr G Goswami triple board certified MD in Newport Bch CA. In Jul 2025 I had a sudden tendon rupture on my left foot and leg due to a side effect of a cholesterol med Nexletol/Nilemdo! I was in acute pain for over a year and apart from pain killers I was not prescribed anything else in Italy where I live. I tried Ultrasound, PT, Chiropractor, Ortho docs, Accupuncture several times and spent a $1000 on my own dime but nothing worked! I ran out of options so I decided to fly back home to CA for PRP as this treatment is not really offered in Italy as per my GP. It cost a total of $2200 and included ultrasound and consults. Doc sent me a long list of bloodwork which I had done privately in Italy to save time. I was at the clinic for 5 hrs for consult and the nurse was very kind while she prepped me for the PRP injections etc. He sedated me mildly so I would not feel the pain of the 3 injections. 2 on my heel and 1 in my ankle. I was sore for 3 days but had no more pain than I have had this last year. I was told to use a heat pad 3x a day and soak my foot in hot water for 10 mins. Since I returned to Italy a few days ago I continue that treatment and I feel less pain already in 2 weeks since. I am in touch with the doc who is very responsive and he said that it will take a few weeks to feel better. Since I am a type 2 diabetic I heal slowly anyway but I am hoping that my pain will finally go away! Will keep you posted!