Share results of PRP knee injection therapy.

Posted by gardeningjunkie @gardeningjunkie, Mar 17 1:20pm

My allergies disqualify me from any type of knee replacement device.
My next step is PRP injection therapy, which is expensive and Medicare doesn't cover the cost at all. If you have had this treatment I would appreciate your results- good or bad.

Interested in more discussions like this? Go to the Bones, Joints & Muscles Support Group.

My daughter had PRP in both SI joint and knee, separately, a few years apart. Both were miraculous, honestly. She had done 10 years of physical therapy and had to get an apartment right next to school to be able to make it to class. She was often white-faced with pain.

I believe thought that she is a perfect candidate. Imagine was done to make sure the problem was addressable with PRP. Her joints are loose and PRP tightens them. She was literally better in 24 hours though she did the required PT afterwards.

We paid $1,000 out of pocket 6 years ago. She is going to redo the SI joint one but knee is still fine.

REPLY

I appreciate your response. Reading a pamphlet or studying about a treatment on the internet doesn't compare to hearing form others about real life experiences. Thank you very much for sharing about your daughter's success. My knee issues may be different than your daughters but it gives me hope. I have an appointment with my orthopedist next month and will definitely give it a try.

REPLY

Some orthopedists are against it and some support and even are training in it. PRP does take away from their business!

REPLY

All good points. That's why I've joined several blogging sites because in several cases I had to learn from others about treatments never recommenced by my doctors.

REPLY

I'm not sure of your diagnosis, but my husband has some arthritis and in his knee and his podiatrist gives him a shot of kenalog when he needs it. He usually goes once a year. This is safer than cortisone and is paid for by our insurance and Medicare. Good luck.

REPLY

Daisy22- I appreciate your suggestion but I am avoiding steroids as long as I can. I've been steroid free for years now, I used to get the Kenalog-40 corticosteroid injection once a year for my Allergic Contact Eczema. It helped dramatically for 10 months and then I would tough it out until the years end. The problem was the side effect of major hair loss beginning about 2 months after the injection and lasting about 3 months. It would regrown, but never to longer than 3 inches around the hairline. I'm eczema free now and no longer need the shots because of contact and dietary changes.
I want you to be aware that Kenalog is a potent corticosteroid, dramatically more potent than cortisone. That's why my dermatologist only wanted to give it once a year. Too often can damage your internal organs.
Still if this Platelet Rich Plasma doesn't help I may have no alternative and go back to having my hair fall out after injections.

REPLY
@gardeningjunkie

Daisy22- I appreciate your suggestion but I am avoiding steroids as long as I can. I've been steroid free for years now, I used to get the Kenalog-40 corticosteroid injection once a year for my Allergic Contact Eczema. It helped dramatically for 10 months and then I would tough it out until the years end. The problem was the side effect of major hair loss beginning about 2 months after the injection and lasting about 3 months. It would regrown, but never to longer than 3 inches around the hairline. I'm eczema free now and no longer need the shots because of contact and dietary changes.
I want you to be aware that Kenalog is a potent corticosteroid, dramatically more potent than cortisone. That's why my dermatologist only wanted to give it once a year. Too often can damage your internal organs.
Still if this Platelet Rich Plasma doesn't help I may have no alternative and go back to having my hair fall out after injections.

Jump to this post

If you can afford it PRP definitely worth trying. I had a two years ago when I was 68 my right knee which had one surgery I have arthritis in both knees my left knee has had three surgeries including a torn ACL and is bone on bone. The PRP injections helped my right knee immensely my left knee not so much. So in October I had a new procedure done MFAT. They liposuction fat and then inject that into your knee. Also out-of-pocket more expensive than PRP but it has been a godsend. Not perfect I am 70 but my whole objective was to avoid any replacement and I’m good for now. The problem with the MFAT Is that it is new and there are no long-term results I am very encouraged and I am enjoying Pickleball

REPLY

What allergies do you have to disqualify a TKR? The material in the prostheses is almost all metal (titanium) and some plastic (polyethylene). The metal doesn't touch other metal so there is no disintegration of those implants. The plastic could possible be subject to deterioration, but I imagine it would take years.

Just curious what allergies specifically are affected by a TKR.

As for PRP therapy, I thought that was used primarily for healing an injured tendon, ligament or muscle - but not for long-term relief from bone-on-bone situations. not sure if insurance covers PRP....

REPLY
@bmilanowski53

If you can afford it PRP definitely worth trying. I had a two years ago when I was 68 my right knee which had one surgery I have arthritis in both knees my left knee has had three surgeries including a torn ACL and is bone on bone. The PRP injections helped my right knee immensely my left knee not so much. So in October I had a new procedure done MFAT. They liposuction fat and then inject that into your knee. Also out-of-pocket more expensive than PRP but it has been a godsend. Not perfect I am 70 but my whole objective was to avoid any replacement and I’m good for now. The problem with the MFAT Is that it is new and there are no long-term results I am very encouraged and I am enjoying Pickleball

Jump to this post

I very much appreciate you sharing your personal experience. I've never heard of MFAT and will research that as an alternative treatment if the PRP fails. As mentioned because of my allergies I'm seeking treatment which my body won't reject. My left knee is worse than the right and in the last month I've been forced to drag it or keep it straight to minimize the pain.

REPLY
@heyjoe415

What allergies do you have to disqualify a TKR? The material in the prostheses is almost all metal (titanium) and some plastic (polyethylene). The metal doesn't touch other metal so there is no disintegration of those implants. The plastic could possible be subject to deterioration, but I imagine it would take years.

Just curious what allergies specifically are affected by a TKR.

As for PRP therapy, I thought that was used primarily for healing an injured tendon, ligament or muscle - but not for long-term relief from bone-on-bone situations. not sure if insurance covers PRP....

Jump to this post

I have allergies to 5 metals, but not to titanium which is the metal used. The surgeon told me even pure titanium is not pure. With use it will slough the titanium metal, including the trace amounts of other metals. I am not allergic to polyethylene or the bone cement. My fear is if I reject the implant, which many do, there won't be a replacement for the knee joint. What then a wheel chair?
There are ceramic coated implants. I was scheduled for this surgery 3 years ago. However I did my research and the implant he was going to put in a had class action lawsuit pending because the bone cement wasn't adhering to the coating. Also just like with metal, he told me the coating over the metal sloughs over time. This failure on part of the bone cement was reportedly being resolved, but I want to wait until they've proved it to be successful. You have brought up a good point though, at age 75 how many years would it take for the titanium metal to start sloughing?

You're right about PRP proving more successful with muscle, tendon and ligament. I was diagnosed with Chondromalacia Patella, CP, in my 30's, defiantly aggravated by my life style. I was part of the high impact aerobic generation. For example we would do 1,000 but squats as part of an hour work out session. Now in the last 6 months, at age 75 I'm having a hard time getting off the floor. Lesson learned..........
I can't change the way my knee cap rotates because of CP, but this grinding causes deterioration of the cartilage for which the PRP may help rebuild.
I may have waited too long. The doctor was going to do PRP last summer, but I wasn't willing to take a break from my active lifestyle and could still walk normally. I was told you need to be sedentary for 2 months afterwards, so I tolerated the pain. Now the pain can't be ignored, even Aleve does nothing, and my mobility is severely limited, one leg I have to drag or walk stiff legged on bad days.
I'm not ready to take up quilting.

REPLY
Please sign in or register to post a reply.