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Are you living with knee pain from osteoarthritis? PRP (platelet-rich plasma) injections are a nonsurgical option that may help. PRP Treatment Beverly Hills offers physician-supervised PRP knee injections for osteoarthritis and selected joint conditions for patients in Beverly Hills and the greater Los Angeles area.
Knee osteoarthritis (OA) is very common, and the lifetime risk is estimated at about 45%. OA is a degenerative joint disease that affects the cartilage, bone and other tissues of the joint. As the cartilage wears down, the joint becomes painful and stiff, and mobility is reduced.
PRP is a concentrate of platelets and growth factors made from your own blood. Research suggests that PRP injections may reduce pain and improve function in people with mild to moderate knee osteoarthritis. PRP is one of several options, alongside exercise, weight management, physical therapy and other injections.
PRP is also used for other musculoskeletal problems, including tendon injuries such as tennis elbow and patellar tendinopathy, and some ligament and muscle injuries. The strength of the evidence differs by condition.
We draw blood from your arm and spin it in a centrifuge to separate the platelets and plasma from the red blood cells. The platelet-rich layer is then injected into the knee joint.
Platelets release growth factors and other proteins that help regulate inflammation and tissue repair. In the knee, PRP is thought to work mainly by calming inflammation in the joint and improving the joint environment, which may reduce pain and improve function.
PRP has not been shown to regrow lost cartilage or reverse arthritis.
In clinical studies of knee osteoarthritis, the benefits of PRP typically lasted from about 6 to 12 months, and some patients choose repeat treatments. How long relief lasts varies with the severity of arthritis and other individual factors.
Results vary from person to person. Several meta-analyses of randomized trials have found that PRP injections may reduce pain and improve function in knee osteoarthritis, and that the benefit may last longer than with hyaluronic acid or steroid injections. The American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (AAOS) 2021 guideline states that PRP may reduce pain and improve function in knee osteoarthritis, with a limited strength of evidence. Not every study has been positive: a 2021 randomized trial in JAMA found no benefit over a saline injection at 12 months. Patients with mild to moderate arthritis tend to respond better than those with severe, bone-on-bone arthritis.
In general, it is encouraged to walk after a PRP knee injection as long as the pain from the injection is minimal. During the first week, it is recommended to keep walking to under a mile, but after that, walking can be increased as tolerated.
However, if the injection was in the hip, knee, ankle, or foot and there is discomfort, it may be necessary to use crutches to walk. Strenuous activity should also be avoided for 1-2 weeks after the injection.
In cases where a specific tendon was injected, running or heavy weightlifting should be avoided for the first two weeks to prevent the PRP from being pushed out of the tendon. Pain relief measures such as ice, heat, over-the-counter NSAIDs, or prescription pain relief may also be used as recommended by a doctor. Side effects are usually mild and short-lived, most commonly soreness, swelling or bruising at the injection site for a few days.
Protocols vary. A common approach is a series of 1 to 3 injections spaced several weeks apart, with repeat treatment every 6 to 12 months if it helped. Dr. Nazarian will recommend a plan based on your exam, imaging and response to treatment.
Studies suggest that PRP may reduce pain and improve joint function in people with knee osteoarthritis, especially mild to moderate (low- to moderate-grade) arthritis. Laboratory research suggests PRP may reduce inflammation in the joint, but it has not been shown to slow, stop or reverse cartilage loss in people. More research is needed to define which patients benefit most and the best preparation and dosing.
PRP is made from your own blood, so the risk of an allergic reaction to it is very low. As with any joint injection, there are small risks, including infection, pain at the injection site and a temporary flare of swelling.
Evidence supports PRP for some conditions more than others. Whether PRP is appropriate for your knee depends on your diagnosis, your other treatment options and your medical history, which Dr. Nazarian will review with you.
The main risks of a knee PRP injection are pain or swelling after the injection, bruising, and, rarely, infection, bleeding or nerve irritation. Because PRP is made from your own blood, there is no risk of catching an infection from a donor and very little risk of an allergic reaction. Unlike repeated steroid injections, PRP is not thought to weaken cartilage.
When a series is recommended, injections are usually spaced 1 to 4 weeks apart. Some patients notice improvement after the first injection; others need the full series. Most improvement appears gradually over the following weeks to months.
At PRP Treatment Beverly Hills, a consultation with Dr. Nazarian is $450 and is credited toward your first treatment. PRP injections for the knee and other joints are $1,200 per session, and package discounts are available. We draw 4 tubes of blood for each session, more than many clinics use. PRP injections are generally not covered by insurance. See our full PRP and PRF price list.
PRP has not been shown to regrow cartilage in people. Laboratory and early clinical research suggest it may reduce inflammation in the joint, which may help pain and function.
Hyaluronic acid (HA) and PRP injections are two nonsurgical options for knee osteoarthritis. Both aim to relieve symptoms and may help delay surgery.
Results comparing PRP with HA have been mixed, but a 2021 meta-analysis of randomized trials found that PRP gave better pain and function scores than HA in mild to moderate knee arthritis. Some studies have also combined the two. The best choice depends on the individual patient.
Some randomized trials have found that PRP’s effect goes beyond placebo and lasts longer than other injections, while others, including a 2021 trial in JAMA, did not find a benefit. We discuss this evidence openly so you can decide whether PRP is right for you.
No. The devices used to prepare PRP are FDA-cleared, but using PRP injections for knee arthritis is an off-label use, and PRP is not FDA-approved to treat osteoarthritis. PRP is made from your own blood and is prepared and used in the office on the same day.
PRP Treatment Beverly Hills offers PRP injections for knees in Beverly Hills but can also come to your home or office throughout the Los Angeles area. We serve patients near Beverly Hills, Bel Air, West Hollywood, Santa Monica, West Los Angeles, Culver City, Hollywood, Venice, Marina del Rey, Malibu, Manhattan Beach, Redondo Beach, Downtown Los Angeles, Encino, Woodland Hills, Sherman Oaks, Calabasas, Burbank, Glendale, Hidden Hills, Agoura Hills, Northridge, North Hollywood, Topanga, Canoga Park, Reseda, Valley Glen, Chatsworth, West Hills, Winnetka, Universal City, Silverlake, Echo Park, and many more.
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6. Belk JW, Kraeutler MJ, Houck DA, Goodrich JA, Dragoo JL, McCarty EC. Platelet-Rich Plasma Versus Hyaluronic Acid for Knee Osteoarthritis: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials. Am J Sports Med. 2021 Jan;49(1):249-260. doi: 10.1177/0363546520909397. Epub 2020 Apr 17. PMID: 32302218.
7. Bennell KL, Paterson KL, Metcalf BR, et al. Effect of Intra-articular Platelet-Rich Plasma vs Placebo Injection on Pain and Medial Tibial Cartilage Volume in Patients With Knee Osteoarthritis: The RESTORE Randomized Clinical Trial. JAMA. 2021;326(20):2021-2030. doi: 10.1001/jama.2021.19415.
8. American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons. Management of Osteoarthritis of the Knee (Non-Arthroplasty): Evidence-Based Clinical Practice Guideline. 2021.
Medically reviewed by David Nazarian, MD, board-certified internist, providing PRP therapy in Beverly Hills since 2008. Individual results vary. This page is for general information and is not a substitute for a medical consultation.
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