Why PRP injections are a top choice for knee pain
If you're suffering from chronic knee pain, you know how quickly it can shrink your world. Simple joys like walking the dog, climbing stairs or playing with your grandchildren can transform into daunting obstacles. For years, the path to relief often felt limited to two extremes: managing with medication or undergoing invasive surgery.
But the landscape of pain management is changing. Today, regenerative medicine offers a compelling middle ground. Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) therapy has emerged as a scientifically backed, non-surgical option that uses your body's own healing mechanisms to repair damage and reduce inflammation.
At DFW Interventional Pain Institute, we have seen firsthand how PRP injections can help patients regain mobility and return to the activities they love. If you are looking for a way to address knee pain without going under the knife, understanding how PRP works is the first step toward living your best life.
Understanding knee pain: causes and symptoms
The knee is one of the most complex joints in the human body, bearing the brunt of our weight with every step. Because of this constant stress, it is highly susceptible to wear and tear. While acute injuries from sports or accidents are common, chronic knee pain is often the result of gradual degeneration.
Osteoarthritis is the leading culprit behind chronic knee pain. This condition occurs when the protective cartilage that cushions the ends of your bones wears down over time. As the cartilage deteriorates, bone rubs against bone, leading to inflammation, stiffness and pain. Other common causes include tendonitis, bursitis and ligament injuries that never fully healed.
Symptoms often start slowly—a dull ache after a long walk or stiffness in the morning—but can escalate to sharp pain, swelling and a significant loss of range of motion. When these symptoms persist despite rest and over-the-counter medication, it's time to consider medical intervention.
What is a PRP injection and how does it work?
Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) therapy is a form of regenerative medicine that harnesses the natural healing power of your blood. Your blood is made up of four main components: red blood cells, white blood cells, plasma, and platelets. While platelets are best known for their role in clotting blood, they are also packed with growth factors—proteins that play a crucial role in healing injuries.
The PRP process is straightforward and minimally invasive. It involves three key steps:
Blood Draw: A small amount of blood (similar to a routine lab test) is drawn from your arm.
Separation: The blood is placed in a centrifuge, a machine that spins at high speeds to separate the platelets from the other blood components. This concentrates the platelets within the plasma, creating a solution that is rich in growth factors—up to 5 to 10 times richer than normal blood.
Injection: This concentrated platelet-rich plasma is then injected directly into the injured or painful area of the knee, often using ultrasound guidance for precision.
Once injected, the growth factors signal the body to send other healing cells to the site. This jumpstarts the repair process, reducing inflammation and promoting the regeneration of damaged tissue.
PRP for knee pain: the benefits
PRP injections offer a unique set of advantages for knee pain, especially for patients who want to avoid the downtime and risks associated with surgery.
Natural healing
Because PRP uses your own blood, there's virtually no risk of an allergic reaction or rejection. You aren't introducing foreign substances or synthetic chemicals into your body; you're simply amplifying your body's natural ability to heal itself.
Pain relief and improved function
The primary goal of PRP isn't just to mask pain, but to treat the underlying cause. By reducing inflammation and promoting tissue repair, PRP can lead to significant long-term pain relief. Many patients also experience improved joint function, allowing them to move more freely and comfortably.
Minimal downtime
Unlike knee replacement surgery, which requires months of rehabilitation, PRP is an outpatient procedure. Most patients can return to their daily activities shortly after treatment, making it an ideal option for those with busy lifestyles.
Delaying or avoiding surgery
For patients with mild to moderate osteoarthritis, PRP can be an effective tool to delay the need for joint replacement surgery. In some cases, it may even eliminate the need for surgery altogether by halting the progression of damage.
Dr. Lopez and DFW Interventional Pain Institute: expertise in PRP injections
When considering regenerative medicine, the expertise of your physician matters. At DFW Interventional Pain Institute, Dr. Edrick Lopez brings a wealth of knowledge and training to every procedure.
As a double board-certified, Harvard-trained interventional pain management physician, Dr. Lopez understands that no two knees are the same. He combines his rigorous medical background with a compassionate, patient-centered approach.
Our team doesn't just treat the symptom; we treat the person. We review your full medical history and imaging to determine if PRP is the best course of action for your specific condition.
What to expect during a PRP injection
Many patients are understandably nervous about medical procedures, but knowing what to expect can ease that anxiety. A typical PRP appointment at our clinic takes about 45 to 60 minutes.
After the blood draw and centrifugation process, Dr. Lopez will clean and numb the injection site to minimize discomfort. Using fluoroscopy, he will guide the needle into the precise location within the knee joint. The injection itself takes only a few minutes.
After the procedure, you may experience some mild soreness or swelling at the injection site for a few days. This is a normal sign that the healing process has begun. We generally advise patients to take it easy for a short period and avoid anti-inflammatory medications (like ibuprofen) immediately before and after the procedure, as these can interfere with the inflammatory healing response we are trying to stimulate.
Most patients begin to notice improvements within a few weeks as the tissue repairs, with benefits continuing to increase over several months.
Is PRP right for you?
While PRP is a powerful treatment, it isn't a cure-all for everyone. It is generally most effective for patients with:
Mild to moderate osteoarthritis of the knee
Chronic tendonitis (such as patellar tendonitis)
Ligament sprains or tears
Pain that hasn't responded to physical therapy or medication
During your initial evaluation here at DFW Interventional Pain Institute, Dr. Lopez will perform a physical exam and review your imaging to discuss whether you are a good candidate. Factors like severe advanced arthritis or certain blood disorders may influence whether PRP is the right choice for you.
Taking the next step toward a pain-free life with DFW Interventional Pain Institute
Living with chronic knee pain forces you to compromise on the activities that bring you joy. But you don't have to accept pain as your new normal. PRP injections offer a scientifically grounded, non-surgical path to relief that uses your body's own potential to heal.
If you are ready to explore whether PRP is the right solution for your knee pain, we're here to help. Contact DFW Interventional Pain Institute today to schedule an evaluation with Dr. Lopez and our team. Let's work together to create a plan that gets you back on your feet and living your best life.
