If you are experiencing pain, swelling, and/or stiffness in one or both of your knees and you have not sustained a recent injury in that area, you may very well be suffering from arthritis.
Arthritis is an inflammatory joint condition, and the most common form of arthritis – osteoarthritis – is caused by the wearing-down of the protective cartilage in a joint. Arthritis can develop over a period of years, it can be due to overuse (such as from playing a sport), or it can be genetic in nature.
This condition can affect virtually any joint in your body, but it is especially common in the hands and knees. Arthritis of the knee can truly interfere with everyday activities, such as walking, driving, or climbing stairs – and if left untreated, it can lead to serious disability.
If you would like to enjoy long-term relief from your knee arthritis and you would prefer nonsurgical treatment, you should consider PRP (platelet-rich plasma) injection treatment. Let’s talk about how this revolutionary treatment works to quell arthritis pain, and where you can go in Caldwell, New Jersey, to finally achieve relief from your knee pain.
PRP as a Safe and Effective Alternative to Knee Surgery
PRP therapy works because it harnesses the human body’s innate ability to heal itself. In the case of an arthritic knee, a physician can treat the damaged cartilage by isolating platelets from the patient’s blood and injecting the concentrated solution into the affected area. This will kickstart the natural healing process, and it often solves the problem enough that the patient never needs to have knee surgery.
According to a study published in the American Journal of Sports Medicine, patients with osteoarthritis reported a significant decrease in their pain levels a mere week following their PRP treatment. They also noted a continued reduction in their pain over the following six months, and patients who had periodic follow-up maintenance injections continued to enjoy much less knee pain than before.
At Alternative Disc Therapy in Caldwell, New Jersey, we offer a more effective form of PRP therapy known as photo-activated PRP, which uses three different wavelengths of light that activate platelets that are packed with growth factors that promote healing. Photoactivation is a unique process that makes this type of PRP more powerful and less inflammatory than standard PRP therapy.
PRP therapy treats a wide variety of conditions besides arthritis in the knee. It also works to improve hip joint, shoulder, and ankle arthritis; tendonitis; ligament sprains; muscle strains; minor muscle and ligament tears; joint pain; and even hair loss.
How Does PRP Injection Therapy Work?
Photo-activated PRP is a simple, in-office treatment. It involves the doctor drawing a sample of your blood, placing it in a centrifuge, and processing it via a double-spin technique in order to separate out the platelets from the rest of your blood.
In this special PRP treatment, the next step is photoactivation, which involves three wavelengths of light. These activated platelets are then injected into the damaged knee joint to promote healing.
Within the first 24 hours following your treatment, you may experience some pain. However, this is normal and should subside quickly.
Some people notice an improvement in their arthritis symptoms immediately following PRP treatment. You should expect some soreness and possible swelling for three to seven days, after which you will experience a gradual improvement in mobility over the course of several weeks.
PRP Therapy for Arthritis in Caldwell, New Jersey
At Alternative Disc Therapy in Caldwell, New Jersey, Dr. Warren Bleiweiss routinely uses photo-activated PRP injections to address injuries and to promote healing – especially in the case of knee arthritis. Dr. Bleiweiss is triple-board-certified by the American Academy of Stem Cell Physicians, the American Board of Anesthesiology, and the American Board of Pain Medicine. He is also a fellow of the American Academy of Stem Cell Physicians, so his skill in PRP and stem cell therapy is firmly established by his medical peers.
If you are interested in learning more about PRP treatment, schedule an appointment with Dr. Bleiweiss by calling us today at (973) 403-3334 or by filling out our appointment request form online now. We also offer telemedicine appointments for your convenience. We look forward to seeing you!
External links:
Arthritis of the knee: https://orthoinfo.aaos.org/en/diseases–conditions/arthritis-of-the-knee/#:~:text=Knee%20arthritis%20can%20make%20it,more%20than%20100%20different%20forms
Treatment for arthritic knee: https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/osteoarthritis/diagnosis-treatment/drc-20351930
