The two most popular and common injections we offer patients for knee osteoarthritis are platelet-rich plasma (PRP), utilizing a patient’s own blood, and hyaluronic acid injections, commonly known as the gel, rooster comb, or viscosupplement injections.

Let’s compare the two and discuss pros and cons of each:

Both would be considered “natural“ injections with PRP obviously coming from your own blood and hyaluronic acid is a substance already in your joint, but depleted in joints that have osteoarthritis.

We often describe PRP as that big 100,000 mile service you do on your car, and hyaluronic injections are more like the oil change. Thus, PRP is more comprehensive.

PRP Injections

PROS

-most effective long-term injection we offer patients. Benefits typically seen for 6–24 months, and then PRP can then be safely repeated when necessary.

-very likely disease–modifying, meaning we are stopping or slowing the deterioration of cartilage in the knee. These give patients the greatest opportunity to either delay or avoid knee replacement.

-other than weight loss, probably the best long-term medical and financial nonsurgical investment in the health of your knee.

CONS

-not covered by insurance. See our blog regarding this here

-works gradually, with greatest benefit likely seen 4-6 months after the injections.

-anti-inflammatories of any type as well as blood thinners need to be stopped before and after the PRP procedure for a specific period of time.

Hyaluronic acid Injections

PROS

-authorized by most insurance plans, meaning the cost of these is fully covered, partially covered, or can be applied towards your deductible.

-excellent safety profile.

-the majority of patients see a benefit, often for 4 to 12 months.

-like PRP, injections are not particularly painful when given into the knee joint under ultrasound guidance and only require a few days of rest afterwards.

CONS

-may have an indirect benefit on the long-term health of the knee joint, but are not considered “disease–modifying” like PRP.

-benefits of pain and swelling reduction along with functional improvements do not last as long as PRP.

-although they work a bit more rapidly than PRP injections, typically it takes 6 to 8 weeks after the final injection to see the greatest benefit.

-most brands require a series of 3–4 total injections, given one per week.

Want to know more about PRP?

Learn about the key details of PRP here

How is PRP simple and not-so-simple? Read here

As always, let us know if we can be of assistance to you!

F. Clarke Holmes, M.D.

Fortunately, 90% of problems that come into an orthopedic clinic do not require surgery.

Approximately 80% of those conditions treated nonsurgically can be treated with traditional treatment measures: rest, activity modification, physical therapy, medications, supplements, lifestyle changes, brace, splint, a boot walker, steroid injection, etc. This is “bread and butter“ treatment administered by an orthopedic/sports medicine physician.

Now, what about that last 20% of non-surgical treatment? That’s often where we have to think “outside the box.” Let’s say in the case of osteoarthritis and tendon problems, that’s where treatment like platelet-rich plasma (PRP) injections can be very helpful. For example, in the case of knee osteoarthritis, how would you like to have less pain, less stiffness, less swelling and better function? What if we could accomplish that with a treatment that is minimally-invasive, safe, proven and natural? As a bonus, this treatment has preventative benefits, meaning we likely are slowing down the cartilage breakdown in your knee. These are the benefits seen with PRP injections.

In the case of tendon or fascia problem like a rotator cuff partial tear, tennis or golfer’s elbow or plantar fasciitis, PRP is designed to be a healing agent. We are using these growth-factor rich injections to accomplish healing, not just make you feel better like a steroid injection might.

Check out a few of our previous blogs, and let us know if we can help you!

https://www.impactsportsnashville.com/blog/2023/12/8/prp-the-gift-of-health

https://www.impactsportsnashville.com/blog/2023/9/23/5-things-you-have-to-know-if-you-have-knee-pain

https://www.impactsportsnashville.com/blog/2023/8/5/our-top-5-treatments-for-knee-oa

Blog

“Blood” (PRP) Versus “Gel” (Hyaluronic Acid) Injections: How to Choose

The two most popular and common injections we offer patients for knee osteoarthritis are platelet-rich plasma (PRP), utilizing a patient’s own blood, and hyaluronic acid injections, commonly known as the gel, rooster comb, or viscosupplement injections.

Let’s compare the two and discuss pros and cons of each:

Both would be considered “natural“ injections with PRP obviously coming from your own blood and hyaluronic acid is a substance already in your joint, but depleted in joints that have osteoarthritis.

We often describe PRP as that big 100,000 mile service you do on your car, and hyaluronic injections are more like the oil change. Thus, PRP is more comprehensive.

PRP Injections

PROS

-most effective long-term injection we offer patients. Benefits typically seen for 6–24 months, and then PRP can then be safely repeated when necessary.

-very likely disease–modifying, meaning we are stopping or slowing the deterioration of cartilage in the knee. These give patients the greatest opportunity to either delay or avoid knee replacement.

-other than weight loss, probably the best long-term medical and financial nonsurgical investment in the health of your knee.

CONS

-not covered by insurance. See our blog regarding this here

-works gradually, with greatest benefit likely seen 4-6 months after the injections.

-anti-inflammatories of any type as well as blood thinners need to be stopped before and after the PRP procedure for a specific period of time.

Hyaluronic acid Injections

PROS

-authorized by most insurance plans, meaning the cost of these is fully covered, partially covered, or can be applied towards your deductible.

-excellent safety profile.

-the majority of patients see a benefit, often for 4 to 12 months.

-like PRP, injections are not particularly painful when given into the knee joint under ultrasound guidance and only require a few days of rest afterwards.

CONS

-may have an indirect benefit on the long-term health of the knee joint, but are not considered “disease–modifying” like PRP.

-benefits of pain and swelling reduction along with functional improvements do not last as long as PRP.

-although they work a bit more rapidly than PRP injections, typically it takes 6 to 8 weeks after the final injection to see the greatest benefit.

-most brands require a series of 3–4 total injections, given one per week.

Want to know more about PRP?

Learn about the key details of PRP here

How is PRP simple and not-so-simple? Read here

As always, let us know if we can be of assistance to you!

F. Clarke Holmes, M.D.

I Don't Want Surgery But What Else Can I Do?

F. Clarke Holmes, M.D.