PRP – Any Good For Pain? (written by Biloine Young @ OTW)
Doctors have been using platelet-rich plasma (PRP) for years to promote healing after surgery. But is PRP any good for pain? Doctors at Rush University Medical Center, Chicago, are trying to find out if PRP can relieve knee pain in patients with mild to moderate osteoarthritis. PRP contains growth factors that promote cell proliferation and is prepared from the patient's own blood and tissue.
PRP has received popular attention because of its recent use treating injuries in professional athletes. No one is sure that the treatment is effective.
"There have been few controlled clinical trials, and results are inconsistent, but data so far suggests that it could be a promising treatment for healing in a variety of tissues," said Dr. Brian Cole, orthopedic surgeon, head of the cartilage restoration center at Rush and head team physician for the Chicago Bulls.
The therapy will not be a cure for osteoarthritis, but it could help put off the day when a patient will need to get a knee implant.
The standard of care, at present, is either corticosteroid injections, which may provide relief for about three months, or synthetic lubrican...
