Knee Arthritis Treatment with PRP in Raleigh & Cary, NC

Related nonsurgical orthopedic resources

Nonsurgical knee pain treatment • Alternatives to knee replacement

For patients in Raleigh and Cary, NC dealing with knee pain, arthritis, and degenerative knee conditions, platelet-rich plasma (PRP) may be considered when symptoms persist despite appropriate conservative care. PRP uses a concentrated preparation of the patient's own platelets and is intended to deliver growth factors to an injured or degenerative area. At Carolina Nonsurgical Orthopedics, treatment decisions are individualized after a musculoskeletal evaluation, and injections are performed with ultrasound guidance when appropriate to improve anatomic accuracy. PRP is not the right treatment for every patient or every diagnosis, but it can be an important nonsurgical option to discuss before considering more invasive procedures. Our Raleigh and Cary offices evaluate patients throughout the Triangle for regenerative and nonsurgical orthopedic treatment options.

Understanding Osteoarthritis

Osteoarthritis can cause pain, stiffness, swelling, reduced motion, and difficulty with activities such as walking, stairs, exercise, or prolonged standing. The severity seen on an X-ray does not always match the severity of symptoms, so treatment decisions should be based on the patient rather than imaging alone.

PRP and Nonsurgical Treatment for Osteoarthritis in Raleigh & Cary

PRP has become an important nonsurgical option for appropriately selected patients with osteoarthritis who want to reduce symptoms and maintain activity. At Carolina Nonsurgical Orthopedics, PRP treatment is performed with image guidance and can be incorporated with rehabilitation and other nonsurgical strategies based on the joint and severity of disease.

Patients with osteoarthritis do not all need the same treatment. The goal is to identify the painful structure, understand how severe the condition is, and choose the least invasive option likely to restore function. For patients considering PRP in Raleigh or Cary, an individualized evaluation can help determine whether PRP, rehabilitation, shockwave therapy, another injection option, or a combination approach makes the most sense.

Understanding Knee Arthritis and Nonsurgical Treatment Options

Knee osteoarthritis is more than simple wear and tear. The condition involves changes in cartilage, the underlying bone, synovium, and other structures around the joint. Symptoms commonly include activity-related pain, stiffness after sitting, swelling, reduced motion, and difficulty with stairs, squatting, walking, or exercise. The severity seen on an X-ray does not always match the amount of pain a patient experiences, so treatment decisions should be based on the complete clinical picture rather than imaging alone.

Initial nonsurgical treatment may include activity modification, targeted strengthening, weight management when appropriate, bracing, topical or oral medications, and physical therapy. Injection options can include corticosteroid, hyaluronic acid, platelet-rich plasma (PRP), and in selected cases other orthobiologic approaches. Each option has different goals, potential benefits, limitations, costs, and evidence. A careful evaluation can help determine which approach fits the patient’s age, arthritis severity, activity goals, prior treatments, and overall health.

PRP is prepared from a patient’s own blood to concentrate platelets and plasma components. In knee osteoarthritis, PRP is generally used with the goal of improving pain and function rather than regrowing a completely normal joint surface. Research has increasingly evaluated PRP for mild-to-moderate knee osteoarthritis, including comparisons with corticosteroid and hyaluronic acid injections. Outcomes vary, and PRP is not appropriate for every patient, but it can be an option for people seeking to remain active and postpone or avoid surgery when clinically reasonable.

At Carolina Nonsurgical Orthopedics, injections are performed with ultrasound guidance so the physician can visualize the joint and surrounding anatomy. Patients in Raleigh and Cary can also be evaluated for other potential pain generators, such as meniscus pathology, patellofemoral disease, tendon problems, or Baker’s cysts. Identifying the structures contributing to pain is important because knee pain is not always caused by arthritis alone.