PRP Therapy: Could It Be the Joint Pain Relief You’ve Been Searching For?

When joint pain lingers despite medication, rest, and physical therapy, the next conversation is often about more invasive options. Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) therapy offers a nonsurgical path forward. 

Instead of masking pain or replacing your joint, PRP therapy uses components from your own blood to encourage healing in the damaged tissue, making it a popular option for individuals looking to avoid or delay surgery.

At Spine & Joint Doc, board-certified pain management physician Mahesh Mohan, MD, offers PRP therapy for joint pain from our offices in Frisco, Fort Worth, Dallas, and Arlington, Texas. Here’s a breakdown of what PRP is and how it helps repair damaged joints.

Turning your own blood into joint pain relief

Platelets are a component of your blood that play a central role in healing, carrying the growth factors and proteins your body uses to repair injured tissue. PRP therapy concentrates those platelets and delivers them straight to the source of your joint pain.

The treatment starts with a simple blood draw. Dr. Mohan spins your sample in a centrifuge to separate and concentrate the platelets, then injects the resulting solution into your affected joint. 

Since the platelets come from your own body, the risk of allergic reaction or rejection is low.

Healing the joint instead of hiding the pain

Most conventional treatments for joint pain focus on managing symptoms. PRP works differently by targeting the damaged tissue itself. 

Once injected, the concentrated platelets release growth factors that stimulate repair, reduce inflammation, and support the healing of cartilage, tendons, and other structures inside your joint.

This approach can ease pain while addressing some of the underlying damage driving it. Rather than offering only temporary relief, PRP aims to improve your joint health over time.

The joint conditions PRP treats

PRP therapy has a track record across a range of joint and musculoskeletal problems. Dr. Mohan may recommend this treatment for conditions such as:

• Osteoarthritis-related joint pain in your knees, hips, and shoulders
• Tendon injuries and tears
• Ligament damage
• Chronic joint inflammation
• Pain that hasn't responded to conservative treatment

PRP isn’t right for every situation, which is why an evaluation comes first. Dr. Mohan reviews your diagnosis and history to determine whether the treatment fits your condition.

Inside a PRP treatment session

The entire appointment typically takes less than an hour and is done right in our office. After drawing your blood and preparing the platelet-rich plasma, Dr. Mohan often uses imaging guidance to place the injection precisely within your joint.

You may feel some soreness or mild swelling at the injection site for a few days afterward, which is a normal part of the healing response. Most people return to their usual routine quickly, with instructions to ease back into more strenuous activity as the joint recovers.

How soon PRP starts working

Since PRP relies on your body’s natural healing processes, improvement builds gradually over the weeks following treatment as the growth factors do their work.

The effects of PRP typically last up to 12 months, and a series of treatments can build on one another for more lasting relief. Dr. Mohan maps out a treatment schedule based on your response and the severity of your condition.

Candidates who benefit most from PRP

PRP appeals to those who want to address joint pain without surgery or long-term reliance on medication. It tends to work best for those with mild to moderate joint damage and can be a useful option for patients hoping to delay or avoid joint replacement.

During a consultation, Dr. Mohan evaluates your joint, reviews what treatments you’ve already tried, and explains whether PRP or another approach gives you the best chance at relief.

PRP therapy near you

When joint pain keeps you from the activities you enjoy and other treatments haven’t delivered, PRP therapy may be an option to explore. Call the Spine & Joint Doc office nearest you or book your appointment online today.