If we could all avoid knee surgery for Osteoarthritis we would, so perhaps PRP treatment is a viable option we could all try.

The Wear and Tear of Osteoarthritis

It sounds a bit unsettling, but as we age our invincibility wears along with our weightbearing joints that begin to breakdown, such as our knees.

After the age of 45 the incidence of Osteoarthritis, a wear and tear condition, is one many Australians will face, in fact, 1 in every 11 of us will be diagnosed with it, the most common form of Arthritis.

In severe cases, it can lead to knee replacement surgery, affecting our quality of life, our mental health and wellbeing.

At this point, many of you reading this are possibly rubbing that aching knee looking for relief, or perhaps just acknowledging for the first time you may have a problem.

You’ll most likely recognise the pain of affected joints when you move, a growing stiffness in the morning as you get out of bed, the increased incidence of swelling and tenderness around your knees, and the beginning of a distinct loss of flexibility.

Treatment – Platelet Rich Plasma (PRP)

Fortunately, treatments are available, so, what is the answer?

Well it differs for every patient, for some of us, simple medication will offer relief but for others a relatively new treatment is offering hope.

Platelet Rich Plasma otherwise known as PRP.

While no guarantee or a quick fix, PRP, in which your doctor collects a sample of your blood for centrifuging, more commonly known as spinning, separates over 90% of your blood’s platelets and is reinjected into the affected joint as plasma.

This has been proven to increase joint function and reduce the incidence of pain offering many patients a long-term solution.

Getting Proper Qualified Specialist Advice

Of course, PRP is not for everybody and only a qualified physician can assess your suitability for treatment, explain the process in detail, and address your expectations and probabilities of success.

This will always increase with a healthy lifestyle, maintaining a healthy weight, and proper exercise.

In life, making things better for ourselves is sometimes simply relieving pain.