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PRF Therapy for Arthritis: A Regenerative Approach to Joint Pain
Medical Studies Praise the Power of PRF for Arthritis for People over 40. Here’s what you should know.
If you have arthritis, you’ve probably heard about cortisone shots, where steroids are injected into arthritic joints to reduce inflammation and improve function.
“They (cortisone shots) work great, for a while,” says Gustav Lo, MD, RegenCen’s Chief Medical Officer.
Steroid injections are considered a short-term solution, reducing inflammation and pain for a few weeks to a few months. Steroids can also cause problems if they are used repeatedly, actually speeding up degeneration of the joints.
Pain-free Living
Less well known (but becoming more common) is platelet-rich fibrin (PRF) treatment.
Recent research shows PRF injections alleviate arthritis pain as well as steroid injections, but in a much different way that actually rejuvenates the cartilage and other joint tissues, rather than causing further breakdown. The results also last a lot longer, often a full year or more.
The concept is simple: the injected PRF attracts stem cells and growth factors, triggering new cartilage and connective tissue growth. This in turn rebuilds joint surfaces and cushioning in worn-out joints. After a series of 3 injections a month apart, inflammation and pain are reduced and sometimes eliminated altogether.
PRF is a 2nd generation platelet concentrate with prolonged growth factor release. PRF lasts longer, provides more structural support, and seems to have fewer side effects compared to first generation (PRP) injections.
Orthopedic research is starting to pick up on the dramatic improvements seen in arthritis treatment using PRF. Take a look at just a few examples of what kind of improvement you can expect – it may make you reconsider your original plan!
What is the Treatment Process of PRF?
It’s simple, quick, and (almost) painless. We isolate PRF from patients’ own blood in just 10 minutes. From start to finish, the whole visit takes about half an hour, and requires just two needle pokes – one for the blood draw, and one for the injection.
Are there any downsides? In terms of the treatment itself, very few.
Most patients have mild aching for a few days after the injection, but allergic reactions are impossible since the injection only contains your own blood products. One negative for some is the lack of insurance coverage – neither commercial insurers nor Medicare pay for PRF treatments despite decades of research documenting their effectiveness.
What the Research Shows About PRF for Arthritis
- PRF provides longer-lasting relief—often 9–12 months or more—compared to corticosteroid injections, which typically last 2–6 weeks, and hyaluronic acid injections, which last about 3–6 months.
- 82% of arthritis sufferers have “good” to “excellent” relief of pain after PRF treatments.
- With PRF, patients experienced a 50-70% reduction in pain scores at 6-12 months.
- 60-75% of patients considering knee replacement deferred surgery at 1 year post PRF.
At RegenCen, we have the benefit of years of experience and hundreds of orthopedic patient treatments with PRF.
“Of all the treatments I’ve performed on patients with injured or arthritic joints, PRF has the best success rate,” says Dr. Lo. “It’s great to see someone walk in a month later with no limp and a big grin on their face.”
If you’re exploring non-surgical options for arthritis relief, a personalized consultation at RegenCen can help determine whether PRF may align with your joint health goals.
