PRP Injections for Knee Osteoarthritis: Can Your Own Blood Ease the Pain?
Former U.S. President Joe Biden is facing a worsening health situation after his son Hunter Biden said the cancer has spread to his bones and described the disease as "very painful" and "very debilitating."
Living with knee osteoarthritis can make everyday activities such as walking, climbing stairs and standing for long periods uncomfortable. One treatment attracting medical interest is platelet-rich plasma (PRP), which uses a concentrated part of a patient’s own blood to help manage joint pain. In April 2026, the American Academy of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation (AAPM&R) released new clinical guidance on PRP injections for knee osteoarthritis, supporting their use for selected patients with mild to moderate disease.
During treatment, blood is drawn in the same way as for a lab test and processed in a centrifuge to separate the platelets from the other blood cells. These platelets contain substances that can help reduce inflammation and pain, and they are injected into the joint, usually under ultrasound guidance. Doctors believe this anti-inflammatory effect explains the relief, although the exact mechanism is not completely understood.
The guidance says PRP may be worth considering when people with mild to moderate knee osteoarthritis still have symptoms despite standard treatments such as weight loss, physical therapy and pain relievers. PRP is an extra option rather than a replacement for exercise and weight management, and people with severe arthritis or a misaligned joint may be better suited to knee replacement.
But does PRP actually rebuild damaged cartilage?
Not yet, as far as the research shows, because whether it can preserve or regenerate cartilage is still being studied. The clearest evidence concerns pain. A systematic review of 11 trials involving 1,616 patients found that PRP improved pain and function more than a saline placebo at three and six months, but not significantly at 12 months, with large differences between studies. A larger analysis of 18 trials found clinically meaningful pain relief at three and six months and functional improvement up to 12 months, so the results vary. Dr. Joanne Borg Stein, a Mass General Brigham specialist who led the AAPM&R guidance, says her patients generally get “at least one year” of relief, which shows how experience in the clinic and trial results can differ.
Risks and Costs to Consider
PRP has very few risks. The main concern is a small chance of contamination if the blood is not kept sterile while the plasma is prepared, although clinics follow protocols to prevent this. As with any injection, there is also a small risk of infection and bleeding, and some people find the procedure more uncomfortable than they expected. Cost is the bigger drawback, because PRP is made from the patient’s own blood and cannot be mass-produced. Most US insurance plans do not cover it, and prices range from $500 to $2,500 per injection, so people with a long-term condition need to weigh the cost of repeat treatment against the benefit they feel. Studies also use different preparation methods and injection schedules, which makes results hard to compare, and it can take six weeks to three months to notice any improvement.
PRP offers hope for some people living with knee osteoarthritis, but it is not a miracle cure. Medical guidance supports considering it for selected patients, while further research is needed to show who benefits most and how long the effects last.
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