For patients who've tried physical therapy, medications, or steroid injections without lasting relief, Platelet-Rich Plasma (PRP) therapy has become one of the more discussed regenerative options in pain management. Here's what it actually does, who tends to benefit, and how it compares to more conventional treatments.
What PRP Is
PRP therapy uses a concentrated portion of a patient's own blood — specifically, the platelets, which carry growth factors involved in tissue repair. A small blood sample is drawn, spun in a centrifuge to separate and concentrate the platelets, and then injected directly into the injured or painful area: a joint, tendon, ligament, or spinal structure.
Because the injected material comes from the patient's own blood, PRP carries a different risk profile than steroid injections — there's no foreign medication being introduced, which is part of why it's often considered for patients who want to limit repeated steroid use or who haven't responded well to it.
How PRP Differs from Steroid Injections
Steroid injections work quickly by reducing inflammation at the site of pain — they're effective for fast relief but don't repair the underlying tissue, and effects are typically temporary. PRP works differently: rather than suppressing inflammation, it's intended to stimulate the body's own healing response in damaged tissue. The trade-off is timing — PRP tends to take longer to produce noticeable improvement, since it relies on a biological repair process rather than an immediate anti-inflammatory effect.
Many patients are candidates for either approach depending on their condition, and a pain specialist will typically evaluate which option — or combination — fits the specific joint, tissue, or stage of injury involved.
Conditions PRP Is Commonly Used For
- Knee, shoulder, hip, and elbow joint pain, including early-stage osteoarthritis
- Tendon injuries and chronic tendinopathy
- Ligament strains that haven't fully healed with rest or therapy
- Certain spinal and disc-related conditions, depending on evaluation
What to Expect
PRP is performed as an outpatient procedure. After the blood draw and processing, the injection itself is brief, typically guided by imaging to ensure precise placement. Most patients can resume normal activity within a day or two, though full benefit from the treatment often develops gradually over several weeks as tissue repair progresses, and some patients require more than one session depending on the severity of the condition.
Is PRP Right for You?
PRP isn't a universal solution — it works best for specific types of tissue injury and for patients whose pain hasn't been driven primarily by inflammation alone. A thorough evaluation, often including imaging, is necessary to determine whether PRP, a steroid injection, or another interventional approach is the right fit.
At Mind & Body Pain Clinic in San Jose, PRP is one of several treatment options offered alongside steroid injections, nerve blocks, and other interventional procedures, allowing treatment to be matched to the specific condition rather than defaulting to a single approach.
Mind & Body Pain Clinic is located at 6010 Hellyer Ave, Suite 150, San Jose, CA 95138. Dr. Harpreet Singh is a quadruple board-certified physician specializing in neurology and interventional pain management.