PRP (platelet-rich plasma) joint injections use a small sample of your own blood, spun to concentrate the platelets, which is then injected into a painful joint. Those platelets release your own growth factors to calm inflammation and support the joint's natural environment. A related form, PRF (platelet-rich fibrin), releases them more slowly. Both are prepared the same day, placed under ultrasound guidance, and used most often for mild-to-moderate osteoarthritis.

Both are concentrated from your own blood. PRP is spun to deliver a burst of platelets and growth factors. PRF is a newer version spun more gently and without additives, so it forms a natural fibrin scaffold that releases those growth factors more slowly and steadily over days. Your physician recommends one or the other based on your joint and your goals — the biology is the same, the release profile differs.

Cortisone is a synthetic anti-inflammatory that can quiet a flare quickly but tends to wear off, and repeated use may be hard on cartilage over time. PRP instead uses your own platelets and growth factors to support the joint environment. Relief tends to build over weeks rather than days, and the aim is a more durable improvement in the right candidate, though results vary and aren't guaranteed.

No. No PRP or PRF product is FDA-approved for joint or orthopedic conditions. Because the material is your own blood, prepared the same day and minimally processed, these are performed as autologous procedures within the FDA's minimal-manipulation and homologous-use framework — but that is not the same as FDA approval. We're upfront about that distinction.

No, and anyone who promises that isn't being straight with you. PRP doesn't regrow a worn-out joint, reverse advanced arthritis, or guarantee you'll avoid surgery. What the evidence supports is reduced pain and improved function for many people with earlier-stage joint problems, especially in the knee. We set honest expectations before we ever treat.

The strongest evidence is for PRP in mild-to-moderate knee osteoarthritis, where recent high-quality analyses show better pain and function than hyaluronic acid or cortisone over 6 to 12 months, particularly with higher-concentration preparations. Other joints and chronic tendon problems may also respond, with thinner data. It's a well-supported option for the right patient — not a cure.

Because PRP uses your own blood, the risk of rejection or reaction is very low, and it has a strong safety record. Still, no injection is risk-free: possible effects include a temporary pain flare, swelling or bruising, and — uncommonly — infection or nerve irritation. A physician reviews your history, and ultrasound guidance is used to place the injection precisely.

It's a quick in-office procedure, and most people return to light activity soon after, sometimes with a day or two of soreness or a mild flare. Any benefit typically builds over several weeks. Evidence suggests a short series of injections often works better than a single one, so your physician recommends a plan based on your joint, your goals and how you respond.

PRP is generally not the answer for advanced, bone-on-bone arthritis, which usually needs surgical evaluation. It may also be inappropriate if you have an active joint infection, certain bleeding conditions, an active or recent cancer without specialist clearance, or if you're pregnant. If it isn't right for you, we'll say so and help you find the care that is.