PRP (Platelet Rich Plasma), that is, platelet-rich plasma treatment, is a new treatment method that can be summarized as separating cells with healing properties from the person's own blood and injecting them into the joint. PRP is used with increasing frequency in the treatment of arthritis, especially knee arthritis. The healing factors released from platelets obtained by the PRP method are effective by playing a role in cartilage repair.
Cortisone is a drug that has been used in the treatment of rheumatism and many diseases for decades. Cortisone is actually a hormone found in the human body, and many cortisone molecules have been developed synthetically and used as medicine. Cortisone is a very potent antirheumatic treatment agent. It stops the chemical events that form the basis of rheumatism from the beginning and thus prevents the damage that rheumatism will cause to the joints.
What are the advantages and disadvantages of PRP and Cortisone treatments?
PRP is obtained from the person's own blood. It has almost no side effects since it is obtained without any other medication added to it. Its healing effect continues for up to a few years. However, its disadvantages are that it is relatively expensive, it is usually applied 3 times a month apart, and the pain relief effect does not start immediately.
Contrary to popular belief, a single cortisone injection has very few side effects. If the patient has high blood pressure, it may increase the blood pressure slightly, and if the patient is diabetic, it may increase the blood sugar slightly. These effects resolve within a week. Other than this, the remaining side effects are insignificant and all of these side effects can be kept under control. Although the main side effects of cortisone occur in high doses and long-term use, it does not pose a problem in joint calcification since cortisone is not used in this way. Cortisone injection can be applied to the same joint 3-4 times a year. But usually twice is enough. The most important advantage of cortisone is that it is cheap and relieves pain quickly. The most important disadvantage is that its effect lasts between 3 months and 6 months.
When should we use PRP and cortisone for knee arthritis?
If there is not much cartilage damage, the patient If the age is not too old and the pain is not severe, PRP treatment is a much more suitable option. Research shows that PRP treatment can be applied to older ages for people under the age of 65. shows that it is more effective than If there is extensive cartilage damage in the knee, the patient is older, there is dense fluid in the knee, and the pain is severe, a cortisone injection should be preferred.
Can't PRP and cortisone be used together?
It is not appropriate to inject cortisone into the joint where PRP has been applied because cortisone reduces the effect of PRP. On the other hand, if the knee is very painful, low dose cortisone can be administered. In knees with such severe pain, especially if there is fluid accumulation in the joint, cortisone can be applied before the knees to reduce the patient's pain, and PRP treatment can be started about a month later. Thus, while cortisone prevents fluid accumulation and severe pain in the joint, cartilage repair is carried out with the subsequent PRP application. In this way, rapid onset and long-term relief can be achieved.
But even if PRP or cortisone or both are applied sequentially, it should not be forgotten that the treatment of knee arthritis is a whole and these treatments are combined with knee exercises, weight control and knee joint protection programs. should be done. In this way, we can only achieve long and lasting goodness.
Read: 0
