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My experience after PRP

This is a brief chronicle of my experience during and after a PRP injection. I underwent a PRP injection from Dr. Bayes in my knee for two problems: torn meniscus (shock absorbing C-shaped cartilage) and a symptomatic bipartite patella (kneecap is in two pieces because the bones never fused together and this recently began to cause pain). I had knee pain for about 9 months before undergoing the PRP injection and had exhausted other non-surgical options (strengthening, stretching, resting, and anti-inflammatories). Basically, if PRP does not work I probably will need to have surgery to remove the damaged cartilage and affix the two pieces of my kneecap together.

Day 0 (injection)- The actual injection did not hurt at all. After the lidocaine (numbing injection), all I felt was pressure as the PRP substance was injected into the kneecap. I was sufficiently numb for about two hours after the injection. As feeling started to creep back in, I started to feel some pressure in my knee, mainly in the kneecap area. There was quite a bit of lidocaine and PRP injected into my knee, so some discomfort was expected, but the level that I actually experienced was much less than what I expected. I was able to work for a couple hours that night, mostly standing and walking around. Overall, my pain level was 1-2 out of 10 and to relieve this I took 600mg of Tylenol before going to bed. Also, I was put into a knee brace that kept my leg straight and was told to wear it pretty much full-time for 1 week.

Day 1- Feeling better but did have some discomfort during sleep, mainly because of the brace. I was able to get up and move around quite a bit. Rested in the morning but was able to work in the afternoon and evening with mild discomfort (1/10). Spent 1-2 hours out of the brace in the evening and worked on some gentle range of motion (20-30 degrees). I took Tylenol at night to help me get comfortable.

Day 2- Feel about the same. Only pain occurs when I move my knee. There is still some swelling and a lot of stiffness but both are considerably less 48 hours after the injection. I am up to 45 degrees of knee flexion (bending). Tylenol again at night.

Day 3- Feeling similar to day 2 with mild improvement in knee flexion (60-70 degrees), swelling, and stiffness. I was much more mobile today while wearing the brace and also spent about 6 hours out the brace mostly sitting and laying but with some gentle walking.

Days 4-5- Long road trip so I have been sitting most of the day. Knee is progressing nicely (90 degrees of flexion by end of day 4 and 120 degrees by end of day 5). Swelling and stiffness are considerably less. As I am able to move around and walk more without the brace I am starting to notice considerable weakness in my effected leg and this, along with stiffness, is causing me to limp. Overall, I am feeling pretty good and ahead of my expectations.

Days 6-9- One week anniversary post-injection is approaching. I continue to make progress with range of motion and by the end of day 7 I have full range of motion. I am working on improving my strength as well as comfortability so that I don’t limp. Day 7 is my last day wearing the brace as I have weaned completely out of it.

Days 10-16- I am continuing to progress and have started to add longer walks into my daily routine. I have had more pain as of day 10. Pain seems to be complex (multiple areas and sensations) but still rather mild (3/10). I’m associating this new kind of pain with being more active and less inhibited.

Days 17- 21- Have been pain-free since waking up on day 10. I would say that I am now at pre-injection levels of discomfort. I have continued to do some walking as well as swimming to rehabilitate my knee. I am eager to get back to a normal exercise routine and see how my knee responds. Since the injection I have been avoiding hills and going up and down stairs one leg at a time (leading with my good leg on the way up and bad knee on the way down to keep the bad knee straight). Other than that, I feel normal.

Weeks 4-12 post injection- I have been continuing to improve my strength, balance, range of motion, and endurance.  I have progressively increased intensity and duration of my workouts and am making great improvements. I have about one bad day per week with increased soreness, stiffness, and swelling.  This usually is associated with increased activity and symptoms dissipate within 24-36 hours. I did have one event which caused severe, but brief pain. This was not due to exercise but more of a random event. Lingering soreness and swelling lasted for about four days but since then, I have been feeling great. As of now, three months after the injection, I would say I am 90% normal. Before the injection I was around 70-75% of normal in regards to swelling, stiffness, and pain-free activities. I have fewer bad days and the bad days are less severe. I can do more activities and for longer periods. In general, I feel much better, but not yet 100%. Hopefully, I will continue to improve as time goes on.