PRP for Knee Osteoarthritis in Bellingham, WA
A non-surgical, ultrasound-guided injection that uses your body's own platelets to help reduce knee arthritis pain and improve function in appropriately selected patients.
Book an initial visitCan PRP help knee osteoarthritis?
Bottom line
PRP may be worth considering for mild-to-moderate knee osteoarthritis when pain persists despite conservative care and you want a non-surgical option. It is not a cartilage-regrowth treatment, and it is less predictable in advanced, bone-on-bone arthritis.
Knee osteoarthritis develops as the cartilage that cushions the knee gradually wears down, leading to pain, stiffness, swelling, and reduced function. It is one of the most common reasons people seek non-surgical care for joint pain.
Platelet-Rich Plasma (PRP) therapy concentrates the platelets and growth factors from a small sample of your own blood and delivers them directly into the knee joint under ultrasound guidance. The goal is to calm inflammation and support the joint environment — helping reduce pain and improve how the knee moves and loads.
PRP does not reverse arthritis or regrow cartilage, and it isn't right for every knee. It tends to help most in earlier-to-moderate arthritis. Dr. Borys gives you an honest assessment of whether PRP is a reasonable option for your knee, based on your exam and imaging.
Why patients consider PRP for knee arthritis
For the right knee, PRP offers a non-surgical path worth weighing alongside other options.
A non-surgical option for knee osteoarthritis pain
Uses your own blood — very low risk of rejection or allergic reaction
Ultrasound-guided placement directly into the knee joint
May reduce pain and improve function in appropriately selected patients
For some patients with earlier-stage arthritis, may be tried before considering surgery
Outpatient procedure with a short recovery compared to surgery
What a knee PRP visit looks like
The procedure is performed in our Bellingham office and typically takes about 90–120 minutes.
Knee Evaluation
Dr. Borys reviews your symptoms, exam, and imaging to confirm the pain is coming from arthritis and to gauge how advanced the joint changes are.
Blood Draw
A small amount of blood is drawn from your arm, similar to a routine blood test.
Centrifugation
Your blood is spun in a centrifuge to concentrate the platelets and growth factors.
Ultrasound-Guided Injection
The PRP is placed precisely into the knee joint under real-time ultrasound guidance.
What to expect after a knee PRP injection
Knowing what is normal afterward helps you support your knee's own healing response.
Some knee soreness is normal
Mild swelling, soreness, or stiffness in the knee for a few days is expected and is part of the healing response.
Ease back into activity
Most patients take it easy for a few days, then gradually return to walking and normal activity following Dr. Borys’s specific guidance.
Avoid anti-inflammatories
Unless directed otherwise, avoid NSAIDs (such as ibuprofen) around the procedure, since they can blunt the healing response PRP is meant to support.
Improvement takes time
PRP for the knee works gradually. Many patients notice clearer improvement around 6–12 weeks, with continued change over several months.
Is knee PRP right for you?
PRP can be a strong option for the right knee, but it isn't ideal for everyone. A consultation and exam help determine whether it fits your situation.
Knee PRP may be a good fit if you
- Have mild-to-moderate knee osteoarthritis with knee pain
- Have not had lasting relief from rest, therapy, bracing, or other conservative care
- Want a non-surgical option that uses your own biological material
- Can allow several weeks to months for a gradual response
Knee PRP may not be ideal if you
- Have very advanced, end-stage "bone-on-bone" arthritis that may be better served by other options
- Need immediate or guaranteed pain relief
- Have an active infection, certain blood or platelet disorders, or active cancer
- Cannot pause anti-inflammatory medications when advised
This list is a general guide, not medical advice. Dr. Borys will review your history, imaging, and goals to recommend the most appropriate option for your knee.
Not sure what stage your knee arthritis is?
Schedule an initial evaluation to review your imaging, exam findings, and treatment options.
The research on PRP for knee osteoarthritis
Knee osteoarthritis is one of the most studied uses of PRP. Recent placebo-controlled trials and network meta-analyses generally favor PRP for mild-to-moderate (Kellgren-Lawrence grade I–III) knees, and increasingly suggest that how the PRP is prepared — especially the platelet dose — matters as much as whether PRP is used at all. These studies help explain why PRP is a reasonable option for appropriately selected knees.
PRP for Knee OA: Meta-Analysis of RCTs
Meta-analysis of randomized trials (Dai et al., 2017) comparing PRP with hyaluronic acid for knee osteoarthritis — similar at 6 months, with PRP showing significantly better pain relief and function at 12 months.
Read on PubMedPRP vs Hyaluronic Acid — 5-Year RCT
Double-blind RCT with 5-year follow-up (Di Martino et al., Am J Sports Med, 2019): both PRP and hyaluronic acid improved symptoms, without clear overall superiority of PRP across follow-up points — though PRP showed favorable signals such as lower reintervention at 24 months.
Read on PubMedPRP vs Alternative Knee Injections
Comparative effectiveness study (Oeding et al., 2024) evaluating PRP against other injectable options for knee osteoarthritis, adding to evidence that PRP may offer meaningful pain and function improvement in appropriately selected patients.
Read on PubMedWhy study results sometimes seem to disagree
Research on PRP is mixed, partly because PRP preparations vary widely. Some studies using lower-dose preparations have been negative — for example, the RESTORE trial (JAMA2021) found PRP no better than saline for pain or cartilage at 12 months, using a preparation of only about 1.6× baseline platelets. Other trials and meta-analyses suggest better outcomes when PRP is prepared and dosed appropriately.
A recent placebo-controlled meta-analysis of 18 RCTs (Bensa et al., Am J Sports Med, 2025) found clinically meaningful pain and function gains with PRP — and a clear dose-response: preparations above roughly one million platelets/µL delivered durable benefit through 12 months, while low-platelet preparations often did not. A large 5-year, sham-controlled RCT of 610 patients (Chu et al., Knee Surg Sports Traumatol Arthrosc, 2022) reported benefit sustained over multiple years alongside less cartilage volume loss. And a network meta-analysis of injectable options (Jawanda et al., Arthroscopy, 2024) ranked PRP ahead of hyaluronic acid and cortisone for combined pain and function.
The practical takeaway: PRP is not magic and is not right for every knee — it tends to help most in earlier-to-moderate arthritis — but a well-prepared, adequately dosed injection placed accurately under ultrasound guidance gives a knee the best chance to respond. Dr. Borys will give you an honest read on whether your knee is a reasonable candidate.
PRP vs. Stem Cells for Knee Arthritis
Patients often ask whether “stem cells” would work better than PRP for an arthritic knee. It's a fair question — and the honest answer may be surprising.
What “stem cell” injections actually are
The treatments marketed as “stem cells” for arthritis use adult mesenchymal cells harvested from your own fat or bone marrow (BMAC) — not the embryonic stem cells most people picture. There is no good evidence they regrow cartilage; like PRP, they work mainly by delivering growth factors that may calm inflammation and improve function.
How they compare head-to-head
When compared directly, the difference is smaller than the marketing suggests. A 2-year randomized trial of BMAC versus high-dose PRP for knee osteoarthritis found both improved pain and function at every checkpoint, with no significant difference between them.
Why Dr. Borys generally starts with PRP
If outcomes are comparable, the practical factors matter: stem cell procedures often cost several times more than PRP and are more invasive, since harvesting cells from fat or bone marrow carries more risk than a simple blood draw. For most knees that makes PRP a sensible first step. These treatments aren't interchangeable for every patient, so Dr. Borys reviews your situation and gives you a straight answer about what is — and isn't — worth it for your knee.
Knee PRP in Bellingham & Whatcom County
Based in Bellingham, Dr. Borys provides focused, non-surgical orthopedic care to patients with knee osteoarthritis throughout Whatcom County and the surrounding region. Because this kind of targeted regenerative care isn't available everywhere, patients regularly travel in from the San Juan Islands, Skagit County, and British Columbia. If knee arthritis is limiting your activity and you want to understand whether PRP is a reasonable option before considering surgery, the first step is a thorough evaluation.
PRP for Knee Osteoarthritis: Common Questions
Does PRP actually work for knee osteoarthritis?
For appropriately selected patients, the research is encouraging. Multiple randomized controlled trials and meta-analyses have found that PRP injections can produce meaningful improvements in knee pain and function compared with controls, and some studies show benefit lasting 12 months or longer.
PRP does not reverse arthritis or regrow cartilage, and it does not help everyone. It tends to work best in earlier-to-moderate knee osteoarthritis rather than end-stage, bone-on-bone disease. Dr. Borys reviews your symptoms, exam, and imaging to give you an honest assessment of whether PRP is a reasonable option for your knee.
How many PRP injections will my knee need?
Many knee osteoarthritis protocols use a short series of 2–3 injections, often spaced 1–2 weeks apart, and some research suggests a series works better than a single injection for the knee.
The right number depends on the severity of your arthritis and how you respond. Dr. Borys reviews your exam and imaging to recommend either a single treatment or a series, and progress is typically reassessed over the following 6–12 weeks.
Is PRP better than cortisone or hyaluronic acid for knee arthritis?
They work differently. A cortisone shot can calm a flared, painful knee quickly, but relief is usually short-lived and repeated steroid injections may not be ideal for the joint over time. Hyaluronic acid ("gel" injections) lubricates the joint.
PRP tends to work more gradually, but when it helps, the benefit is often more durable. A 5-year follow-up RCT comparing PRP and hyaluronic acid for knee osteoarthritis found PRP a reasonable option in selected patients. PRP is not a fit for every knee — Dr. Borys helps you weigh the options for your specific situation.
What stage of knee arthritis responds best to PRP?
Mild-to-moderate knee osteoarthritis generally responds better to PRP than severe, end-stage arthritis where the joint space is largely gone ("bone on bone"). Patients with significant remaining cartilage and pain driven by inflammation and early degeneration tend to be better candidates.
If your arthritis is very advanced, PRP may offer limited benefit, and Dr. Borys will tell you honestly when another option — including referral for surgical evaluation — may serve you better.
How soon will my knee feel better after PRP, and how long does it last?
PRP is a gradual process, not an instant fix. Mild soreness or swelling in the knee for a few days afterward is normal. Many patients begin noticing clearer improvement around 6–12 weeks, with continued change over several months.
When PRP is effective for knee osteoarthritis, research suggests benefits often peak around 3–6 months and can last 12 months or longer, especially in earlier-stage arthritis. Some patients choose to repeat treatment if symptoms return.
Is PRP for knee arthritis covered by insurance in Bellingham?
PRP is not covered by insurance and is an out-of-pocket expense, as most plans still classify it as investigational. The initial evaluation, however, is a standard office visit that may be billed through insurance depending on your individual plan and coverage.
Dr. Borys offers PRP for knee osteoarthritis in Bellingham, WA, serving patients throughout Whatcom County and the surrounding region. Pricing and whether PRP is clinically appropriate for your knee are reviewed at your initial visit.
Ready to explore PRP for your knee?
It starts with an initial visit to evaluate your knee and discuss whether PRP is the right option for your arthritis — a standard medical evaluation that may be billed through insurance depending on your individual plan and coverage. We work with major insurers such as Regence and Premera.