Knee osteoarthritis is the 11th highest contributor to global disability and this number is only set to increase. (1.) Luckily, there are various non-surgical treatment options available for those who are suffering from various degrees of knee osteoarthritis.

One of the most common forms of treatment for mild to moderate knee arthritis is non-surgical orthobiologic injections, which involve precisely injecting custom combinations of your body’s own cells into the knee joint. Studies have shown that these injections when injected properly can dramatically reduce inflammation and pain in the area. 

Types of Knee Arthritis Injections

There are several different types of injections available for patients suffering from knee pain. Dr. Shounuck Patel will determine the best treatment options for you after performing a comprehensive evaluation and consultation with you. 

Here are the most common injections that Dr. Patel may use to treat knee arthritis cases:

Hyaluronic Acid (HA) Injections

For mild cases Dr. Patel may recommend hyaluronic acid (HA) injections. Hyaluronic acid is a naturally occuring substance that is produced within the body and is responsible for lubricating your joints and enhancing overall joint health and function.

A common cause of knee arthritis and knee pain is the reduction in this hyaluronic acid. Therefore, precisely injecting this substance into your knees can help to reduce your symptoms significantly by providing lubrication to the joints for optimal mobility.

Before this procedure, excess fluid around your knee joints will be removed. You will be offered numbing injections prior to the procedure to reduce any discomfort.

Platelet-Rich Plasma (PRP) Injections

This minimally invasive injection uses proteins and growth factors within the platelets found in your own blood.

Your blood is composed of red blood cells, white blood cells, platelets, and plasma. It is the platelets that are used during PRP injection therapy. Platelets are responsible for controlling bleeding and they secrete thousands of growth factors that facilitate wound healing and tissue repair in your body.

During the procedure, Dr. Patel will use ultrasound technology to carefully inject the platelets into your knee joints.

You may experience some swelling within the few days after your procedure. This is completely normal and it should go down after a week or two. After undergoing a PRP injection treatment patients usually experience a reduction in pain and inflammation around the knees within 1 to 2 months after the procedure.

Cell Therapy Injections

Dr. Patel may recommend a cell therapy procedure which uses various proteins within your bone marrow for knee arthritis treatment. The proteins within your bone marrow help to heal injuries and repair damaged tissue. They are also responsible for the production of new red blood cells.

Cell therapy injections can help to reduce the inflammation and pain around your knee joints. As with PRP, the Dr. Patel will concentrate specific components of your blood to precisely inject into your knee under ultrasound and x-ray guidance.

Multiple areas around the knee can be targeted with this form of cell therapy injection including the surrounding soft tissue, meniscus, and tendons around the knee.

MFAT Injections

Microfragmented adipose fat, can be highly effective in reducing knee arthritis symptoms. These injections use your own adipose tissue and injects them into your knee joints. Adipose tissue is thought to have regenerative properties and may help with the reconstruction and support of damaged or injured tissues.

A small section of your adipose tissue will be broken down into its constituents. The blood, inflammatory cells, and fatty oils are removed, leaving only the desired parts of the fat tissue. MFAT injections can be used to effectively reduce inflammation and promote healing in the effected knee area.

For a complimentary candidacy review and to learn more about each of these non-surgical knee arthritis procedures, please contact our patient concierge team at The Patel Center for Functional Regeneration by calling (310) 929-9790 or email us at info@fxregencenter.com