What PRP actually is
Platelet-rich plasma is made from your own blood: a sample is drawn and spun in a centrifuge to concentrate platelets — cells packed with growth factors that signal repair. That concentrate is injected precisely into the injured tissue, delivering a biologic stimulus to an area that often has poor healing capacity on its own.
Where the evidence is strongest
PRP has its best data in chronic tendinopathies — tennis elbow above all — and in mild-to-moderate knee arthritis, where meta-analyses show meaningful symptom improvement versus alternatives for many patients. Dr. Pettit also uses biologic augmentation at surgery in select settings — for example alongside rotator cuff or meniscus repair — where enhancing the healing environment makes biological sense.
What treatment is like
The visit takes under an hour: blood draw, preparation, and image- or landmark-guided injection. Expect soreness for several days — the treatment works by triggering an inflammatory healing response, so anti-inflammatory medications are held around the injection. Benefits build over weeks, not days.
Honest expectations & alternatives
PRP is not a cartilage regenerator and doesn’t fix mechanical problems — a torn meniscus flap or bone-on-bone arthritis still behaves mechanically. For knee arthritis, gel injections (viscosupplementation) are another option Dr. Pettit offers, and when structural disease has outrun injections, he’ll say so and explain the surgical options. Insurance often treats PRP as elective; costs are discussed transparently up front.
Frequently asked questions
Does PRP hurt?
The injection is like any other joint or tendon injection, with expected soreness for a few days afterward while the healing response starts. Most patients manage with acetaminophen, ice, and relative rest.
How many injections will I need?
Tendinopathy commonly responds to one to two injections; knee arthritis protocols often use a series. Response is assessed at six to twelve weeks.
Is PRP covered by insurance?
Usually not — most insurers consider it investigational. Our team is upfront about cost before you commit to anything.
PRP vs. cortisone — which should I get?
Cortisone calms inflammation fast but doesn’t heal tissue, and repeated doses can weaken tendon. PRP is slower but aims to stimulate repair. For chronic tendinopathy, PRP is generally favored; for an acute flare that needs rescue, cortisone still has a role.
See Dr. Pettit
5 locations across Cincinnati & Northern Kentucky · (513) 354-3700