PRP & Joint Pain

PRP for Knee Osteoarthritis: What You Should Know

By Dr. Victor Chan, ND  |  SCIMEDICA Health Group, South Surrey

If you're dealing with knee osteoarthritis, you already know the pattern. The stiffness when you first stand up. The aching after a walk or a round of golf. The grinding sensation that makes you wince going down stairs. You've probably tried anti-inflammatories, maybe cortisone injections, physiotherapy, braces, and rest. Some of it helped — for a while. But the pain keeps coming back, and each time it feels a little worse.

You're not imagining it. Osteoarthritis is a progressive condition where the cartilage that cushions your knee joint gradually wears down over time. As the cartilage thins, the bones begin to rub closer together, leading to inflammation, stiffness, and pain. Conventional treatments like cortisone injections and anti-inflammatory medications can provide temporary relief, but they don't address the underlying tissue degeneration — and cortisone, when used repeatedly, may actually accelerate cartilage breakdown over time.

That's where PRP (Platelet-Rich Plasma) therapy comes in as a different kind of approach.

How PRP Works for Knee Osteoarthritis

PRP therapy uses your body's own blood to support natural healing. A small sample of blood is drawn, placed in a centrifuge to concentrate the platelets and growth factors, and then injected directly into the knee joint. The concentrated platelets release growth factors that are designed to support tissue repair, reduce inflammation, and promote the body's natural healing processes within the joint.

Unlike cortisone — which suppresses inflammation but doesn't support tissue repair — PRP is designed to work with your body's biology rather than override it. The goal is to create an environment within the joint that supports healing and may help slow the progression of cartilage deterioration.

It's important to set realistic expectations: PRP is not a cure for osteoarthritis, and it doesn't regrow lost cartilage. But for many patients with mild-to-moderate knee osteoarthritis, PRP may help reduce pain, improve function, and support the health of the remaining cartilage — potentially delaying the need for more invasive interventions.

What the Procedure Looks Like

The entire PRP procedure for knee osteoarthritis typically takes about 45–60 minutes and is done in a single clinic visit at SCIMEDICA Health Group in South Surrey. There's a blood draw (similar to routine bloodwork), a short processing period while the blood is centrifuged, and then the injection itself. Most patients describe the injection as brief, moderate discomfort — similar to a dental freezing.

There's no general anaesthesia, no surgery, and no extended downtime. Most patients can return to their normal daily activities within a day or two, though Dr. Vic will provide specific recovery guidelines for your situation.

Who May Benefit from PRP for Knee Pain

PRP for knee osteoarthritis may be worth exploring if you're experiencing persistent knee pain and stiffness that hasn't responded well to conservative treatments, you've been relying on anti-inflammatories or cortisone for relief but want an approach that supports healing rather than just masking symptoms, you have mild-to-moderate osteoarthritis (more advanced cases may require different approaches), or you want to explore options before considering surgical interventions like knee replacement.

PRP isn't appropriate for everyone, and not every knee will respond the same way. That's why Dr. Vic begins with a thorough assessment — reviewing your imaging, your symptoms, your health history, and your goals — before recommending whether PRP is the right approach for your specific condition. If it's not, he'll tell you and recommend an alternative path forward.

Why Patients in South Surrey and White Rock Choose Dr. Vic for PRP

Dr. Vic has been performing regenerative injection therapies — including PRP, Prolotherapy, and Prolozone — for over 20 years. His practice at SCIMEDICA Health Group in South Surrey has been focused on musculoskeletal pain and sports medicine from the beginning. He also takes a root-cause approach, looking at metabolic, nutritional, and inflammatory factors that may be affecting your healing — because a knee injection works better when the rest of your body is functioning well too.

No referral is needed. Patients come from White Rock, South Surrey, Langley, Delta, and throughout the Lower Mainland.