Samuel G Oltman, ND, RMSK
Platelet Rich Plasma (PRP) is the best non-surgical therapy available for long term pain relief in thumb arthritis. Osteoarthritis leading to cartilage loss and pain is a common condition, most commonly in postmenopausal women. It can negatively affect daily activities and sports by causing pain with any gripping effort. The conventional therapy for this condition is wholly inadequate and there are better options provided by Cascade Regenerative Medicine.
Thumb Osteoarthritis
Osteoarthritis (OA), a condition in which the cartilage in the joint slowly degenerates, is common in the base of the thumb. This joint is called the “Trapeziometacarpal joint” or the “1st carpometacarpal joint” (CMC), where the trapezium bone of the hand meets the metacarpal bone of the thumb. CMC OA can cause pain with all activities of daily living and any sport that involves grip strength. It can be very debilitating and, like so many conditions in orthopedic medicine, the current treatments for it are lacking in both evidence and effectiveness.
PRP Is The Best Treatment
A recent meta-analysis (1) compared cortisone, PRP, prolotherapy, shockwave therapy, and bracing for thumb osteoarthritis. PRP injections (2 total) were the most effective treatment, reducing pain by 5.5 points (on a 1-10 scale) at 12 months versus 0.5 point for cortisone. While cortisone reduced pain the most at 1-3 weeks, PRP was better than all other therapies at 12 months. Prolotherapy was also significantly better than cortisone at 6 months.
PRP Stimulates Long Term Healing
This is a pattern we see consistently, across conditions, in study after study: cortisone reduces pain in the short term and is out performed by regenerative medicine therapies (prolotherapy and PRP) in the long term. It is this way in knee osteoarthritis, plantar fasciitis, shoulder pain, tennis elbow, carpal tunnel syndrome, and many more. The question for the patient is: do you want to take the batteries out of the smoke alarm or do you want to put out the fire?
If your doctor has recommended cortisone injections for a painful area, know that there is likely a better option, with better evidence and better results. PRP works to actually heal the area and benefit you over the long term, not just cover up symptoms for a few weeks. Thumb arthritis is the latest example of a common condition being helped by expertly-made, precision-delivered regenerative injection therapy. See the difference today at Cascade Regenerative Medicine.
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