A gentleman in his early sixties sat in my clinic recently, holding two pieces of paper and a great deal of worry. "One doctor told me PRP would regrow the cartilage in my knee," he said. "Another told me it was a waste of money. I've already spent a lot on my knee. Who do I believe?" It is one of the most common — and most reasonable — questions I hear. So this article is my honest answer, written the way I would explain it to my own father: not to sell you an injection, but to help you decide whether platelet-rich plasma (PRP) is worth your money for your knee. We will follow the evidence, separate what is well established from what is merely hoped, and be clear about who benefits and who does not.
Is PRP worth it for knee arthritis? It depends on your knee and your expectations. For mild-to-moderate osteoarthritis, with a good-quality preparation, an accurate ultrasound-guided injection and proper rehabilitation, PRP can meaningfully reduce pain and improve function — and several comparative studies suggest it can outlast hyaluronic acid and steroid at 6–12 months. But the most rigorous placebo-controlled trial found PRP no better than a saline injection, and PRP does not regrow cartilage or cure arthritis. For end-stage, bone-on-bone knees, or if you expect a cure or instant relief, PRP is usually not worth the money.
What PRP Actually Is (in Plain Language)
PRP stands for platelet-rich plasma. We take a small sample of your own blood, spin it in a centrifuge, and concentrate the platelets — the tiny cells that, besides helping blood clot, carry a payload of growth factors. This concentrated plasma is then injected back into your knee.
In plain terms: think of platelets as your body's own repair crew, and growth factors as the instructions and supplies they carry to a work site. PRP is a way of gathering that crew from your blood, concentrating them, and dropping them off at the joint that is struggling. Because it comes entirely from you, there is no risk of rejection or allergy.
That is the appeal — and it is genuine. But the appeal is also where the overselling begins, so let us be precise about how PRP works, and how it does not.
How PRP Works — and How It Does Not Work
The honest mechanism is more modest than the marketing. Based on current understanding, PRP appears to help mainly by:
- Modulating inflammation — calming the low-grade inflammation inside an osteoarthritic joint that drives much of the pain.
- Improving the joint environment — the growth factors may nudge the joint lining and tissues toward a less irritated, more balanced state.
- Reducing pain and improving function — the practical result many suitable patients notice: easier stairs, less morning stiffness, more comfortable walking.
Here is what PRP does not reliably do, no matter what a brochure says:
- It does not regrow lost cartilage. There is no dependable evidence that an injection rebuilds a worn joint surface.
- It does not cure arthritis. Osteoarthritis has no cure; PRP is, at best, a way of managing symptoms and function for a period.
- It does not work instantly. Any benefit builds over weeks, not hours.
Imagine a struggling patch of garden. PRP is like enriching the soil and improving the growing conditions — it can help what is still alive to do better. What it cannot do is grow back a tree that has already been cut down. In an arthritic knee, PRP works on the "soil" — the joint environment — not by regenerating cartilage that is already gone. That single idea explains most of the confusion between honest medicine and hype.
What the Science Actually Says (Evidence, Not Opinion)
This is the heart of the matter, and I want to grade it honestly — because "is it worth it" is really a question about the strength of the evidence. I will separate what is well supported from what is uncertain.
Where the evidence is reassuring
Several systematic reviews and meta-analyses of randomized trials report that, for suitable knee osteoarthritis, PRP tends to provide better pain and function outcomes than hyaluronic acid at 6–12 months, and often better than corticosteroid over the medium term. Emerging analyses also suggest that the platelet dose and the type of PRP (for example, leukocyte-rich versus leukocyte-poor preparations) influence results — which tells us that how PRP is made genuinely matters, and that pooling all "PRP" together is misleading.
Where the evidence urges caution
The single most rigorous placebo-controlled trial to date — the RESTORE randomized clinical trial, published in JAMA in 2021 — enrolled nearly 300 people with mild-to-moderate knee osteoarthritis and compared three weekly PRP injections against three saline (placebo) injections. At 12 months, PRP was no better than saline for knee pain, and it did not preserve or improve cartilage on MRI. That is a serious, well-conducted result, and any honest discussion of PRP has to sit with it.
How can careful meta-analyses lean positive while the most rigorous single trial is neutral? Largely because "PRP" is not one thing. Studies use different preparations, platelet doses, injection numbers and patient groups, so they are hard to compare — which is exactly why the guideline bodies are cautious.
What the guideline bodies say
| Body | Position on PRP for knee OA | Main reason |
|---|---|---|
| AAOS (2021) | "Limited" strength recommendation | Wide variation in PRP preparations |
| OARSI (2019) | Not recommended / uncertain | Lack of standardisation and consistent evidence |
| ACR / Arthritis Foundation (2019) | Strongly recommends against | Heterogeneity and lack of standardisation of products |
In plain terms: the major bodies are not saying "PRP is proven"; they are saying "the products are so variable that we cannot confidently recommend it as a routine treatment." That is not the same as "it never helps" — it is a call for careful patient selection and quality control, which is precisely where an experienced clinician makes the difference.
Strong evidence: PRP does not regrow cartilage. Moderate/mixed evidence: in mild-to-moderate OA, PRP can reduce pain and improve function, sometimes better and longer than hyaluronic acid or steroid — but the best placebo-controlled trial was neutral. Limited evidence: the "best" preparation and dose are still being defined. The practical conclusion: PRP is a reasonable option for the right knee, done well, with realistic expectations — and a poor use of money outside that.
PRP vs Everything Else: An Honest Comparison
"Worth it" only makes sense in comparison to your other options. Here is how PRP stacks up against the alternatives you are likely weighing.
| Option | What it does | Speed & duration | Best for | Evidence strength |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| PRP | Uses your own concentrated platelets to calm the joint | Builds over weeks; months up to ~1 year | Mild-to-moderate OA wanting to delay surgery | Moderate, mixed |
| Corticosteroid | Reduces inflammation quickly | Fast; usually weeks to a few months | Short-term inflammatory flare | Good short-term; harmful if repeated |
| Hyaluronic acid | Supplements joint lubrication | Gradual; variable, sometimes months | Selected mild-to-moderate OA | Mixed; guidelines differ |
| Exercise & physiotherapy | Strengthens muscles, unloads the joint | Weeks to months; durable | Everyone with knee OA | Strong — the proven foundation |
| Oral medicines | Reduce pain/inflammation systemically | Fast; short-term | Flares; adjunct to other care | Good short-term; side-effect limits |
| Knee replacement | Replaces the worn joint surfaces | Definitive; long-lasting | End-stage, bone-on-bone arthritis | Strong for advanced disease |
PRP vs steroid
A steroid injection is the sprinter: fast relief, but short-lived, and repeated steroids can actually accelerate cartilage loss — a 2-year trial in JAMA found triamcinolone every three months led to more cartilage loss with no better pain relief than saline. PRP is the marathoner: slower to act, but in suitable knees the benefit tends to last longer. If you need to settle an angry flare quickly, steroid has a role; if you want durable, repeatable help and want to protect the joint, PRP is often the better long-term choice.
PRP vs hyaluronic acid
Meta-analysis suggests PRP edges out hyaluronic acid on pain and function at 6–12 months in appropriate patients. Both are "conditional" options rather than guaranteed ones, and the decision should be individualised.
PRP vs exercise and physiotherapy
This is the comparison the marketing never makes — and the most important one. Exercise, strengthening and weight management are the strongest, best-proven treatments for knee osteoarthritis, full stop. No injection replaces them. The honest way to think about PRP is not "injection instead of the gym," but "an injection that may open a window of less pain, so you can finally do the strengthening that actually protects your knee." PRP without rehabilitation is money half-spent.
PRP vs knee replacement
For a truly end-stage, bone-on-bone knee with deformity and constant pain, a well-done knee replacement is a superb, definitive operation, and no injection competes with it. PRP is not an alternative to replacement for advanced arthritis — it is an option for earlier disease that may help delay that day.
PRP vs oral medicines
Painkillers and anti-inflammatory tablets can settle a flare quickly and are inexpensive, but they work only while you take them, treat the whole body to help one joint, and carry stomach, kidney and heart cautions with long-term use. PRP is the opposite trade-off: more expensive and slower, but a single course that acts locally on the knee. In practice they are not rivals — short courses of medication have a place for flares, while PRP, in the right patient, aims to reduce how often you need them.
Who Benefits Most From PRP?
Patient selection is everything. The same injection that helps one knee wastes another person's money, and the difference is almost entirely about who is chosen. In my practice, the features that predict a better response are:
| Factor | More likely to benefit | Less likely to benefit |
|---|---|---|
| OA grade (X-ray) | Mild to moderate (Kellgren-Lawrence 1–3) | Severe, bone-on-bone (grade 4) |
| Age | Younger, biologically active knees | Very advanced degeneration |
| Body weight (BMI) | Healthy or improving weight | High BMI heavily loading the joint |
| Alignment | Reasonable alignment | Severe bow-leg / knock-knee deformity |
| Activity level | Motivated to rehabilitate | Unable or unwilling to do rehab |
| Inflammation / effusion | Mild, controllable | Large, persistent effusions |
| MRI / meniscus | Intact or minor changes | Major structural damage driving symptoms |
| Previous treatment | Some response to conservative care | Nothing conservative tried yet |
| Expectations | Realistic — pain and function | Expecting cure or new cartilage |
Why selection matters so much: PRP works on a joint that still has something to work with. A mild-to-moderate knee has living tissue and a joint environment that can be calmed and supported. A bone-on-bone knee has run out of the raw material PRP acts on — so injecting it is like watering a field with no seeds left. Good medicine spends your money where biology can still respond.
When PRP May Not Be Worth It
Situations where I usually advise against PRP
- End-stage, bone-on-bone arthritis — the biology PRP relies on is largely gone; a surgical opinion is more honest use of your money.
- Severe deformity or malalignment — the mechanical problem needs a mechanical solution.
- Uncontrolled inflammatory arthritis (such as rheumatoid) — this needs disease-specific medication, not PRP.
- Expecting cartilage to grow back — PRP cannot deliver this, and you should not pay for that promise.
- Expecting instant or permanent relief — PRP is gradual and time-limited, not a switch or a cure.
- Unwillingness to rehabilitate — without strengthening and weight management, results disappoint.
Why PRP Sometimes Fails
When a patient tells me "I tried PRP and it didn't work," the failure is rarely a mystery. It almost always traces to one of these — and most are preventable:
Wrong diagnosis
The pain wasn't really from the joint surface — it was a tendon, a nerve, the back or hip referring pain to the knee. No injection into the joint helps pain that comes from elsewhere.
Poor patient selection
Advanced, bone-on-bone arthritis was injected in the hope of a miracle. The biology simply wasn't there to respond.
Low platelet dose or poor preparation
A weak, under-concentrated product was used. If the "repair crew" delivered is too small, the effect is too small. Preparation quality is not a detail — it is the treatment.
Blind or misplaced injection
The PRP was injected by feel and landed outside the joint. An expensive biologic delivered to the wrong place cannot work — which is why we use ultrasound guidance.
Unrealistic expectations
Success was measured against "cure" or "new cartilage," so genuine, useful improvement felt like failure.
No rehabilitation
The injection was treated as the whole treatment. Without strengthening the window of relief closes quickly.
Notice how many of these are about process and selection, not the biology of PRP itself. That is the real reason results — and prices — differ so much between clinics. I explore the preparation side in depth in Are All PRP Injections the Same?, and the delivery side in Does Ultrasound Guidance Matter for Knee Injections?
Why Does PRP Cost So Different From Place to Place?
Patients are understandably confused when quotes vary widely. The truth is that a low price and a high price can buy genuinely different things. Cost can reflect:
- The preparation system and platelet dose — a validated closed system that reliably concentrates platelets costs more than a basic tube.
- Whether the injection is ultrasound-guided — protecting the accuracy of an expensive biologic.
- Who performs it — the training and experience of the clinician.
- Whether assessment and rehabilitation are included — the parts that decide whether the injection actually helps.
In plain terms: cheaper is not automatically a bargain, and expensive is not automatically better. What you are really paying for is the right diagnosis, a quality product properly dosed, accurate delivery, and a plan around it. Judge value by what is delivered, not by the number on the invoice — the questions later in this article show you exactly how.
What Actually Happens During a PRP Procedure?
Much of the fear around PRP comes from not knowing what to expect, so let me walk you through a typical visit at our clinic. It is more straightforward than most people imagine.
- A small blood draw. We take a sample of your own blood from your arm, much like a routine blood test — usually 15–60 ml depending on the preparation.
- Preparation in a centrifuge. The blood is spun to separate and concentrate the platelets. This takes several minutes, during which you simply rest.
- The ultrasound-guided injection. After cleaning the skin and using a local anaesthetic, the concentrated plasma is injected into the knee under ultrasound guidance, so we can confirm it reaches the joint rather than the surrounding tissue.
- You go home the same day. The whole visit is usually well under an hour, and it is a day-care procedure — no hospital stay.
Most patients describe the injection as a brief pressure or sting, eased by local anaesthetic. A dull ache for a day or two afterwards is normal and settles with simple measures. The visit itself is short — the biology, not the appointment, is what takes time, as the benefit builds over the following weeks.
Recovery, Aftercare and Realistic Timelines
Here is where a treatment succeeds or quietly fails, and where your own effort matters as much as the injection. Because PRP sets off a gradual biological response, the days and weeks afterwards are part of the treatment — not an afterthought.
- First few days: expect mild soreness or a sense of fullness in the knee. We generally advise avoiding strenuous activity and anti-inflammatory painkillers for a short window, as calming inflammation too aggressively may blunt the very response PRP is trying to create.
- Weeks 2–6: this is when many suitable patients begin to notice easier stairs, less morning stiffness and more comfortable walking. Gentle, progressive strengthening — guided by a plan — is started and built up.
- Weeks 6–12 and beyond: the fuller effect settles in. This is the window to consolidate gains with strengthening, weight management and activity modification, which is what makes the relief last.
In plain terms: think of PRP as preparing the ground and planting — but the harvest depends on tending the field afterwards. The patients who do best are not those who found the fanciest injection; they are those who paired a sensible injection with the rehabilitation that protects the knee. That is why, at PainClinix, an injection is never handed over on its own.
15 Myths vs Facts About PRP for Knee Arthritis
| Myth | Fact |
|---|---|
| PRP regrows cartilage. | No reliable evidence supports cartilage regrowth; PRP may reduce pain and improve function. |
| PRP cures arthritis. | Arthritis has no cure. PRP manages symptoms for a period; it does not reverse the disease. |
| PRP works instantly. | Benefit builds over 4–12 weeks. It is not an instant painkiller. |
| All PRP is the same. | Preparations vary widely in platelet dose and white-cell content — quality changes results. |
| A higher price means better PRP. | Price alone doesn't indicate quality; ask what is actually delivered. |
| PRP works for everyone. | It works best in mild-to-moderate OA; end-stage knees rarely benefit. |
| PRP replaces knee replacement. | For end-stage arthritis, replacement is definitive; PRP may delay surgery in earlier disease. |
| PRP is a one-time magic shot. | It is often a short course and works best combined with rehabilitation. |
| If PRP failed once, it never works. | Failure often reflects wrong patient, low dose or poor placement — not that PRP can't help. |
| PRP is risky because it's "new." | It uses your own blood; serious complications are rare. The real risk is paying where it won't help. |
| Steroid and PRP are interchangeable. | They work differently — steroid is fast and short; PRP is slower and acts on the joint environment. |
| A blind injection is fine for PRP. | Guidance ensures a costly product reaches the target; accuracy matters most for biologics. |
| PRP means you can skip exercise. | Rehabilitation is essential; PRP without strengthening underperforms. |
| X-ray/MRI grade doesn't matter for PRP. | Stage of arthritis strongly predicts response; selection matters. |
| PRP is settled, proven science. | Evidence is genuinely mixed; the honest position is cautious optimism for the right patient. |
10 Questions You Should Ask Before Paying for PRP
You do not need a medical degree to protect yourself from an unwise spend — you need the right questions. Ask any clinic these (mine included), and the answers will tell you whether you are dealing with an evidence-based practice or a sales pitch.
Your pre-PRP checklist
- Which PRP system do you use, and is it a validated, closed preparation kit?
- How many platelets will actually be delivered — what is the dose and concentration?
- Will my PRP be leukocyte-rich or leukocyte-poor, and why is that right for my knee?
- Will the injection be ultrasound-guided?
- Who will perform the procedure, and what is their training?
- How have you confirmed I'm the right candidate — my diagnosis, arthritis grade and imaging?
- What realistic improvement can I expect, and by when?
- How many sessions will I need, and what is the total cost?
- What rehabilitation plan comes with the injection?
- What is the plan if PRP doesn't help me?
A clinic that welcomes these questions and answers them specifically is one that has your interests at heart. At PainClinix in Punjabi Bagh, this conversation is the consultation: I confirm the diagnosis and stage first, tell you honestly whether PRP is likely to help your particular knee, use a quality preparation delivered under ultrasound guidance, and build a rehabilitation plan around it — and if PRP is not the right answer for you, I will say so. Patients come to us from across West Delhi and Delhi NCR for exactly that: a straight answer, not a sale.
Doctor's advice
Do not choose PRP because it is the newest or most expensive option, and do not dismiss it because one person online called it a scam. Choose it — or decline it — based on your knee. If you have mild-to-moderate arthritis, sensible expectations, and you are ready to do the rehabilitation, PRP done well can be genuinely worth it. If your knee is bone-on-bone, or you are hoping to grow new cartilage, your money is better spent elsewhere. The right treatment is the one that fits your condition, not the one with the best marketing.
Key takeaways
- PRP uses your own concentrated platelets to calm the knee joint — it does not regrow cartilage or cure arthritis.
- Evidence is mixed: comparative studies often favour PRP over hyaluronic acid and steroid, but the best placebo-controlled trial (RESTORE) was neutral.
- PRP is most worth it in mild-to-moderate osteoarthritis with realistic expectations and rehabilitation.
- It is usually not worth it in bone-on-bone arthritis, severe deformity, or when a cure is expected.
- Failures usually come from wrong diagnosis, poor selection, low platelet dose, blind injection, or no rehab — mostly preventable.
- Prices differ because the product and process differ — judge value by what is delivered.
- Exercise and weight management remain the strongest treatments; PRP supports them, it does not replace them.
Should You Consider PRP? An Honest Summary
You should consider PRP if: you have mild-to-moderate knee osteoarthritis, you want to reduce pain and delay surgery, you understand it is not a cure and will not regrow cartilage, you are willing to commit to rehabilitation, and you can access a quality preparation delivered accurately under ultrasound.
You should probably not spend on PRP if: your arthritis is end-stage and bone-on-bone, you have severe deformity, you have an uncontrolled inflammatory arthritis, or you are expecting a cure or new cartilage. In those situations your money is better directed toward physiotherapy, weight management, appropriate medication, or an honest surgical opinion.
When another treatment may simply be better: a short-term flare may respond faster and more cheaply to a single well-placed steroid injection; a mechanical, deformed knee needs a mechanical solution; and for everyone with knee arthritis, structured exercise is the proven foundation no injection can replace.
The most important thing I can leave you with is this: the best treatment for your knee is not the most expensive one or the most talked-about one — it is the one tailored to your condition. PRP, used thoughtfully in the right patient, can be a valuable part of that plan. Used indiscriminately, it is an expensive disappointment. A careful assessment is what tells the two apart — and that assessment costs far less than a treatment aimed at the wrong knee.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is PRP worth it for knee arthritis?
For suitable mild-to-moderate osteoarthritis, done well and paired with rehabilitation, it can be. For end-stage arthritis, or if you expect a cure or new cartilage, it usually is not.
Does PRP regrow cartilage?
No. There is no reliable evidence that PRP regrows lost cartilage. It may reduce pain and improve function by influencing the joint environment.
What is the success rate of PRP for the knee?
There is no single reliable figure — it depends on selection, arthritis grade, preparation quality, accurate delivery and rehabilitation. Many suitable patients get useful relief lasting months to a year.
Is PRP better than a steroid injection?
They differ. Steroid is faster but short-lived and can harm cartilage if repeated; PRP acts more slowly but tends to last longer in suitable knees.
Is PRP better than hyaluronic acid?
Meta-analysis suggests PRP tends to outperform hyaluronic acid on pain and function at 6–12 months in appropriate patients, though both are conditional options.
Can PRP help me avoid knee replacement?
In earlier arthritis it may help delay surgery. It is not an alternative to replacement for end-stage, bone-on-bone knees.
How long does PRP last?
When effective, relief builds over 4–12 weeks and can last several months up to about a year. It is not permanent. Our dedicated guide explains the full timeline and how to extend it: How Long Does PRP Last for Knee Arthritis?
How many PRP sessions will I need?
Often a short course rather than a single shot; the exact number depends on your response and the protocol used.
Why does PRP cost so much, and why do prices differ?
Cost reflects the preparation system and platelet dose, whether the injection is ultrasound-guided, who performs it, and whether assessment and rehabilitation are included.
Does the type of PRP matter?
Yes. Platelet dose and leukocyte content vary between preparations and appear to affect results — which is why not all PRP is equal.
Is PRP painful?
A local anaesthetic is used; most people describe brief pressure or soreness. Mild post-injection ache for a day or two is common.
Is PRP safe?
Because it uses your own blood, allergic or rejection reactions are not a concern and serious complications are rare. The main "risk" is spending money where it is unlikely to help.
Why did my PRP not work?
Common reasons are the wrong diagnosis, advanced arthritis, a low platelet dose, a blind or misplaced injection, unrealistic expectations, or missing rehabilitation.
Should PRP be done under ultrasound?
Ideally, yes — guidance helps ensure a costly biologic is delivered accurately into the joint rather than the surrounding tissue.
Can PRP help bone-on-bone knees?
Rarely to a meaningful degree. Advanced arthritis lacks the biology PRP acts on; a surgical opinion is usually more appropriate.
Is PRP a cure for arthritis?
No. Osteoarthritis has no cure. PRP is a way of managing symptoms and function for a period in suitable patients.
Do I still need exercise if I have PRP?
Yes — strengthening and weight management are the strongest treatments for knee arthritis. PRP supports rehabilitation; it does not replace it.
What does the RESTORE trial mean for me?
It is an important, rigorous study that found PRP no better than saline over 12 months. It reinforces caution and realistic expectations, and the importance of careful selection and quality.
Who should I see about PRP for my knee?
An interventional pain physician or musculoskeletal specialist who will confirm your diagnosis, judge whether you are a suitable candidate, and deliver the injection accurately.
Where can I get evidence-based PRP in Delhi?
At PainClinix, Punjabi Bagh, Dr. Titiksha Goyal assesses whether PRP suits your knee and delivers it under ultrasound guidance with rehabilitation, for patients across West Delhi and Delhi NCR.
References
- Bennell KL, Paterson KL, Metcalf BR, et al. Effect of intra-articular platelet-rich plasma vs placebo injection on pain and medial tibial cartilage volume in patients with knee osteoarthritis: the RESTORE randomized clinical trial. JAMA. 2021;326(20):2021–2030. JAMA
- Belk JW, Kraeutler MJ, Houck DA, Goodrich JA, Dragoo JL, McCarty EC. Platelet-rich plasma versus hyaluronic acid for knee osteoarthritis: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. Am J Sports Med. 2021;49(1):249–260. PubMed
- Kolasinski SL, Neogi T, Hochberg MC, et al. 2019 American College of Rheumatology/Arthritis Foundation guideline for the management of osteoarthritis of the hand, hip, and knee. Arthritis Rheumatol. 2020;72(2):220–233. PubMed
- Bannuru RR, Osani MC, Vaysbrot EE, et al. OARSI guidelines for the non-surgical management of knee, hip, and polyarticular osteoarthritis. Osteoarthritis Cartilage. 2019;27(11):1578–1589. Osteoarthritis and Cartilage
- American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons. Management of osteoarthritis of the knee (non-arthroplasty), 3rd edition — clinical practice guideline. AAOS; 2021. AAOS
- McAlindon TE, LaValley MP, Harvey WF, et al. Effect of intra-articular triamcinolone vs saline on knee cartilage volume and pain in patients with knee osteoarthritis: a randomized clinical trial. JAMA. 2017;317(19):1967–1975. PubMed
- Jackson DW, Evans NA, Thomas BM. Accuracy of needle placement into the intra-articular space of the knee. J Bone Joint Surg Am. 2002;84(9):1522–1527. PubMed
- Berkoff DJ, Miller LE, Block JE. Clinical utility of ultrasound guidance for intra-articular knee injections: a review. Clin Interv Aging. 2012;7:89–95. PubMed
Medical disclaimer
This article is for general education and does not replace a personal medical consultation. Whether PRP is appropriate depends on individual assessment, including your diagnosis, arthritis grade and imaging. Treatment responses vary between patients, and the evidence for PRP continues to evolve. Please consult a qualified pain physician or orthopaedic specialist before making decisions about your care.