Knees Rnd. 2
I’ve drafted about 6 blogs in the meantime but (I want to say hilariously but really… disappointingly?) this is actually going to be published next after it’s related predecessor. Logical I guess.
A clarification since that blog… it’s not essentially, I 100% already do have osteoarthritis in both knees (slightly more progressed in my right). The latest info I’ve received is an outlook of bilateral knee replacements in as soon 10 years if left to progress unabated. I’m 35 years old so that kind of sounds like a no to me dawg. Even cooler is that replacements might only last around 20 years… Knee replacements in my 40’s are pretty likely to lead to replacements of my replacements in my 60’s.
Stalling disease progression now becomes the name of the game for longevity of my natural joints. There are a number of previously mentioned things I am chipping away at to assist this. This blog is about the Platelet Rich Plasma (PRP) I received just over 3 weeks ago.
I’m not trying to convince you to get it, I’m just sharing a yarn about my personal experience. PRP is an interesting thing to talk about because it (at least currently) it’s not ‘proven’. By that I mean there is not sufficient evidence (via formal scientific experimentation) available to say exactly what it can do and for who, however. Perception is overwhelmingly positive, with conclusions mostly along the lines of ‘we think there is something here we just haven’t been able to define it yet’. What does this mean in practice? A lack of absolutes… treatment might have possible outcomes for at least some people.
PRP was actually suggested to me at the very beginning- my first visit to the Sports Doctor in 2020, as a possible treatment that may help my symptoms (provided I was chill with the $800 price tag). I disregarded this at the time because I wasn’t willing to pay for something that might not do anything. I’m also not at all surprised that 2023 Gabi is more than willing to pay said price on what is effectively a gamble. For me personally the presence of daily pain and compromised function impacts negatively on all aspects of my life, not just my ability to exercise the way I’d prefer. I am in a position where I can afford it, and bar the usual risks with any medical procedure (e.g. infection) there is no indication it would make anything worse. I have been working for over 2.5 years to determine my best way forward with limited success, and while yes there is more I can and am doing, at this point with all else considered why wouldn’t I roll the dice?
Here is the information my administering doctor provided (that I am repeating in vague language from memory with no references- take it how you like) regarding PRP process and effectiveness in his experience;
Osteoarthritis is a progressive disease- and once in motion generates an environment that spurs the disease on (continues to promote bone degradation with associated inflammation and pain)
PRP treatment involves the patient’s plasma with a higher than usual concentration of platelets being injected into the affected area (e.g. my knee joints).
PRP supposedly works by the injected platelets releasing factors that interrupt the osteoarthritis cycle, slowing it’s progression, or in a best case scenario placing the disease in remission (at least temporarily)
The resulting impact on symptoms is lasting reduced pain and inflammation
At least the way this guy prepares and administers treatment, there are positive outcomes in 75% of cases, which can last for 1-2 years. This timeframe reduces (a short as 6-8 months) when the joints continue to be placed under the high strain of sport participation (noting he’d primarily administered to running/jumping athletes and could not comment on how loading via e.g. weightlifting might differ).
You’ll know after about 2 weeks if it’s done anything
I’m over 3 weeks post and something has definitely happened. I have an improvement in symptoms but things also feel different to when I’ve previously had improvement through changing/stopping training, oral anti-inflammatories or cortisone. Overall I’d describe it as an increased tolerance to impact and loading- right now I can push and get away with it, e.g. bit sore at the end of the day but fine after sleeping. Previously if anything things would get worse the next day after pushing (swelling, pain, loss of range).
I have been casually training weightlifting for the last 3ish weeks (2-3 times/week), with almost no ‘weightlifting’ work before then since Nationals last November where I snatched 70 and clean & jerked 85, my best numbers for the year. In the last week my knees have pretty much been the joints that complained the least. I pushed today because I’m a greedy little shit who wanted to know what is currently realistic and I snatched 60, clean & jerked 75.
As encouraging as those numbers are with bugger-all preparation, launching back into full training would be pretty dumb on my part, and there is a lot of underlying stuff I haven’t addressed in full (mostly stability/positional strength). I am fully aware I am not ‘healed’ and I’d probably just be putting myself back in the same if not worse position within months.
So in summary- I am currently of the opinion that PRP is going to be beneficial for my particular situation at least in the short term. While I still don’t know what might be safe or realistic for me to do in weightlifting as an athlete, being able to move freely and without pain to demonstrate and try things is hugely helpful for me as a coach, and my incoming ankle strength is going to do wonders for my ability to walk in heels.
