I was glad to see stem cell therapy and PRP injections getting some love from the mainstream media recently - courtesy of AARP, There was an article in AARP The Magazine from May, 2014, titled "Arthritis:4 Treatments to Try Now", in which the author recommends injections to help with symptoms of osteoarthritis.
Osteoarthritis is the most common form of arthritis, essentially wear and tear on the joints. Over time, the protective cartilage wears down, eventually leading to pain as the bones rub against each other. There are few treatment choices, most of which can have detrimental side effects. Anti-inflammatory medications, or NSAID's (such as ibuprofen and naproxen), can be used to help with the pain, but their use for extended periods can be dangerous for multiple reasons. [I plan to devote an entry on this exact topic at www.ColoradoOnTheMend.blogspot.com soon.] Exercise and physical therapy can also help, but their effectiveness may be diminished due to pain interfering with a patient's ability to proceed long-term. And finally, there is the prospect of surgery - either in an attempt to repair damaged cartilage or with joint replacement. Again, there are serious side effects and potential life-threatening complications with surgery, and there is no guarantee it will work.
That is why PRP and stem cells show such promise - few side effects and a great potential upside. The author mentions a great article from January, 2014, in the Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery titled "Adult Human Mesenchymal Stem Cells Delivered via Intra-Articular Injection to the Knee Following Partial Medial Meniscectomy", wherein patients who received stem cells had increased meniscus volume and a significant reduction in pain compared to the control group. Here is the direct link to that study - http://jbjs.org/content/96/2/90 . Again, we have seen these results with our own patients, and continue to find ways to improve outcomes even more.
The AARP article also mentions newer medications, knee distraction (a procedure involving an external metal frame applied around the joint; the frame must be in place for months, with extensive rehab involved), and cartilage replacement as other therapies to try.
Here is the link to the article - http://www.aarp.org/health/conditions-treatments/info-2014/arthritis-treatments-to-try-now.html