PRP Therapy in Oakville

Platelet Rich Plasma (PRP) therapy is a regenerative treatment that uses concentrated platelets from your own blood. A small blood sample is drawn, processed in a centrifuge to isolate the platelet-rich fraction (containing growth factors like PDGF, TGF-β, and VEGF), and injected directly into the injured area. These growth factors stimulate tissue repair, reduce inflammation, and promote natural healing.

PRP therapy is a private-pay procedure not covered by OHIP. The cost varies depending on the treatment area and whether ultrasound guidance is used. We provide detailed pricing during your consultation and issue receipts for extended health insurance claims. Many patients find PRP cost-effective compared to surgery or long-term medication use.

The injection itself is similar to a standard joint or tendon injection — most patients describe it as mild to moderate discomfort, and we use local anesthetic to minimize pain. The blood draw is no different from a routine lab test. What patients should plan for is the recovery, especially if your physician recommends our highest-concentration PRP. That formulation produces the strongest healing response, but it also produces significant discomfort for up to 48 hours after the injection and typically requires about 2 weeks of bracing to keep weight off the treated area while it heals. Braces, crutches and walking boots are available for purchase at the clinic at the time of your injection, so you'll leave with what you need. After a high-concentration PRP injection, please arrange for someone to drive you home — most patients don't feel comfortable driving immediately after. Recovery is significantly easier with lower-concentration PRP, which is suitable for many tendon and joint conditions. Your physician will recommend the right concentration for you and walk you through exactly what to expect at the time of your consultation.

Most patients require 1–3 PRP sessions spaced 4–6 weeks apart, depending on the condition and severity. Some patients experience significant improvement after a single treatment. During your consultation at Oakville Pain Clinic, your physician will recommend a personalized treatment plan based on your specific condition.

Standard PRP involves injecting the platelet concentrate using anatomical landmarks to guide needle placement. Ultrasound-guided PRP uses real-time imaging to visualize the needle and target tissue during the injection, ensuring precise delivery. Ultrasound guidance is recommended for deep structures, small joints, areas near nerves, and patients who have had unsuccessful blind injections.

PRP therapy is effective for knee osteoarthritis, chronic tendon injuries (tennis elbow, Achilles tendinopathy, rotator cuff), ligament sprains, plantar fasciitis, hip bursitis, meniscus injuries, degenerative disc disease, and muscle tears. It is also used for sports injuries and to accelerate post-surgical healing.

PRP and cortisone work differently. Cortisone is a steroid that reduces inflammation and provides rapid pain relief, but the effect is temporary (typically weeks to a few months) and repeated injections can weaken tendons and cartilage. PRP stimulates actual tissue repair by delivering concentrated growth factors to the injury site. While PRP takes longer to show results (2–6 weeks), the benefits are longer-lasting and address the underlying damage rather than just masking symptoms. Many patients choose PRP after cortisone stops providing relief.

Initial improvement is typically noticed within 2–6 weeks as the growth factors stimulate tissue repair. Full results develop over 3–6 months as new tissue forms and strengthens. Many patients report continued improvement for up to a year after treatment. Results vary depending on the condition being treated and individual healing response.

Yes — knee osteoarthritis is one of the strongest evidence-based applications of PRP therapy. Multiple meta-analyses of randomized controlled trials have shown that PRP injections produce clinically significant pain reduction and functional improvement at 3, 6, and 12 months, with benefits often lasting up to 24 months from a treatment course. PRP has also been shown to outperform hyaluronic acid (viscosupplementation) for mild-to-moderate knee osteoarthritis. We treat patients across Oakville, Burlington and the GTA with knee OA who want to delay or avoid surgery.

Yes. Tennis elbow is a chronic tendinopathy of the lateral epicondyle, and PRP has strong clinical evidence in chronic tendinopathies that have failed conservative care (rest, physiotherapy, bracing). PRP can also be considered for golfer's elbow (medial epicondylitis). At Oakville Pain Clinic we typically deliver PRP for elbow tendinopathies under ultrasound guidance for precise placement at the affected tendon insertion.

PRP can help rotator cuff tendinopathy and partial-thickness tears in select patients, particularly when conservative care has failed and the patient wants to avoid surgery. The evidence is stronger for non-surgical rotator cuff tendinopathy than as an adjunct to surgical repair. Your physician will assess your specific imaging and symptoms and discuss whether PRP is a reasonable option for your shoulder.

Yes. PRP is increasingly used for chronic plantar fasciitis that has not responded to several months of conservative treatment (stretching, orthotics, physiotherapy, anti-inflammatories). Studies suggest PRP outperforms cortisone for sustained heel-pain relief beyond 3 months. We deliver PRP to the plantar fascia under ultrasound guidance.

Yes. Chronic tendinopathies — including Achilles tendinopathy, patellar tendinopathy (jumper's knee), gluteal tendinopathy and proximal hamstring tendinopathy — are among the strongest evidence-based applications of PRP. These conditions often resist conservative care because tendons have limited blood supply. Concentrated growth factors delivered directly into the affected tendon can re-initiate the repair process.

Recovery time depends on the concentration of PRP your physician recommends. The concentration is selected at consultation based on your condition, the severity of the injury, and how aggressive a healing response is appropriate for you. For our highest-concentration PRP (used for the most stubborn or severe injuries), expect about 2 weeks of recovery using a brace to keep weight off the treated area, with significant discomfort possible for the first 48 hours. Braces, crutches and walking boots are available for purchase at the clinic, and you should arrange a ride home rather than driving yourself. For lower-concentration PRP — suitable for many tendon and joint conditions — recovery is significantly easier: most patients return to desk work the same day, with mild soreness at the injection site for 2 to 5 days as the healing response begins. Across all PRP concentrations, we ask you to avoid anti-inflammatory medications (NSAIDs) and ice for 1 to 2 weeks after injection, since the goal of PRP is to trigger a controlled healing inflammation. Your physician will explain exactly which concentration is right for you and what to expect at the time of consultation.

Many extended-health benefit plans in Ontario partially reimburse PRP under regenerative medicine, sports medicine or specialist injection benefits. Coverage varies widely by insurer and plan. We provide detailed receipts coded appropriately for insurance submission. We recommend confirming with your insurer in advance whether PRP injections are an eligible expense under your specific plan.

No. Oakville Pain Clinic offers a self-referral program for PRP therapy. You can book directly through our online self-referral form or by phone at 647-910-5359, and our team will contact you within 24 hours to schedule your consultation. We also accept referrals from family doctors, sports medicine physicians, physiotherapists and chiropractors.