Concierge musculoskeletal medicine · UK
PRP and autologous blood injections - the honest orthobiologics conversation, not a marketing brochure.
PRP and whole-blood injections for tendon and joint problems, delivered by consultant sport-and-exercise or orthopaedic physicians under ultrasound guidance. We split the two, we say when each is worth trying, and we do not use them where the evidence does not support it.
Why patients choose us
- 01
A named consultant, ultrasound-guided
A sport-and-exercise or interventional MSK consultant who does these injections weekly - not a walk-in aesthetic clinic branching into orthopaedics.
- 02
PRP or ABI - the honest comparison
We explain the difference in preparation, evidence base and cost. If plain saline needling under ultrasound would do the same job, we say so.
- 03
Independent, and free
We hold no injection-clinic contracts. If surgery, cortisone, hyaluronic acid or another orthobiologic is a better fit, we say so - and it costs you nothing to ask.
Indicative pricing
What private PRP and autologous blood injections costs in the UK.
Indicative ranges across our sport-and-exercise medicine and orthopaedic clinics. We quote firm figures with rehab and follow-up included.
In short
A consultant-led ultrasound-guided PRP injection in our network: £650–£1,600, one session with a 4–6 week rehab review.
| Option | Indicative range | Typical duration | Follow-up |
|---|---|---|---|
| Consultation + ultrasound assessment | £220–£380 | 30–45 min | Same visit |
| PRP injection - single tendon or joint | £650–£1,600 | 45 min | 4-week review included |
| PRP course - three injections | £1,600–£3,600 | 3 visits over 6–12 weeks | Review each visit |
| Autologous blood injection (ABI) | £350–£700 | 30 min | 4-week review included |
| Cortisone injection (comparator) | £200–£450 | 15–20 min | 2–4 week review |
| Hyaluronic acid knee injection | £350–£900 | 15 min | 4–6 week review |
| Structured rehab review only | £120–£220 | 30 min | Same visit |
Prices vary by clinic, by consultant seniority and by whether combined visits or extra work-up is needed. We come back with a firm quote within one working day.
The problem
Not every tendon needs a needle.
PRP is often sold as a first-line fix. In the right patient it earns a place, but rehab and load management do most of the work - the injection buys a window.
Rehab before injection, not instead of
Structured eccentric loading and progressive tendon rehab is the intervention with the strongest evidence. PRP is added when a well-designed programme has plateaued.
PRP is not ABI
PRP is spun and concentrated; autologous whole-blood injection is not. Different preparation, different clinical evidence - we do not blur the two.
Ultrasound guidance, every time
Blind tendon injections miss the target more often than not. A consultant with ultrasound in hand places the needle in the pathology.
The journey
From enquiry to recovery - what happens, in order.
One team from first message through the last follow-up.
Phase 1 · Before
Assessment and planning
Phase 2 · On the day
Treatment
Phase 3 · After
Follow-up
- 01
Before
You tell us what hurts
A short, confidential form. Which tendon or joint, how long, what has already been tried, any imaging so far.
- 02
Before
MSK review with ultrasound
A consultant sport-and-exercise physician examines and scans the area. If MRI is needed to characterise the pathology, we arrange it.
- 03
Before
The honest recommendation
Whether PRP, ABI, cortisone, hyaluronic acid, surgery or continued rehab is the best next step - and whether the injection is the right sequence right now.
- 04
On the day
Blood draw and preparation
A single 20–60 ml venous sample, spun in a closed-system kit. Platelet-rich plasma (or whole blood for ABI) is prepared in the same room.
- 05
On the day
Ultrasound-guided injection
The needle is placed in the tendon or joint under live ultrasound. 5–15 minutes on the couch. Local anaesthetic to skin only.
- 06
After
Structured rehab from day 2
Relative rest for 48 hours, then a written progressive loading programme. No NSAIDs for two weeks - they blunt the effect.
- 07
After
Review at 4–6 weeks
Face-to-face review with the consultant. Consider a second injection at 6–12 weeks for common tendinopathy protocols.
Typical end-to-end: 1–2 weeks from enquiry to first injection. Full response: 3–6 months.
When it helps
The conditions where PRP or ABI genuinely earns a try.
The MSK indications with the best evidence - plus the red flag that means surgical review rather than an injection.
-
Lateral epicondylopathy (tennis elbow)
Chronic tennis elbow that has failed 3–6 months of structured rehab - PRP has the strongest tendon evidence here.
-
Patellar tendinopathy (jumper’s knee)
Chronic patellar tendinosis in the mid-substance, ultrasound-confirmed, plateaued on eccentric loading.
-
Plantar fasciopathy
Chronic plantar heel pain refractory to insoles and stretching - small but real signal for PRP over cortisone at 3–6 months.
-
Hamstring origin tendinopathy
Proximal hamstring pain in runners, ultrasound-guided, sometimes combined with fenestration.
-
Osteoarthritis of the knee
Symptomatic mild-to-moderate knee OA in active adults - an alternative to hyaluronic acid or cortisone, though the evidence base is mixed.
-
Rotator cuff tendinopathy
Selected partial-thickness cuff tears where surgery is not yet indicated but symptoms persist despite rehab.
-
Achilles mid-portion tendinopathy
Chronic mid-portion Achilles tendinopathy failing heavy-slow eccentric loading - PRP is a considered add-on, not a replacement for rehab.
-
Red flag: full-thickness tendon rupture
A sudden pop, immediate weakness and a palpable gap is a rupture, not tendinopathy. Same-week orthopaedic review, not a PRP appointment.
Injection options
PRP, ABI, cortisone, hyaluronic acid - which one, and why.
The main musculoskeletal injections we use and how they compare - no single injection is the answer to every tendon.
Leucocyte-poor PRP (LP-PRP)
Filtered to remove white cells. Preferred for intra-articular use in knee osteoarthritis - reduces post-injection inflammation.
Leucocyte-rich PRP (LR-PRP)
Higher white-cell content. Some evidence favours it for tendinopathy - the inflammatory component is thought to drive the healing response.
Autologous blood injection (ABI)
Whole venous blood, unspun, injected under ultrasound. Cheaper than PRP with an older, thinner evidence base - largely superseded but still used for chronic tennis elbow.
Fenestration (dry needling under ultrasound)
Repeated needle passes through pathological tendon to trigger a healing response - often combined with PRP or used alone as a low-cost trial.
Cortisone (steroid) injection
Fast pain relief but weakens tendon substance long-term - reserved for short-term symptomatic control, not chronic tendinopathy.
Hyaluronic acid (viscosupplementation)
For knee osteoarthritis - modest benefit over placebo, better tolerated by some patients than repeated cortisone.
Prolotherapy
Dextrose-based injection - considered where PRP is not available or affordable, particularly for chronic knee OA and ligament pain.
BMAC (bone marrow aspirate concentrate)
Autologous stem-cell-rich preparation from the iliac crest. Used in selected chondral defects and OA - more expensive, more invasive.
Our vetted UK network
A small panel of MSK physicians, we picked them.
Consultant sport-and-exercise, MSK radiology and orthopaedic surgeons across London and the major UK cities, all using ultrasound guidance and closed-system PRP kits.
Selection criteria
How we choose every clinician in our network.
Consultant sport-and-exercise or MSK physicians using diagnostic ultrasound in every clinic
CE-marked closed-system PRP preparation kits with documented platelet concentration
Structured written rehabilitation programme delivered before and after the injection
Clear escalation to orthopaedic surgery when the pathology is beyond injection therapy
Safety and recovery
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A soreness flare is expected
Most patients feel a dull ache and stiffness in the treated area for 24–72 hours. A short course of paracetamol helps; NSAIDs are avoided for two weeks - they blunt the platelet effect.
Infection is rare but real
Sterile technique brings the risk under 1 in 1,000. Any red, hot, spreading swelling or fever within a week needs same-day review.
Tendon rupture is the worst-case
Rare with PRP alone. More likely if repeated cortisone has weakened the tendon or if activity is resumed too fast.
Bruising and vasovagal
A minority feel light-headed at the blood draw or bruise around the injection site. Both settle quickly.
No NSAIDs, no cortisone for the window
Ibuprofen and naproxen for a two-week window before and after, and no cortisone for six weeks either side - both blunt the healing response.
Return-to-sport timelines
Light activity from day 3, sport-specific loading from week 2–3, competitive sport typically 6–12 weeks after PRP for a tendon.
Not for active malignancy or systemic infection
Not offered in active cancer, current sepsis, uncontrolled diabetes, thrombocytopenia or on anticoagulation that cannot be paused safely.
Pregnancy and breastfeeding
Local anaesthetic doses are small. PRP itself is autologous, but we defer elective MSK PRP in pregnancy and breastfeeding.
Realistic expectations
Even for the best indications, one in three patients does not respond. We measure improvement objectively - no vague "how does it feel" review.
Reading your injection record
Your injection record in four parts. Read the last one first.
The clinic letter and image capture that follow every PRP session - technical, but the impression at the bottom tells you what to do next.
A quiet reminder
A single PRP session without a rehab plan is a bill, not a treatment. We insist on both.
If you would like us to talk you through the record before your review, just ask.
- 01Preparation
Kit, volume, platelet concentration
The system used, blood volume drawn, resulting PRP volume and - where reported - platelet fold concentration over baseline.
- 02Technique
Ultrasound findings and needle placement
What the tendon or joint looked like on scan, and exactly where the needle went - with a captured image where possible.
- 03Rehab
Loading programme and restrictions
The prescribed rehab progression, NSAID and cortisone avoidance window, and expected return-to-sport timeline.
- 04Impression
Expected response and next step
Read this first: how quickly to expect benefit, when to review, and whether a second injection is planned.
Recognised by major UK insurers
Cover for PRP is inconsistent - some UK insurers exclude it as unproven, some cover for defined indications. We check policy wording before booking.
Frequently asked
Everything we get asked about PRP and autologous blood injections.
Quick answers on cost, safety, recovery and how we compare with the NHS pathway.
-
What is the difference between PRP and an autologous blood injection?
PRP is your own blood, spun in a centrifuge to concentrate platelets several-fold. ABI is your own whole blood, not spun. PRP has the stronger evidence base and is what most modern MSK clinics offer; ABI is cheaper and still used in tennis elbow.
-
Does PRP actually work?
For chronic lateral epicondylopathy, patellar tendinopathy and plantar fasciopathy, PRP has moderate evidence beyond placebo at 3–12 months when combined with structured rehab. For knee osteoarthritis the evidence is mixed but generally favours PRP over hyaluronic acid or saline. It is not magic - it works best in the right patient at the right point in the pathway.
-
Is it painful?
The blood draw is a routine venesection. The injection itself stings - local anaesthetic goes to the skin only, because anaesthetic in the tendon can blunt the effect. Most patients rate the procedure 3–4 out of 10, with a dull ache for 1–3 days after.
-
How long until I feel better?
PRP is not a fast fix. Expect no change or a temporary worsening in the first 2 weeks, gradual improvement from weeks 3–6, and peak effect at 3–6 months. A structured rehab programme runs alongside.
-
Can I take painkillers afterwards?
Paracetamol yes, NSAIDs (ibuprofen, naproxen, aspirin) no - for two weeks before and after. NSAIDs suppress the platelet response the treatment relies on. Ice for 15 minutes is fine.
-
How much does PRP cost in the UK privately?
A single PRP injection with consultation is typically £650–£1,600 depending on the site and clinic. A three-injection tendon course runs £1,600–£3,600. ABI is cheaper at £350–£700. We confirm firm figures within one working day.
-
Is PRP available on the NHS?
Rarely - NICE has not recommended it for routine NHS use for most MSK indications. A small number of NHS MSK clinics offer it in research protocols. Most PRP in the UK is private.
-
How many injections will I need?
It depends on the site and preparation. Tendon protocols often use 1–3 injections at 4–8 week intervals; knee OA protocols often use 2–3 injections at 2–4 week intervals. The right number is decided after your first review.
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