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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.

See indicative pricing
A radiographer guides a patient onto the bed of an advanced 3 Tesla MRI scanner in a London imaging suite

Indicative pricing

What private PRP and autologous blood injections costs in the UK.

Indicative ranges across our sport-and-exercise medicine and orthopaedic clinics.

In short

£650–£1,600, one session with a 4–6 week rehab review.

OptionIndicative range
Consultation + ultrasound assessment£220–£380
PRP injection - single tendon or joint£650–£1,600
PRP course - three injections£1,600–£3,600
Autologous blood injection (ABI)£350–£700
Cortisone injection (comparator)£200–£450
Hyaluronic acid knee injection£350–£900
Structured rehab review only£120–£220

Prices vary by clinic, by consultant seniority and by whether combined visits or extra work-up is needed.

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.

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.

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 UK consultant reviewing a patient record

A quiet reminder

A single PRP session without a rehab plan is a bill, not a treatment. We insist on both.

Ask your care team to explain anything that is unclear.

  1. 01Preparation

    Kit, volume, platelet concentration

    The system used, blood volume drawn, resulting PRP volume and - where reported - platelet fold concentration over baseline.

  2. 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.

  3. 03Rehab

    Loading programme and restrictions

    The prescribed rehab progression, NSAID and cortisone avoidance window, and expected return-to-sport timeline.

  4. 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

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Cover for PRP is inconsistent - some UK insurers exclude it as unproven, some cover for defined indications.

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.

  • 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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