Medically reviewed by Mark Strehlow, MD, Medical Director — September 2026
If you searched for PRP knee injections or regenerative joint injections, this page explains what we offer instead, and what we will not promise. Our joint injections place umbilical cord–derived tissue matrix products into the joint to supplement and support the tissue that is already there. It is not PRP, not a steroid, and not a stem cell product, and no product of this kind is FDA approved for any use.
Who this is for
Adults with an aching, stiff or previously injured joint who want to talk through options other than repeated steroid injections, daily anti-inflammatories or surgery. Knees, shoulders, hips, elbows, wrists and ankles are the joints we see most.
A joint problem needs a diagnosis before it needs an injection. At your consultation we examine the joint, review any imaging you already have, and tell you plainly whether this is a reasonable option or whether you should see an orthopedic specialist first. Some joints need surgery; we will say so.
What we inject
Two umbilical cord–derived tissue matrix products: a connective tissue matrix product and an extracellular matrix product, made up of hyaluronic acid, collagen, elastin and the other components of connective tissue, kept close to their natural structure. Hyaluronic acid and collagen are the same family of components found in healthy joint tissue, which is why these products are used for cushioning and support inside a joint. Most joints receive both products; the extracellular matrix product alone is also offered and costs less. Both are donated by screened mothers in the United States after full-term, scheduled cesarean births, processed by tissue banks that are registered with the FDA and accredited by the American Association of Tissue Banks, minimally manipulated, free of DMSO and added chemicals, and tested for sterility lot by lot. Registration is not approval.
We used PRP for joints in the past and no longer do. Our PRP alternatives page explains why.
The visit, step by step
- Consultation and examination. History, examination, imaging review, and a straight answer about whether an injection makes sense. The consultation is free.
- The injection. The skin is cleaned and numbed. The products are injected into the joint space; for a knee this takes a few minutes. Larger joints receive a larger volume than small joints such as the wrist.
- Afterwards. You walk out. We ask you to rest the joint for a few days and avoid strenuous exercise, then return to normal activity gradually.
- Follow-up. We check the joint at six to eight weeks. Some patients choose a second injection; many do not need to decide until then.
What to expect, honestly
We will not tell you on a web page what an injection will do for your joint, because we cannot know that without examining it, and because the evidence for tissue matrix products in joints is early: laboratory work and small clinical series, not large controlled trials. What we can tell you is what the product is, what it is not, what our patients have experienced, and what we have seen over the years we have offered it. Where patients do notice a change, it is usually gradual, over six weeks to three months, rather than immediate. Individual results vary and cannot be guaranteed.
Risks
Any joint injection carries a risk of pain, swelling or stiffness for a few days, bruising, and, rarely, infection in the joint, which is serious and needs prompt treatment. Because the products are donated human tissue, there is a small risk of an immune or allergic reaction and a screening-reduced but not zero risk of disease transmission. Long-term data on these products are limited. We do not inject a joint that has an active infection, and we review blood thinners and other medications first.
How this differs from a steroid injection
A corticosteroid injection is an FDA-approved medication that reduces inflammation in a joint, usually for weeks to months, and repeated steroid injections have known effects on cartilage. A tissue matrix injection is a tissue product used to supplement and cushion the joint. They are different things for different situations, and steroids are sometimes the right choice; your provider will tell you which, if either, fits you.
Cost
Joint injections are cash-pay and not covered by insurance. Pricing depends on the joint, the version and the volume needed, and is given in writing at your consultation.
Next step
Call (913) 727-7700 or contact us to schedule a joint consultation, or see all of our regenerative treatments.
The products we use are umbilical cord–derived extracellular matrix and connective tissue products supplied by tissue banks that are FDA-registered and AATB-accredited. Registration is not approval. No exosome, extracellular vesicle or connective tissue product is FDA approved for any use, and we do not use these products to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease, including arthritis. This page is educational and is not medical advice. Individual results vary.