PRP & PRF Injections for Pain in Riverside & Menifee, CA
Harness your body's own healing power. Biologic injections derived from your own blood deliver concentrated growth factors directly to damaged tissue — stimulating natural repair without surgery or synthetic drugs.
A leading regenerative option for sports injuries of the shoulder, elbow, and knee — your own concentrated platelets supporting the body's natural repair of injured tendons, ligaments, and joints, with the goal of getting you back to sport sooner. Looking for PRP for knee pain specifically? We offer ultrasound-guided knee PRP in Riverside and Menifee.
Serving Riverside, Menifee, Moreno Valley, Corona, Murrieta, Wildomar, Redlands, Loma Linda & the greater Inland Empire.
The ScienceA Brief History of PRP
Platelet-rich plasma isn't new — it's decades of established medicine now brought to pain management.
PRP is prepared by drawing a small amount of your own blood and spinning it in a centrifuge. This separates and concentrates the platelet-rich layer, which contains 3–8× the normal concentration of platelets and a powerful payload of growth factors (PDGF, TGF-β, VEGF, IGF-1, EGF) that drive tissue repair. Because it comes from your own body, PRP is autologous, so allergic reactions, rejection, and disease transmission are very unlikely.
Understanding Your OptionsPRP vs. PRF — What's the Difference?
Both are made from your own blood and concentrate healing growth factors. PRF is the next-generation biologic — additive-free, with a sustained release many clinicians now prefer for musculoskeletal conditions.
| Aspect | PRP — First Generation | PRF — Second Generation |
|---|---|---|
| Preparation | Blood drawn with anticoagulant; centrifuged to separate platelets | No anticoagulant; slow spin allows natural polymerization |
| Consistency | Liquid — injected directly | Natural fibrin gel/membrane or injectable liquid (i-PRF) |
| Growth-factor release | Rapid — within hours to days | Sustained — slow release over 7–14 days |
| Fibrin scaffold | Minimal | Rich 3-D scaffold supporting regeneration |
| Additives | Anticoagulant, sometimes activators | None — completely natural |
| Best for | Intra-articular joints, tendons, epidural | Intradiscal, sacroiliac, soft tissue, sustained-release needs |
Your physician will recommend PRP, PRF, or a tailored combination based on your diagnosis, the anatomical target, and the latest clinical evidence.
The ProcedureWhat to Expect During Treatment
The entire procedure is performed in-office, takes about 45–90 minutes, requires no general anesthesia, and most patients return to light activity the same day.
Blood Draw
30–60 mL of your own blood is drawn from your arm, similar to a standard lab draw.
Centrifugation
Your blood is spun to separate and concentrate the platelet-rich fraction.
Preparation
PRP or PRF is prepared under sterile conditions — no synthetic additives in PRF.
Image-Guided Injection
Using ultrasound or fluoroscopy, the biologic is delivered precisely to the target tissue.
Conditions TreatedWhat Can PRP & PRF Treat?
PRP and PRF have demonstrated clinical benefit across a wide range of musculoskeletal and spine conditions.
Watch: PRP for Knee Pain
Focus: Knee OsteoarthritisWhy PRP Is the New Standard for Knee Pain
For decades, cortisone and hyaluronic acid were the standard of care — but a growing body of high-quality evidence now positions PRP as the superior choice for durable relief. A landmark 2024 meta-analysis (Di Matteo et al., Am J Sports Med) found PRP produced clinically meaningful improvements in pain and function at 1, 3, 6, and 12 months, while placebo did not.
Duration of relief with PRP — vs. 4–8 weeks for cortisone
Peer-reviewed studies on PRP for knee OA in the last decade
Patients report meaningful improvement in published meta-analyses; about 20–30% do not respond
▶ Watch: PRP vs. Cortisone for Knee Arthritis — Dr. Rainier Guiang
The Cortisone ProblemWhy We Recommend Against Long-Term Cortisone
Emerging evidence strongly suggests repeated corticosteroid injections cause measurable cartilage damage and may accelerate osteoarthritis. A 2023 editorial in Osteoarthritis and Cartilage (Orchard) concluded that, long-term, intra-articular corticosteroids "offer only harm for knee osteoarthritis."
Cortisone (Corticosteroids)
- Short-term relief (4–8 weeks), no disease modification
- Suppresses collagen synthesis — inhibits cartilage repair
- Repeated injections linked to cartilage thinning & tendon weakening
- Can elevate blood glucose — problematic for diabetics
- Relief typically doesn't persist at 6–9 months
PRP / PRF (Biologic Therapy)
- Stimulates repair using your own growth factors — treats the cause
- Anabolic: promotes cartilage matrix synthesis
- Anti-inflammatory without catabolic damage
- 100% autologous — no systemic side effects
- Some patients report relief lasting a year or more; results vary. Can be repeated when appropriate
▶ Watch: Cortisone Before PRP — Does It Ruin the Injection?
Spine ApplicationsPRP & PRF for Spinal Pain
Spinal pain — from disc degeneration, nerve-root irritation (sciatica or neck-and-arm pain from bulging discs), facet arthritis, or sacroiliac dysfunction — responds to biologic therapy through the same tissue-regenerating mechanisms as joint pain. All spinal injections are performed under fluoroscopic guidance for precision and safety.
Intradiscal PRP & PRF
The disc has almost no blood supply and little natural healing. Intradiscal injection delivers growth factors into the nucleus pulposus to stimulate disc-cell repair — shown to reduce discogenic pain, improve disc hydration on MRI, and defer surgery.
Facet Joint Injections
A major source of axial spinal pain. PRP into facet joints provides anti-inflammatory and regenerative effects that outlast cortisone — and, unlike steroids, can be safely repeated as needed.
Sacroiliac Joint (SIJ)
An overlooked cause of up to 25% of low-back pain. A published comparative trial found PRF superior to PRP for SI joint pain at 6 months, making PRF our preferred biologic here.
Epidural PRP
When a bulging or herniated disc irritates a nerve root, patients often feel sciatica (leg pain) or neck and arm pain. Fluoroscopy-guided epidural PRP places growth factors around the inflamed nerve root — a regenerative option when steroid epidurals have worn off or you want to limit repeated cortisone.
Preparing for Your PRP Injection
Download our one-page guide on what to do before and after your PRP treatment.
Download Before & After Care Guide (PDF)Transparent PricingPRP & PRF Injection Pricing
Clear, up-front pricing with no surprises. PRP is generally classified as investigational, so it is not covered by insurance — but HSA/FSA funds are accepted. Prices effective 1/1/2026.
Joints, Soft Tissue & Tendons
| Treatment | Volume | Approx. platelets | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Single joint / soft tissue / tendon / ligament | 60 mL | ~5 billion | $800 |
| Hip or knee — fluoroscopy-guided | 60 mL | ~5 billion | $800 |
| Multiple areas / joints | 120 mL | ~10 billion | $1,200 |
Spine
| Treatment | Volume | Approx. platelets | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Epidural | 60 mL | ~5 billion | $1,000 |
| Sacroiliac — per joint | 60 mL | ~5 billion | $800 |
| Facet joint — single | 60 mL | ~5 billion | $800 |
| Facet joint — bilateral | 120 mL | ~10 billion | $1,400 |
| Intradiscal — per level (includes IV antibiotics) | 120 mL | ~10 billion | $2,000 |
PRP injections are not covered under insurance. HSA/FSA accepted. Your recommended treatment plan and total cost are reviewed and confirmed at your consultation.
Clinical OverviewBenefits & Risks
Potential Benefits
- Some responders report meaningful pain reduction lasting 6–18 months; results vary
- Improved joint function, mobility & quality of life
- Disease-modifying potential — may slow cartilage degeneration
- Autologous (your own blood); may be an option for some diabetic or immunocompromised patients after physician evaluation
- Can be repeated when appropriate; may help some patients delay surgery
- Minimal downtime — most return to activity within days
Risks & Limitations
- Temporary pain flare at the site for 2–5 days (expected)
- Swelling, bruising, or stiffness, usually resolving in 1–2 weeks
- Infection is rare (<0.1%); sterile technique minimizes risk
- About 20–30% of patients are non-responders; results not guaranteed
- Full effect may take 4–8 weeks as tissue repairs
- Generally not covered by insurance
Patient SafetyContraindications
PRP is not appropriate for everyone. We screen carefully at your consultation.
Absolute Not offered
Active cancer or recent chemotherapy · active infection at the injection site · platelet disorders / thrombocytopenia · therapeutic-level anticoagulation (warfarin, DOACs, heparin).
Relative Case-by-case
Pregnancy · systemic autoimmune disease (RA, lupus) · corticosteroid injection at the site within 4–6 weeks · severe anemia · Grade IV (bone-on-bone) osteoarthritis. NSAIDs/aspirin should be stopped 5–7 days before treatment.
Peer-Reviewed ResearchKey Published Evidence
Our protocols are grounded in the best available clinical evidence.
References to peer-reviewed literature are provided for informational purposes and do not imply endorsement.
Two Inland Empire LocationsWhere to Find Us
PRP & PRF injections are performed by Dr. Guiang at both offices. Our Menifee office at 27990 Sherman Road brings image-guided biologic injections to south Riverside County — serving Menifee, Sun City, Romoland, Homeland, Perris, Wildomar, Canyon Lake, Quail Valley and Murrieta — so patients don't have to drive to Riverside for care.
6900 Brockton Avenue, Suite 203
Riverside, CA 92506
951-900-3253
Monday–Friday, 8:30 AM – 4:00 PM
Riverside, Moreno Valley, Corona, Jurupa Valley, Redlands & Loma Linda
27990 Sherman Road
Menifee, CA 92585
951-900-3253
Monday–Friday, 8:30 AM – 4:00 PM
Menifee, Sun City, Perris, Wildomar, Canyon Lake & Murrieta
QuestionsFrequently Asked Questions
How much do PRP injections cost?
What's the difference between PRP and PRF?
Is PRP better than a cortisone shot?
Does it hurt, and what's recovery like?
How many treatments will I need?
Do you offer PRP at both Riverside and Menifee?
What about the 2026 ACR guideline recommending against PRP for knee arthritis?
Ready to Explore PRP or PRF Therapy?
Schedule a consultation with our board-certified physician to determine whether biologic injection therapy is right for your condition.
Looking for PRP specifically for knee pain? See our page on PRP for knee pain in Riverside & Menifee — who it’s for, vs cortisone, how long it may last, and how to book a $95 consult.
