Shoulder pain can gradually start to affect far more than your shoulder. Getting dressed becomes awkward, reaching into a cupboard hurts and gym sessions become harder. You might struggle to sleep on your usual side or find that lifting shopping brings on a familiar ache. Other painful joints can make walking, working and everyday activities equally frustrating.
Platelet-rich plasma — PRP — is an injection treatment that may be discussed for selected musculoskeletal conditions. It uses a concentrated platelet-containing portion of your own blood. However, whether it is worth considering depends on what is causing your symptoms. Evidence for shoulder treatment is mixed, and findings from knee research cannot simply be applied to every joint.
At our clinic in Edgbaston, Birmingham, our MSK PRP service includes an initial consultation for £75, included in the treatment price if you decide to go ahead. Treatment costs £495 per session.
Want to learn more about PRP? This guide explains the shoulder and joint conditions patients commonly ask about, what research tells us and what to expect before, during and after treatment.
Key Takeaways
• PRP stands for platelet-rich plasma and is prepared from your own blood.
• Shoulder pain may come from a tendon, bursa, joint, joint capsule or the neck.
• PRP is not a first-line treatment for every painful shoulder or joint.
• Evidence differs between rotator cuff problems, frozen shoulder and osteoarthritis.
• Current NICE guidance does not support routine PRP for rotator cuff tendinopathy or partial tears.
• PRP is not proven to reliably rebuild cartilage or repair a torn tendon.
• Exercise, rehabilitation and an accurate diagnosis remain central to care.
• Some people improve after PRP, whilst others experience little or no benefit.
• Temporary pain, stiffness, bruising or swelling can occur after an injection.
• Treatment schedules and recovery advice should be individualised.
• Our initial MSK PRP consultation costs £75, with treatment at £495 per session.
What Can Cause Shoulder and Joint Pain?
Before discussing injections, a clinician needs to identify what is causing the pain.
Pain around the shoulder does not always mean there is a problem inside the shoulder joint. Several nearby structures can produce similar symptoms, and more than one problem can be present at the same time.
Possible causes include:
• Rotator cuff tendinopathy or tears
• Bursitis
• Frozen shoulder
• Shoulder osteoarthritis
• Acromioclavicular joint problems
• Biceps tendon problems
• Previous injury or instability
• Inflammatory arthritis
• Referred pain from the neck
Someone with gradual shoulder stiffness needs a different assessment from someone who suddenly cannot lift their arm after a fall. Likewise, a painful knee, hip or elbow should be assessed on its own merits rather than treated because another joint responded to an injection.
If PRP is not suitable, an assessment can still help identify the next step. That might mean rehabilitation, medication, imaging or specialist advice.
What Is PRP?
PRP stands for platelet-rich plasma. It is described as an autologous treatment because the blood used to prepare it comes from your own body.
Blood contains:
• Red blood cells
• White blood cells
• Plasma
• Platelets
Platelets help blood clot and release signalling proteins involved in normal tissue repair. PRP aims to deliver a concentrated platelet-containing preparation to a particular area. A plausible biological mechanism, however, does not automatically mean that a treatment produces a worthwhile improvement for every condition.
During treatment, a small blood sample is processed in a centrifuge. The spinning separates components of the blood so that the platelet-rich portion can be collected for injection.
Not All PRP Preparations Are Identical
The final preparation can vary according to:
• The collection and preparation system
• Platelet concentration
• Whether white blood cells are retained
• The amount injected
• The treatment schedule
The structure being treated also matters. An injection into a shoulder joint is different from an injection directed at a tendon. Studies using different preparations and injection targets may therefore produce different results, even though all describe the treatment as PRP.
Ask your clinician what they intend to treat, why they recommend that approach and how progress will be reviewed.
Can PRP Help Shoulder Problems?
The answer depends on the diagnosis. Shoulder pain is a symptom rather than a single condition, so there is no one reliable success rate for “PRP shoulder treatment”.
Rotator Cuff Tendinopathy and Partial Tears
The rotator cuff is a group of muscles and tendons that helps move and stabilise the shoulder. Problems affecting these tendons can make lifting, reaching or lying on the affected side uncomfortable.
PRP has been studied for rotator cuff tendinopathy and partial-thickness tears, with inconsistent findings. Some trials report improvement; others find no clear advantage over comparison treatments.
The American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons’ 2025 guideline does not support routine PRP use for these conditions. It also advises against routine use in the non-operative management of full-thickness tears.
This means PRP should not be presented as an established way to heal a rotator cuff tear. Rehabilitation and, where appropriate, specialist assessment need to remain part of the discussion.
Frozen Shoulder
Frozen shoulder, also called adhesive capsulitis, causes pain and marked restriction of shoulder movement. The capsule surrounding the joint becomes tight, making everyday movements difficult. Recovery can take months or years.
Research into PRP is developing, but results conflict. A 2023 trial involving 68 patients reported better outcomes with PRP than corticosteroid at 24 weeks. A 2026 trial involving 90 patients found corticosteroid injections plus physiotherapy performed better than PRP plus physiotherapy, particularly during the painful freezing stage.
PRP therefore cannot be described as consistently superior to standard treatment. The stage of the condition, pain severity and movement restriction all matter when planning care.
Shoulder Osteoarthritis
Osteoarthritis can affect the main ball-and-socket shoulder joint or the smaller joint at the top of the shoulder. Symptoms may include pain, stiffness and difficulty using the arm.
Evidence for PRP in shoulder arthritis is much more limited than the knee literature. In a randomised trial of 70 patients with arthritis of the main shoulder joint, PRP and hyaluronic acid groups both improved, but neither treatment was significantly better. There was no placebo group, so improvement alone does not establish how much benefit came from the injections themselves.
These findings also cannot establish effectiveness for every other shoulder joint or type of arthritis.
Can PRP Regrow Cartilage or Repair a Tendon?
PRP should not be described as a guaranteed way to regenerate a joint or repair a torn tendon.
Research showing a change in pain scores is not the same as evidence that damaged tissue has returned to normal. Someone may find daily activities easier without any demonstrated structural repair.
For shoulder conditions, the evidence discussed above does not establish reliable cartilage regrowth or complete tendon healing after a standalone PRP injection. Treatment used during an operation is also a different question from an injection given in clinic.
What Would a Useful Improvement Look Like?
Meaningful goals might include:
• More comfortable sleep
• Easier dressing and reaching
• Better tolerance of exercise
• Less difficulty at work
• Improved movement or function
These are goals to discuss, rather than outcomes that can be promised. Agreeing them beforehand helps you and your clinician decide whether treatment has made a worthwhile difference.
When Might PRP Not Be Appropriate?
A New Injury or Significant Weakness
Sudden loss of shoulder strength after an injury needs assessment before an injection is considered. A fracture, dislocation or substantial tendon injury may require a different pathway.
PRP should not delay necessary imaging or specialist referral.
Advanced Joint Damage
An injection cannot replace a severely damaged joint. When pain and restricted function substantially affect daily life despite non-surgical care, an orthopaedic opinion may be more appropriate.
Infection, Blood Conditions and Medicines
An active infection, infection near the proposed injection site, or certain platelet and bleeding disorders may make treatment unsuitable or require further assessment.
Tell your clinician about all medicines and supplements, including anticoagulants and antiplatelet medicines. Do not stop prescribed medication yourself to prepare for PRP. Any changes need to be agreed with the clinician responsible for your care.
What Happens During Your PRP Consultation?
At our clinic, MSK PRP begins with a clinical assessment. The purpose is to establish what is causing your symptoms and whether PRP reasonably belongs in your treatment plan.
We Review Your Symptoms
We may ask:
• When did the pain begin?
• Did it follow an injury?
• Where exactly do you feel it?
• Is movement painful, restricted or weak?
• Does it disturb sleep?
• Do you have neck pain, tingling or numbness?
• Which activities are becoming difficult?
For other joints, we may also ask about swelling, instability, walking tolerance and stiffness after rest.
We Review Previous Treatment
Tell us about physiotherapy, exercises, pain medication, previous injections or surgery. It helps to know how long you tried each treatment and what changed.
If an exercise programme was difficult to follow, explain why. Pain, uncertainty about technique or practical barriers may be relevant to planning the next stage of care.
Bring Previous Reports
Useful information may include:
• X-ray, ultrasound or MRI reports
• Orthopaedic letters
• Physiotherapy assessments
• Your current medication list
Not everyone needs a scan. Examination and history guide whether imaging would change management, and an abnormal scan finding is not always the main cause of pain.
What Happens During a PRP Injection?
Once treatment has been assessed as appropriate and you have agreed to proceed, the main stages are straightforward.
Step 1: Blood Sample
A sample is taken from a vein in your arm, using a similar process to a routine blood test.
Step 2: Centrifugation
The sample is spun in a centrifuge to separate its components.
Step 3: PRP Preparation
The platelet-rich portion is collected and prepared for injection using sterile technique.
Step 4: Targeted Injection
PRP is injected into the planned joint or musculoskeletal structure. Ultrasound guidance may be used to help identify the target and guide needle placement, depending on the procedure and clinical arrangements.
Guidance helps with placement; it does not guarantee that the treatment will work. Ask beforehand whether it is planned for your injection.
Step 5: Aftercare
We explain what to expect, how to manage activity and when to seek advice. You should also know how and when your response will be reviewed.
Does a PRP Injection Hurt?
You may feel discomfort during the blood sample and injection. Sensitivity varies between people and according to the area treated.
If you are anxious about needles or pain, mention this beforehand. Your clinician can explain the approach and whether local anaesthetic is appropriate.
What About Afterwards?
The treated area may temporarily feel sore, stiff, tender or slightly swollen. Bruising can occur at the blood collection or injection site.
Using your own blood does not make an injection risk-free. Potential complications include infection, bleeding and injury to nearby structures. Reactions to other materials used during the procedure are also possible.
Your clinician should explain the relevant risks during consent. Increasing severe pain, a hot swollen joint, fever or feeling unwell after treatment needs urgent medical advice rather than waiting for a routine review.
What Happens After Treatment?
Aftercare should reflect the structure treated, your symptoms and your usual activities.
You may need to temporarily reduce heavy lifting, overhead work, strenuous exercise or loading through a treated joint. A desk-based job and a manual job may therefore require different advice.
Ask about:
• Returning to work
• Driving safely
• Restarting exercise
• Appropriate pain relief
• Physiotherapy and follow-up
There is no single recovery timetable that suits every shoulder or joint injection. Avoid assuming that you can return immediately to heavy training, but do not immobilise the shoulder for a prolonged period unless specifically advised.
Follow the agreed plan for gentle movement and gradual rehabilitation. Discuss anti-inflammatory medicines with your clinician rather than following a generic online stop-and-start schedule.
How Many PRP Injections Might You Need?
There is no universally agreed course for shoulder and joint conditions. Research protocols vary, and a schedule used for knee arthritis should not automatically be used for a shoulder tendon problem.
Some plans involve one injection; others involve a short course. More injections do not necessarily produce a better result.
Before proceeding, ask why a particular schedule is proposed, when benefit will be assessed and what would happen if you do not improve.
Our MSK PRP treatment costs £495 per session. The recommended number of sessions and associated costs should be discussed after assessment, before you commit to treatment.
How Long Does PRP Take to Work?
PRP is not expected to provide an immediate result. If there is an improvement, it may emerge over subsequent weeks or months.
Pain can fluctuate during that time, and rehabilitation or changes in activity can also affect symptoms. A brief good or bad day does not necessarily tell us whether the injection has helped.
There is no reliable duration of benefit that can be promised for an individual shoulder or joint. Some people improve, some notice only temporary change and others obtain no meaningful benefit.
PRP vs Steroid Injections
These treatments work differently, and neither is the right answer for every painful joint.
Steroid Injections
Corticosteroids are anti-inflammatory medicines. They may be considered for certain shoulder conditions, including frozen shoulder, or for selected arthritic joints.
The expected benefit and risks depend on the diagnosis and injection site. For osteoarthritis, NICE describes relief as short term, typically two to ten weeks.
PRP
PRP uses a preparation derived from your own blood rather than corticosteroid medication. Its proposed biological effects do not establish that it is safer, more effective or longer-lasting for your particular condition.
Which Is Better?
That decision should account for the diagnosis, available evidence, previous treatment, medical history and your goals. Frozen shoulder trials illustrate why a blanket claim that PRP is always better than steroid would be misleading.
What Other Treatments Should Be Considered?
A PRP injection should sit within a broader care plan.
Exercise and Physiotherapy
Rehabilitation can address movement, strength and tolerance of everyday activity. Exercises need to suit the diagnosis: a very painful frozen shoulder requires a different approach from a progressive strengthening programme for a tendon problem.
Activity Adjustments
Changing repetitive tasks or temporarily reducing aggravating loads may help you stay active whilst symptoms are managed. Discuss how to build activity back up rather than avoiding it indefinitely.
Pain Relief
Medication choices depend on your condition, other medicines and health history. A clinician or pharmacist can advise on suitable options and potential risks.
Weight Management
Where relevant, weight management can help with osteoarthritis symptoms, particularly in weight-bearing joints. It should not be presented as a specific cure for a shoulder tendon tear.
Specialist Treatment
Depending on the diagnosis, options may include a different injection, a procedure for persistent frozen shoulder or surgery. Joint replacement may be considered for advanced arthritis with substantial ongoing symptoms.
When Does Shoulder or Joint Pain Need Urgent Assessment?
Seek urgent medical help for sudden severe pain, inability to move the arm, deformity, major swelling, persistent numbness or symptoms following a significant injury. A hot swollen joint with fever or feeling unwell also needs urgent assessment. Contact NHS 111 for urgent advice when appropriate.
Call 999 if shoulder or arm pain occurs with chest pressure, breathlessness, sweating or other symptoms suggesting a heart attack. Do not assume that these symptoms are coming from a tendon or joint.
PRP Treatment at Our Birmingham Clinic
Our clinic is based at:
38 Harborne Road
Edgbaston
Birmingham
B15 3EB
We assess patients with persistent shoulder, joint and tendon symptoms to establish whether PRP or another approach may be appropriate.
Our Current Prices
• Initial MSK PRP consultation — £75
• MSK PRP treatment — £495 per session
The consultation fee is included in the treatment price if you proceed. The treatment plan and number of sessions depend on individual assessment.
Assessment, Treatment and Review
We begin with your symptoms, medical history, previous care and goals. If further investigation is needed, that comes before deciding on an injection.
If PRP is being considered, we discuss the evidence, uncertainty, alternatives, risks, cost and recovery. Review then focuses on meaningful changes in pain and function, rather than automatically booking more injections.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a PRP shoulder injection?
It is an injection of platelet-rich plasma prepared from your own blood. The target may be a shoulder joint or another musculoskeletal structure, depending on the diagnosis.
Can PRP help a rotator cuff tear?
It is not proven to reliably repair a torn tendon. Current NICE guidance does not support routine use for rotator cuff tendinopathy or partial tears. Significant weakness or a traumatic tear may need specialist assessment.
Can PRP help frozen shoulder?
Some trials suggest benefit, but findings conflict. It should not be presented as a proven superior alternative to corticosteroid injection and rehabilitation.
Does PRP work for all joints?
No. Evidence and suitability depend on the condition and joint treated. A result reported for knee arthritis does not establish the same benefit for shoulder, hip or ankle pain.
Is PRP safe?
It has potential risks despite using your own blood. Temporary soreness and swelling can occur, and infection, bleeding or injury to nearby structures are possible. Individual suitability should be checked beforehand.
Can PRP replace physiotherapy?
It should not automatically replace rehabilitation. Your clinician should explain how any injection fits with movement, strengthening and a gradual return to activity.
Will PRP stop me needing surgery?
That cannot be guaranteed. An injection should not delay an operation or specialist referral when these are appropriate for the underlying condition.
How much does PRP cost at your Birmingham clinic?
The initial consultation is £75, included in the treatment price if you proceed. MSK PRP treatment is £495 per session, with the number of sessions discussed after assessment.
How will I know whether treatment has helped?
Agree a few practical goals before treatment, such as sleeping more comfortably, reaching a shelf or returning to a particular activity. At review, compare these with your starting point and discuss any setbacks. A lack of meaningful progress should prompt reassessment rather than an assumption that you simply need more injections.
Can I have PRP if I have already had a steroid injection?
A previous injection does not answer the question on its own. Tell your clinician when it was given, where it was injected and whether it helped. They can review the diagnosis, treatment timing and any reasons to choose a different approach.
