PRP Injections for Wrist and Hand Pain in Wheat Ridge, Colorado
The structures in the wrist and hand are small, close together, and easy to miss with a blind injection. Ultrasound-guided PRP lets Dr. Kroner treat carpal tunnel, thumb-side tendon pain, and thumb arthritis precisely, often as a way to put off surgery or get off the cortisone cycle.
Wrist and hand PRP at a glance
Best evidence: mild to moderate carpal tunnel, thumb base arthritis
Typical course: 1 injection, 2 for arthritis
Downtime: light hand use for about a week
Cost: $700 per injection, $500 for members
Wrist and hand problems PRP can help
Carpal tunnel syndrome that is mild to moderate, with numbness and tingling but no muscle wasting. De Quervain’s tenosynovitis, the sharp thumb-side wrist pain common in new parents and anyone who lifts and twists all day. Thumb base (CMC) arthritis that makes pinching, opening jars, and turning keys painful. Wrist tendon pain from climbing, lifting, racket sports, and repetitive work.
What the evidence says
For mild to moderate carpal tunnel, several randomized trials found a single ultrasound-guided PRP injection around the median nerve matched or beat cortisone at six months, with the advantage growing over time. For thumb base arthritis, small trials favor PRP over steroid at one year. De Quervain’s and wrist tendinopathy have less published data; PRP is a reasonable option there when splinting, rehab, and a steroid injection have not held. Ganglion cysts are not a PRP problem and are handled by aspiration instead.
How Ridgeview approaches wrist and hand PRP
- Exam to confirm the source: nerve, tendon, or joint, since they can feel the same
- Ultrasound to measure the median nerve or find the inflamed tendon sheath
- Referral for nerve testing or a hand surgeon when carpal tunnel is severe, because PRP is the wrong tool for a nerve that is already losing function
- Ultrasound-guided injection placed beside the nerve, into the tendon sheath, or into the thumb joint
- Splinting, ergonomics, and hand exercises so the problem does not simply come back
Worth a conversation if
Numbness or tingling wakes you at night
Thumb-side wrist pain lifting a child, a pan, or a kettlebell
Pain at the base of the thumb with pinching or opening jars
A splint and a steroid shot helped, but not for long
Related conditions
What to expect from a wrist or hand PRP injection.
About an hour in the office. Plan for a week of taking it easy on that hand.
Before: pause anti-inflammatories as instructed. Bring your splint if you use one.
Day of: blood draw, preparation, and a precise guided injection. Bring a driver if the treated hand is the one you shift with.
First week: soreness and some swelling. Typing and light tasks are fine; heavy gripping and lifting are not.
Weeks two to twelve: gradual return to full use with tendon gliding and grip strengthening. Numbness from carpal tunnel typically improves over several weeks.
Follow-up: exam and ultrasound to confirm the response and decide whether anything further is needed.
Wrist and hand PRP questions
Can PRP help me avoid carpal tunnel surgery?
For mild to moderate carpal tunnel, often yes, at least for a good while. If the nerve is already losing strength or the numbness is constant, surgery is the better answer and Dr. Kroner will say so rather than sell you an injection.
Does PRP work for thumb arthritis?
Early studies comparing PRP with cortisone in the thumb base joint favor PRP at one year for pain and pinch strength. It suits people with mild to moderate wear who want to stay off repeated steroid injections and keep surgery in reserve.
Can I type and work the next day?
Light computer work is fine within a day or two. Manual work, heavy lifting, and climbing wait about a week, then build back. You leave with a specific plan for your job or sport.
Get a precise answer for your wrist or hand.
Exam, ultrasound, and a clear recommendation in one visit with Dr. Kroner. $250, waived for Ridgeview members. Serving Wheat Ridge and the west Denver metro.