What to note before seeking PRP care near Tempe

What to record during normal activity

During a walk, note whether flat ground or a slope starts the ache. On a bike, notice whether hills or longer rides bring it on. Don't keep going if your joint feels unsafe.

For pickleball, say if a quick turn caused the trouble. A slow ache after weeks of play differs from one sharp twist. The sport's name can't tell your doctor what was hurt. Describe the movement and what happened next.

Bring a short note. You won't need to remember every detail during the exam.

When to go to a hospital instead

Fever with strong joint heat or swelling needs prompt care. A new bend or trouble putting weight on a leg does too. HonorHealth Tempe Medical Center on South Mill Avenue is the hospital inside the city. A hospital can check problems that can't wait for a clinic visit.

If strength vanishes after a pop, a tendon may be torn. New numbness or weakness with back soreness also needs quick attention. Don't delay urgent care while thinking about a planned joint shot.

How to reach nearby clinic care

For much of Tempe, the nearby location is QC Kinetix (Chandler), 1100 S. Dobson Rd., Suite 210, Chandler, AZ 85286. From south and central Tempe, follow McClintock Road until it becomes Dobson Road at the Chandler line. That's the whole route change.

North Tempe readers may have a shorter drive to 9220 E. Mountain View Rd., Suite 210. The route can use Loop 202 and Loop 101. Check traffic before leaving.

Call (602) 837-PAIN / (602) 837-7246 to confirm the visit details.

Sources

1. The ESSKA-ICRS consensus applied the RAND/UCLA appropriateness method to 216 clinical scenarios for intra-articular PRP in knee OA. Only 84 scenarios (38.9%) were rated appropriate, 9 (4.2%) inappropriate and 123 (56.9%) uncertain. PRP was judged appropriate in patients aged 80 or under with KL grade 0-III osteoarthritis AFTER failed conservative non-injective or injective treatment; it was NOT considered appropriate as a first treatment, nor in KL grade IV (bone-on-bone) osteoarthritis, where 91.7% and 87.5% of scenarios respectively were uncertain.

   Kon E, de Girolamo L, Laver L, et al. — Platelet-rich plasma injections for the management of knee osteoarthritis: The ESSKA-ICRS consensus. Recommendations using the RAND/UCLA appropriateness method for different clinical scenarios. Knee Surgery, Sports Traumatology, Arthroscopy, 2024. DOI: 10.1002/ksa.12320.

2. The 2019 ACR/Arthritis Foundation osteoarthritis guideline makes STRONG recommendations for exercise, weight loss in people with overweight or obesity, self-management programmes, tai chi, cane use, tibiofemoral bracing, topical and oral NSAIDs and intra-articular glucocorticoid injections for knee OA. Its conditional recommendations cover balance exercises, yoga, CBT, acupuncture, thermal modalities, radiofrequency ablation, acetaminophen, duloxetine and tramadol. Anything offered before a course of the strongly recommended options is being offered out of order.

   Kolasinski SL, Neogi T, Hochberg MC, et al. — 2019 American College of Rheumatology/Arthritis Foundation Guideline for the Management of Osteoarthritis of the Hand, Hip, and Knee. Arthritis & Rheumatology, 2020. DOI: 10.1002/art.41142.