The Stages of Osteoarthritis

Early OA

During the early stage of osteoarthritis, the cartilage begins to wear down. Symptoms are mild, and may include pain that comes and goes.

Moderate OA

During the moderate stage of osteoarthritis, joint fluid may lose its ability to lubricate and cushion the affected joint. This results in more substantial pain and difficulty with movement. 

Late OA

Once the late stage of osteoarthritis has been reached, areas of cartilage may have totally worn away.  Bones begin to rub against each other, causing more significant pain to be experienced.

How does nSTRIDE work?

In an osteoarthritic knee, inflammatory cytokines outnumber anti-inflammatory cytokins. This imbalance results in knee pain and cartilage degeneration. The nSTRIDE injection introduces high levels of anti-inflammatory cytokines to overwhelm and block the inflammatory cytokines in order to decrease pain and cartilage degeneration. Simultaneously the anabolic growth factors get to work to restore cartilage health. The goal of nSTRIDE is to reduce pain in the knee joint, improve joint function and slow the destruction of cartilage all with one injection.

What to Expect During Your nSTRIDE Procedure

During the procedure, blood will drawn from your arm and separated to obtain the concentrated nSTRIDE APS solution. The concentrated APS solution is then injected directly into the osteoarthritic knee. During injection, you may experience some minor discomfort.

What to Expect After Your nSTRIDE Procedure

Following treatment you may experience some knee pain and stiffness, which typically subsides after about 2 days. Although the procedure is not invasive, it is recommended that you minimize physical activities for the next 14 days to increase the efficacy of the APS injection. Osteoarthritis pain can begin to decrease as early as one to two weeks following the nSTRIDE injection. After several weeks, pain and discomfort are alleviated, and the attained results last for up to 24 -36 months.  It is important to keep in mind that while the nSTRIDE procedure can achieve substantial relief, it is not a cure for osteoarthritis. 

Benefits of nSTRIDE Injections

Compared to traditional osteoarthritis treatment methods, nSTRIDE has many benefits. These include:

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• It is a non-invasive procedure involving one blood sample and single injection.

• Significantly reduces inflammation and pain (70% reduction) associated with knee arthritis for up to 24 months.

• Significantly improves mobility in the treated knee.

• Protects cartilage from catabolic degeneration

• Promotes cartilage cell growth

• It is an autologous treatment, which eliminates the risk of adverse reaction

• Potentially delay the need for invasive surgery

Frequently Asked Questions

How soon will I notice results?

Results from early healing may be appreciated by some patients after only 1 - 2 weeks, but for most patients pain relief is noted between 4-8 weeks. Healing and repair will continue gradually for months. Continued symptom improvement is expected for up to 24 - 36 months. 

Who is an ideal candidate for nSTRIDE?

The most suitable candidates for nSTRIDE injection therapy are those with early  to moderate osteoarthritis. 

Can I receive multiple nSTRIDE injections?

Unlike steroid injections where there may be a limit to the number of treatments received, nSTRIDE can safely be repeated in the future if desired.

Can I have both knees injected at the same appointment?

Those patients who wish to have both knees treated with nSTRIDE in the same appointment can do so.  A slightly larger blood sample would need to be taken in order to accommodate a second APS.

Are there any side effects?

Patients may experience some mild discomfort and bruising at the injection site. Acetaminophen may be taken to alleviate symptoms, but ibuprofen should be avoided 2 weeks prior to treatment and for 2 weeks following.

Meet our Specialist

To learn more about our in-house specialist, Dr. Eric Robinson, who performs all nSTRIDE injection treatments, click here.