The body’s first response to any injury is to deliver platelets and other inflammatory markers in our blood supply to the injured area. These platelets release a variety of growth factors that promote healing. In PRP therapy, a much higher concentration of platelets and growth factors are injected directly into the injured area boosting the body’s ability to heal and repair tissue. Preliminary studies have demonstrated that PRP therapy is associated with the reduction in pain and faster healing, and has decreased risks and cost as compared to surgical alternatives. It is also a safer alternative to cortisone injections.
Because PRP therapy uses a patient’s own blood, there is no risk of rejection of disease transmission. As with any injection into the body, there is always a small risk of infection; however, it is very rare. Injection site pain is common due to the inflammatory process but short-lived.
Conditions
PRP can be used to treat pain in a number of conditions including:
>Arm Pain: Strains, tendonitis, osteoarthritis, and injuries involving: elbow (tennis/golfer’s elbow), shoulder/rotator cuff, biceps, triceps, wrist, and hand.
>Hip Pain: strains, bursitis, tendonitis, osteoarthritis, and injuries involving: hip, hamstring, quadriceps, gluteus, and pelvis/sports hernia
>Knee Pain: strains, tendonitis, osteoarthritis, and injuries involving knee, anterior cruciate ligament, MCL, patella (jumper’s knee), pes anserine bursitis
>Ankle Pain: strains, tendonitis, osteoarthritis, and injuries involving: ankle, achilles, and calf
The Procedure:
1)PRP injections are an in-office procedure that involves obtaining a small sample of a patient’s blood, which is drawn similar to a lab test sample.
2)The blood is then spun at high speeds in a centrifuge, which separates the platelets from the other blood components.
3)The platelet rich plasma is then injected into and around the site of the injury, which initiates the body’s instinct to repair damaged tissue.
