PRP treatments begin in our office by our team extracting a small amount of blood from a vein in your arm. Then, we place the blood in a centrifuge and separate the plasma from the platelets, ultimately seeking to achieve a targeted concentration of platelets. The PRP will then be prepared by one of our trained staff members to be injected into a specific area of your body, such as an area experiencing joint or tendon pain.
A local anesthetic may be used prior to the injection taking place; however, please know that PRP treatments are largely quick, easy, and pain-free. The entire process takes approximately 30-45 minutes depending on the body part treated.
Now, understand that the PRP treatment, once it is injected, typically stimulates a series of biological responses, including a bit of inflammation, so the injection site may feel a bit sore or tender for a few days. However, once that tenderness subsides, know that the PRP is targeting your area of pain or tissue damage, promoting healing from within, and helping you realize an improved life and renewed health and wellness.
Who is a Candidate for PRP Therapy and What is it For?
PRP treatment has a long history, spanning well over 50 years, and its usage has become popular in treating sports injuries as well as in cosmetic procedures. Nevertheless, experts still seek to establish definitive criteria regarding when to recommend PRP treatments as well as what type of patient is ideal. However, here is a list that can be used when determining if you could be a candidate for PRP:
- You experience tendon pain that affects daily activities
- You have undergone physical therapy, but it has not adequately improved function or reduced pain
- You have faced other non-surgical treatments that have not been successful
- You have anti-inflammatory medication (NSAIDs) sensitivity
- You want to avoid long-term use of medication
- You feel that the medication you are on does not help as much as it should
- You are looking to avoid undergoing invasive surgery or the surgery you have been recommended is deemed optional
PRP treatment presents the capability of treating the following:
- Sports conditions such as chronic elbow pain or injury to the knee or shoulder
- Damage to ligaments, muscles, and joints
- Undoing or halting the degenerative damage caused by arthritis