What is Platelet-Rich-Plasma (PRP) Therapy?
Frequently used in orthopedics to successfully treat a wide variety of conditions and injuries, Platelet rich plasma (PRP) therapy utilizes the healing properties of the human body to help regenerate tissue and accelerate the healing process. As world-class athletes have found, enhancing the body's natural response with PRP therapy can get you back in the game faster.
PRP therapy begins by drawing a sample of the patient's blood, spinning the sample in a centrifuge to separate the platelets that are rich in curative proteins and injecting this concentrated healing serum into the injured tissue.
A fluoroscope or ultrasound is used to guide the injections of PRP therapy precisely into injured ligaments, tendons, muscles, and joints. Studies have shown that by focusing the therapeutic factors of the blood at the site of injury, PRP therapy can boost the body's ability to heal itself, speeding the restorative process.
Bioactive proteins in PRP trigger the healing response to begin the repair of tissue, cartilage and bone, stimulating the growth of new blood vessels and accelerating healing. Results from studies show damaged tendons and ligaments respond well to the procedure, becoming stronger and thicker after an impact injury or trauma when treated with PRP therapy.
Using the patient's own blood increases the level of safety, while greatly minimizing any side effects or risk of contamination. Athletes love PRP because - similar to getting a shot of cortisone - it's a quick and easy, non-surgical orthopedic treatment performed with local anesthesia, that can help them avoid months of physical rehabilitation.
As the general public has gained an awareness of PRP therapy and what it has to offer, the demand for the treatment has skyrocketed with more and more doctors now performing the procedure.
Stop The Pain
Millions of people suffer from chronic pain. Arthritis, Plantar Fasciitis, neck and back pain can be debilitating and depressing.
You may have tried several remedies such as pain pills, cortisone shots, Chiropractors, or even acupuncture.
For most people these treatments are short-term relief at best. Many of our patients have reported a dramatic reduction in pain after just 1 treatment, and the pain has not come back.
The Process
The procedure involves drawing blood from the patient, processing it to concentrate the blood platelets, then injecting the platelets directly into the site of an injury.
This has been found to dramatically increase rates of healing, even with injuries such as tendons and tennis elbow, which are notoriously hard to heal.
The treatments have been found to be free of unwanted side effects, especially as the injections use the patient's own blood.
Alleviate Chronic Pain
Chronic pain is a serious problem facing millions every day. Chronic pain from osteoarthritis, back and neck problems, tendonitis or bursitis can drain you of energy and make you feel exhausted.
Ordinarily, a course of treatment includes prescription drugs to deaden the pain, as well as cortisone shots, anti-inflammatories, muscle relaxers or any number of other measures that treat the symptoms but do nothing to heal the cause of your pain.
With the majority of these treatments the relief is short lived, generating the need for continued or repeated medications and procedures in an effort to manage the pain. But long-term drug therapy doesn't have to be the only way.
Platelet rich plasma (PRP) therapy is giving hope to those who want to get off the drug treadmill and get their lives back. Many patients experience a noticeable reduction in their pain upon the initial PRP therapy treatment, and as the healing continues, the pain is diminished.
Depending on the severity of the condition, multiple PRP treatments may be necessary. Once PRP has had a chance to help the body heal the injured tissue, there may be no more need for prescription pain medications.
Living pain free doesn't have to be a dream. With Platelet rich plasma (PRP) therapy it can be a reality for getting your life back.
So if you're looking to put an end to chronic pain and get off all those medications, platelet rich plasma therapy may be just what the doctor ordered. The only thing you have to lose is the pain.