Could Platelet Rich Plasma Therapy Be Right for You?
Platelet-rich plasma therapy, like all medically approved procedures, is best for certain candidates. While only a thorough examination can determine if you are a candidate, you can use the following checklist to see if you fit the general profile of platelet-rich plasma injection candidates:
- You've tried other treatments to improve your injury site or medical condition, such as arthritis, but they haven't worked.
- You want to avoid surgery at the site of your injury or on the body part causing you problems.
- The pain you are experiencing on a daily basis is interfering with your ability to fully live your life. For example, if your body hurts, you may have stopped doing things you used to do.
- You believe that over-the-counter medications are no longer strong enough to relieve your injury or medical problem. However, you prefer not to take stronger prescription pain relievers if at all possible.
- You're looking for an alternative because joint and/or steroid injections haven't worked for you.
Complications
Because PRP is made from a patient's own blood, there is very little chance of a reaction. However, as with any injection, there is a small risk of infection and injury to nearby nerves and tissues.
Effectiveness
Researchers are currently conducting studies to determine the efficacy of PRP, which can vary depending on the injury site being treated, the patient's overall health, and whether the injury is acute or chronic.
Knee Arthritis
Some preliminary studies have looked at the efficacy of PRP in treating arthritic knees, but it is still too early to tell whether PRP will be any more effective than current therapies.
Chronic Tendon Injuries
According to current research, PRP is an effective treatment for chronic tendon injuries, particularly "tennis elbow," and it has also shown promise as a treatment for other chronic tendon injuries such as Achilles tendonitis and jumper's knee (inflammation or injury of the patellar in the knee). However, it has yet to be determined whether PRP is more effective than conventional treatments.
Surgery
PRP has also been used to aid tissue healing during some types of surgery. It was originally thought to be useful in surgery to repair tears in the rotator cuff tendons and knee ligaments. However, studies to date have failed to demonstrate any significant benefit of using PRP in these types of procedures.
Fractures
So far, no studies have shown that PRP has any significant benefit in accelerating fracture healing. In conclusion, while PRP appears to be a beneficial treatment for patients with chronic tendon injuries, more research is needed to determine its effectiveness in other conditions.
Treating Sports Injuries
Some sports injuries do not heal as expected, despite the best care. Along with nagging pain and discomfort, you may begin to wonder if you'll ever be able to return to the activities you once enjoyed. You are not without options when you work with us. We've used platelet-rich plasma therapy to help many athletes recover from injuries.
Conditions Treated With PRP Therapy
When you are injured, your body automatically calls for help and sends platelets, white blood cells, red blood cells, and other components to the site of injury. Once there, these cells communicate with one another, releasing specific growth factors that start the healing process. When used at the site of injury, platelet-rich plasma (PRP) growth factors and other components have been clinically shown to potentially accelerate the healing of injured or poorly healed tissue, improving function and decreasing pain in patients of all ages and activity levels without surgery. PRP injections have been shown to be the most effective for the following conditions at Irvine PRP:
- Lumbar spine disc pain
- Rotator cuff injuries, including partial-thickness
- Shoulder pain and instability
- Tennis and golfer’s elbow
- Hamstring and hip strains
- Knee sprains and instability
- Patellofemoral syndrome and patellar tendonitis
- Ankle sprains
- Achilles tendonitis & plantar fasciitis
- Knee, hip, and another joint osteoarthritis
- Nerve entrapment syndromes, such as Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
- Sacroiliac (SI) joint dysfunction and pain
- Lumbar and cervical facet dysfunction and pain
Furthermore, PRP can help with many cases of osteoarthritis by stimulating cartilage healing and reducing pain and disability. PRP can treat the following types of osteoarthritis:
- Knee Arthritis
- Hip Joint Arthritis
- Shoulder Arthritis
- Ankle Arthritis
Schedule Your PRP Therapy Session Now!
PRP treatment is a medical treatment based on the understanding that your body has the ability to heal itself. Knowing that you can heal yourself can be very empowering. PRP injections extract resources from your body, enhance them, and reintroduce them to aid in the healing process. If you'd like to learn more about the benefits of PRP injections, please contact us right away. We're always here to help!