PRP Injections

TREATING CHRONIC INJURIES WITH PRP INJECTIONS

PRP Injection Background:

PRP Injection Background PRP is derived from your own blood by taking a sample of venous blood, placing it in a special tube, and spinning the blood in a centrifuge. This separates the blood into red blood cells, platelets, and plasma. The middle layer is the PRP, which contains highly concentrated platelets, the cells that promote blood clotting. These include platelet derived growth factor, which interact with the local cells and send signals that initiate division and migration. The basic idea behind PRP injection is to deliver high concentrations of growth factors to an area of injury, with the hope of stimulating a healing response and reducing inflammation in the tissue. Over the past 5 years, PRP has been recognized for its potential in treating both chronic and acute musculoskeletal injuries involving tendons, ligaments, and muscles.

Conditions that Benefit from PRP:

PRP treatment works best for chronic ligament and tendon sprains/strains that have failed other conservative treatment, including:

Procedure Process:

Procedure Process In the office, blood is drawn from the patient and placed in a special centrifuge, where the blood is spun. The platelets are separated from the red blood cells and are concentrated. The red blood cells are discarded, and the resulting platelet concentrate is used for treatment. While the blood is spinning in the centrifuge, the painful area is injected with lidocaine to numb it. The entire treatment, from blood draw, to solution preparation, to injection takes 30-40 minutes. Because the injured area is first anesthetized with lidocaine, the actual injections are only slightly uncomfortable. Once the lidocaine wears off in a few hours, there is usually mild to moderate pain for the next few days.

Risks, Benefits, and Additional Therapy

Anytime a needle is placed anywhere in the body, even getting blood drawn, there is risk of infection, bleeding, and nerve damage. However, these are very rare. Other complications, though rare, can occur depending on the area being treated. Studies suggest an improvement of 80-85% of the treated area. Some patients experience complete relief of their pain. The results are generally permanent! To get the maximum benefit from the treatment and to help prevent re-injury a specially designed home-based rehabilitation and exercise program is incorporated into your treatment. This helps newly developing connective tissue mature healthy and strong tendon or ligament fibers. While responses to treatment may vary most people will require 1-3 injections. If more treatments are needed, each set is spaced approx. 4-6 weeks apart. There is no limit to the number of treatments you can have. The risks and side effects do not change with the number of injections.

After Injection/Follow Up

After Injection/Follow Up The patient rests afterwards for 5-10 minutes and is then discharged with post procedure instructions. Increased pain at the site of the injury may result for 48-72 hours post injection. Rest of the affected tissue during this time is recommended. Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (e.g. Ibuprofen, Aleve, Advil, Celebrex, and Motrin) are best avoided in the first 10 days following the injection. Your doctor may prescribe pain medication. Simple pain killers, rest, and ice can be used for post injection pain. Follow-up is usually 6-8 weeks after the PRP. At this time, we will determine if a second injection is required.

Call for an appointment

Log-in to