Platelet-Rich Plasma (PRP) Injection and How It Works
Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) therapy is an innovative solution designed to promote healing in the body quickly. PRP therapy may reduce pain while speeding recovery time from injuries like rotator cuff tears and tendinopathy.
PRP involves drawing blood from your body and increasing the concentration of platelets. Before this procedure, it is important to consume some food as well as refrain from taking medications that thin your blood such as ibuprofen and aspirin.
What is PRP?
PRP Therapy plays an essential role in blood circulation by secreting growth factors and other substances that promote healing.
prp silicon valley ca treatments help increase the concentration of platelets at injection sites, leading to greater healing outcomes. To create PRP preparations, a vial of your blood is drawn out and spun through a centrifuge in order to separate out its different cells before isolating only its plasma layer containing concentrated platelets.
PRP is made from your own blood and therefore poses no risk of allergy or infection. Furthermore, its injection does not result in complications like bruising, swelling and pain associated with medication injections.
Patients typically find relief of their tennis elbow symptoms with just one PRP injection; in severe cases more may be needed. Most can return to regular activities soon after treatment but should avoid strenuous activity for at least 24 hours following their appointment.
How is PRP injected?
PRP is made from blood that has been drawn and spun in a centrifuge to concentrate platelets in the sample, before injecting the resultant PRP under ultrasound guidance into damaged tissues to help heal their injuries.
Most injuries require only a single injection; however, multiple treatments may be recommended for patients suffering from chronic tendon and ligament conditions like tennis elbow.
After your injection treatment, the injection site may feel slightly sore for 48 hours due to an anticipated inflammatory response. You can relieve any pain by icing the area or taking non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs such as acetaminophen. Furthermore, any activities which place stress on the affected area should be avoided in order to speed up healing time.
What are the benefits of PRP?
At the laboratory, a small blood sample (less than two ounces) will be drawn and then placed into a centrifuge that spins at high speeds to isolate platelets from your sample.
Once separated from other blood components, separated platelets may be directly injected at the site of an injury to provide natural growth factors that promote healing of injured tissues.
PRP therapy has been extensively studied, both preclinically and clinically, to prove its regenerative capabilities for treating injuries to the muscles. It has been used successfully to treat osteoarthritis, tendonitis, ligament sprains and tears among others.
Studies suggest that platelets release various therapeutic substances which help heal damaged tissues and alleviate pain, healing damaged tendons and ligaments without the need for surgery in many instances, while also decreasing inflammation. Patients typically undergo three injections over the course of 3-6 weeks for maximum effectiveness.
What are the risks of PRP?
Platelets are blood cells that help form clots to stop bleeding and support cell development, and when concentrated can accelerate wound recovery by providing healing factors that speed healing times.
Your doctor takes a sample of blood, then places it into a centrifuge that spins at high speeds to separate out its components such as platelets from other blood components – producing PRP preparation that is then injected directly into injured areas.
After numbing the treatment area, the physician injects plasma directly into and around damaged tissue using ultrasound imaging as guidance for injection.
PRP therapy can accelerate your body’s natural healing process and decrease pain quickly, helping you return to work or sports faster*. PRP can also be an excellent solution for degenerative conditions like tennis elbow, jumper’s knee and chronic tendon injuries like rotator cuff tears; plus it promotes hair growth while diminishing signs of aging such as fine lines and wrinkles.