Regenerative medicine is revolutionizing the world of healthcare, and one of the most popular regenerative treatments available today is platelet-rich plasma (PRP) therapy. Before deciding whether PRP therapy is right for you, let’s take a look at what PRP therapy is and how it works.
What Is PRP Therapy?
PRP therapy is a minimally invasive regenerative medicine treatment that involves using the body’s natural systems and materials to heal or reduce pain in specific parts of the body. Doctors use platelets from the patient’s own blood to perform PRP therapy.
Originally getting its fame through sports medicine, PRP therapy has revolutionized how people manage pain and heal wounds incurred from surgery – and even after being injured in an accident.
What Are Platelets?
Human blood is made up of several elements, one of which are platelets. Among many other qualities, platelets contain growth factors and promote healing.
Remember the last time you had a paper cut, and the blood started clotting within a minute or two? Platelets are responsible for that! Platelets quickly gather together to form a scab, which enables the injured tissue to heal.
PRP therapy allows 5 to 10 times the normal concentration of platelets to be available at the site of injury or wound. This high concentration of growth factors naturally promotes healing.
The PRP Procedure
To receive PRP therapy, you will need to visit a specialist who offers regenerative medicine as a treatment option. The doctor will draw a small amount of blood (typically from your arm), a machine called a centrifuge will then be used to separate the blood cells, including the platelets.
When the platelet-rich plasma is then ready, the doctor will inject the PRP into the specific location where you need it. For hard-to-reach locations, doctors will use visual aid machines to guide the injection to the right place.
After the procedure, you will need to take it easy for a few days so your body can properly absorb and process the sudden infusion of platelets. It’s common to experience inflammation and pain following the therapy, but this typically lasts for only a short period of time. Within a few weeks, you will experience less pain as the body heals itself from the inside.
Which Health Conditions Can PRP Therapy Help Treat?
PRP therapy is a great treatment option for a variety of health conditions and issues, including the following:
Sports or Auto Accident Injuries
PRP therapy can boost the healing process and heal the injuries more efficiently and more quickly. This is because the PRP therapy alerts the body’s natural healing systems to pay extra attention to the wound, thereby dedicating more internal resources to heal that area.
Some examples of injuries PRP therapy can help with are:
- Tennis elbow
- Knee sprains
- Achilles tendonitis
- Carpal tunnel syndrome
Post-Surgery Wounds
Healing after surgery can take a long time. While surgery may be unavoidable and necessary for long-term health, the process of healing can take several months.
PRP therapy can significantly shorten this healing process for you so you can return to your life more quickly. It’s especially beneficial if you have issues in any of the following areas:
- Tendons
- Muscles
- Ligaments
- Bones
Arthritis
While arthritis is incurable, PRP therapy can help reduce arthritis pain and inflammation in joints – so the patient can continue to enjoy a quality of life.
Some examples of arthritis pain PRP therapy can help reduce or eliminate include
- Knee pain
- Hip pain
- Shoulder pain
- Ankle pain
Cell Therapy Doctors in Fort Lauderdale
If you are interested in exploring PRP therapy and other treatment options for your condition or for pain management, talk to an orthopedic physician. The medical team at Total Orthopaedic Care can explain your treatment options and give greater detail about what works for your particular condition.
We have vast experience in orthopedic care and in the best treatments available. Call us at (954) 735-3535 today to schedule an appointment, or fill out our easy-to-use online appointment request form now. Let us help you get back into the active lifestyle you enjoy.
