Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) therapy is a type of regenerative medicine that applies a person’s own body’s natural materials and systems to heal itself. PRP therapy originally became popular in sports medicine, because athletes needed to be able to return to their sport as quickly as possible after the injury.
Through regenerative medicine, sports specialists found fast, effective ways to heal athletes after they suffered injuries or after surgery on an injured area. After much success in sports medicine, PRP therapy became more mainstream – and today, thousands of people use PRP therapy to heal not just after surgery or traumatic injuries, but also for pain.
Therefore, PRP therapy has gone far beyond just healing wounds. It is also a great pain management technique, helping to alleviate symptoms of incurable conditions such as arthritis.
How Does PRP Therapy Work?
Let’s say you recently suffered an elbow injury that has significantly reduced the function of your arm. Or perhaps you had major knee surgery several years ago, but you still experience pain when you walk or run.
PRP therapy can alert and trigger your body’s natural healing mechanisms to help heal the painful area. This is especially effective for old injuries or pains that hadn’t healed completely. For new injuries, PRP therapy is beneficial because the body’s response becomes stronger than it would be without the PRP trigger.
Normally, a post-surgery wound may take several months to heal. With PRP therapy, you may be able to cut down that healing time period significantly, allowing you to return to your life and do the things you love.
What Is the PRP Treatment Procedure?
PRP therapy is performed in a doctor’s office. The doctor draws a small amount of blood from the patient who will be getting the PRP therapy.
Next, the doctor will use a centrifuge machine to isolate the platelets from the rest of the blood content. Once isolated, the doctor will inject this intensified solution back into the patient in the specific location where he or she needs the PRP healing factors.
If the location in the body is difficult to reach, the doctor may use visual devices to guide the injection instrument to the specific location. Once the PRP is injected, it’s normal for the patient to experience some inflammation and soreness in the area. However, in as little as two weeks, patients can begin to notice healing and less pain.
Benefits of PRP Therapy
There are several important ways in which platelet-rich plasma therapy may be an ideal solution for your pain or injury, including the following:
It’s Repeatable
PRP therapy can be done over and over again as a true therapeutic treatment, and patients can get it done when they need it. For example, if a patient wants to delay knee replacement surgery, he or she can use PRP therapy every few months to manage the pain in the meantime.
No or Minimal Scarring
Because the procedure is performed through simple injections (first to draw the blood sample, and then to inject the platelet-rich plasma into the problematic site), patients do not have to worry about unwanted scars.
This makes PRP therapy an excellent option for virtually any part of the body, including the face. In fact, because there is no noticeable scarring, many cosmetic specialists often use PRP therapy to build collagen and improve the patient’s complexion.
Minimal Healing Time
Unlike other treatment options, PRP therapy does not involve incisions or stitches. Since patients, therefore, do not have large external wounds to heal, the healing time is significantly reduced.
Few Risks
Since there are no large wounds to heal, there is very little chance for infection or complication associated with open wounds and stitches. Additionally, because the platelets and plasma used in the procedure are derived directly from the patient, and not from another donor or an artificial substance, there is virtually no risk of an adverse reaction or rejection from PRP therapy.
Fort Lauderdale Pain Management Doctors
PRP therapy can be very beneficial for a variety of orthopedic conditions, from injuries to arthritis and various types of pain. Talk to an orthopedist about your condition, and find out whether PRP therapy can help you feel better and heal more completely.
The medical professionals at Total Orthopaedic Care have years of experience serving patients who have mild to severe orthopedic conditions, and we’re thoroughly versed in the most innovative treatments on the market today. Call us at (954) 735-3535 to schedule an appointment, or fill out our online form to request an appointment. We look forward to helping you feel better and enjoy living a more pain-free lifestyle once again.
