Am I a Good Candidate for PRP Therapy?
December 4, 2021
Non-Surgical Orthopaedics offers platelet-rich plasma (PRP) therapy to patients suffering from musculoskeletal pain, traumatic injuries and chronic conditions. This non-surgical treatment is intended to boost the body’s own healing ability, allowing injuries and damage to heal, reducing pain and improving function and range of motion. PRP is derived from a patient’s own blood and is precisely administered to the targeted treatment area during a quick outpatient appointment.
What Is PRP?
Blood is made up of plasma, red blood cells, white blood cells and platelets. The latter are proteins that promote healing and ensure the proper functioning of a healthy immune system. Platelet-rich plasma has a higher-than-normal number of platelets and is intended to bolster the body’s healing process.
How Does PRP Work?
Blood is drawn from a patient and is processed in a centrifuge. The device separates the blood’s components into red blood cells, white blood cells and platelets. The platelets are then extracted and combined with what remains of the blood, which is plasma. Finally, the combination of platelets and plasma (PRP) are injected into the targeted area.
The injection is minimally invasive. The entire process takes approximately one hour and usually does not require recovery downtime. This means you may resume your normal activities immediately after the procedure is over. It may take several weeks or even months to feel the full effects of a PRP treatment. However, the first signs of healing may occur within four to six weeks post injection.
Your doctor at Non-Surgical Orthopaedics will discuss your optimal course of injections. Many patients benefit from receiving several regenerative therapy injections over months or years.
What Can PRP Treat?
MUSCULOSKELETAL INJURIES
If you’ve been in an accident or participate in a physically demanding or repetitive activity, you may have damaged your bones, muscles, tendons or ligaments. Strained ankles, bone fractures, knee injuries or back pain are all common injuries among athletes and people who overexert themselves during workouts. Such injuries may take a long time to heal. Undergoing a series of PRP treatments may accelerate the healing process and help the patient resume their regular lifestyle sooner.
OSTEOARTHRITIS-RELATED PAIN
The chronic pain and inflammation resulting from osteoarthritis may become difficult to bear. Moreover, the accompanying joint stiffness may prevent a patient from fully engaging with life or completing daily tasks. Research on regenerative therapies as a treatment option for osteoarthritis is ongoing, but some studies show promising results for PRP injections as a way to manage osteoarthritis-related pain and stiffness.
HAIR LOSS
Patients suffering from significant hair loss may benefit from PRP injections. Whether you’re a man or a woman experiencing the unpleasant effects of hair loss, you may be looking for a non-invasive solution to halt or reverse your condition. Some researchers have been looking into direct PRP injections into the scalp as a method of stimulating hair growth and restoration.
SKIN AGING SYMPTOMS
Some dermatologists may offer PRP injections as a cosmetic treatment for skin rejuvenation. Specifically, a treatment called the vampire facial combines PRP with micro needling to reduce signs of skin aging, like wrinkles and fine lines. The treatment is minimally invasive and may be a desirable alternative for those not interested in plastic surgery. However, there isn’t a lot of concrete evidence to show this trendy facial works.
Are There Any Side Effects?
There can be side effects with any medical procedure – even simple injections. However, PRP injections are nowhere near as risky as invasive surgical procedures.
Unlike many injectable medications, PRP is a natural substance derived from your blood, which means your body can’t reject it. There’s little to no downtime after PRP injections, no rehab or long recovery periods and no scarring. Unlike surgery, which can result in long recovery periods, prolonged hospital stays, infections and months of intensive physical rehabilitation, PRP risks are very minimal.
Non-Surgical Orthopaedics in Carrollton and Marietta offer a Variety of Regenerative Therapies like PRP Injections
If you’re tired of dealing with chronic pain and the idea of surgery is keeping you up at night, we offer alternative solutions that may be right for you. Our team of dedicated experts offer PRP injections designed to help your body heal. The cost of PRP treatment varies and depends on how many injections you will need. For some patients one injection will be enough, while others will benefit from several.
If you would like to learn more about platelet rich plasma and how it can help you, please visit our website or contact us at 770-421-1420.