Platelet Rich Plasma (PRP) treatments has been a successful innovation in the field of regenerative medicine to help people with long-term pain. The first reported medical use of PRP injections was in 1987 during an open heart surgery. Later the treatments gained popularity in 2009 when professional athletes of the Pittsburgh Steelers used such treatments which aided their victory at the 43rd Super Bowl. Once the public learned about the benefits of the PRP treatments, other professional athletes such as basketball player Kobe Bryant, baseball player Alex Rodriguez, golf player Tiger Woods, and MMA fighter Cat Zingano recognize the value and wanted to ensure their pain does not affect their game. Once known exclusively to star athletes and celebrities, this therapy was further studied and proved to be highly effective in healing and regenerating the body. In clinical settings, this treatment demonstrated success in eliminating pain of an old tendon injury, accelerating the healing process of bones after a break, and minimizing scar tissue after surgery. All these benefits can be achieved in the office and within thirty minutes or less.
BRIEF SCIENCE
Your blood is made up of gasses, liquids, and solids. The key component for PRP treatments is the solid cell fragments called platelets. These platelets are naturally covered with growth hormones, clotting factors, and other chemicals vital to the healing process. After an injury, your body sends messages to recruit more platelets to the wound site. In fact, you have seen this many times before. For example, a simple injury results in inflammation (redness, swelling, and heat), which is your body’s mechanism to bring more blood, and therefore more platelets with healing properties to the area. PRP treatments is mimicking this process but more efficiently. A small amount of the patient’s blood is drawn out with a needle, and spun down for several minutes. This separates the blood into three layers: the heaviest is red blood cells at the bottom, then a thin layer of platelets and immune cells in the middle, and finally plasma mainly composed of water at the top. For the PRP treatments, we inject the middle layer with a relatively higher concentration of platelets in the area of pain. This can then be applied in a couple of ways to help you:
PROCEDURE
(Single PRP Injection):
- The Injection Process
PRP treatments is commonly injected directly into the area of pain or injury. For ease of the injection process, a mixture of PRP and local anesthetic (numbing agent) can be used. For example, patients with Achilles tendonitis or arthritis find isolated PRP injections useful to reduce their inflammation and discomfort. - Expected Results
It has been our experience that most patients who underwent PRP treatments sensed less pain, and can return to physical activities and everyday tasks. - Duration of Recovery
It is only natural for the body to experience some discomfort when injecting fluid into the injured tissue. However, this should subside in a few days. Our patients usually experience a significant decrease in their original pain within 2-4 weeks post PRP treatment. If the injury is severe, additional treatments may be useful to alleviate your symptoms.
PROCEDURE
(During Surgery):
- The Injection Process
More recently, PRP treatments have been used during surgery to help tissues heal. During the operation, the surgeon applies the PRP mixture to the exposed tissue before closing the wound. - Expected Results
Due to the healing properties of platelets within the PRP mixture, our patients usually experience shorter and more complete healing at the surgical sight. Other medical studies suggest no additional complications with the introduction of PRP mixture to surgical procedures. - Duration of Recovery
Recovery time for any surgery can vary depending on the type of surgery performed and the health of the person. While PRP treatments contribute to the closure and healing of the wound, the patient still needs to recover from the surgery done. The typical recovery for the person to regain full function from common podiatric or orthopedic surgeries is about 2-4 weeks.
Insurance information:
If you are considering PRP treatments, be sure to check your eligibility with your health insurance provider. There are a few insurance plans (including workers’ compensation) that provide partial coverage or reimbursement. However, if your health insurance does not cover these treatments we offer competitive prices and accept Care Credit as a financing option.
