One of the most exciting emerging forms of regenerative medicine for soft tissue injuries is Platelet Rich Plasma (PRP) therapy. PRP injections are an increasingly popular alternative to surgery and are getting great results for patients of all ages. Platelet Rich Plasma therapy is a safe, effective and all natural way to heal damaged joints and soft tissue in order to alleviate chronic pain. The doctors of The Orthopaedic Clinic are the only doctors in the area offering this innovative treatment.
PRP consists of a small sample of your own blood, spun in a centrifuge to concentrate the platelets and then injected into the injured area. The concentrated platelets have over 1500 healing factors that stimulate your injured tissues to heal themselves.
How PRP Therapy Can Help
By concentrating platelets and administering them straight into the injury site, a powerful mixture of growth factors can be delivered exactly to where you need it, dramatically enhancing your body’s natural healing process. This treatment may lead to a more rapid, more efficient, and more thorough restoration of the tissue to a healthy state.
Are You a Candidate?
PRP is currently being used to treat people in all phases of life, including:
- Youth/amateur/professional athletes
- “Weekend warriors” and other generally active people
- Workers injured on the job
- People of any age with chronic joint, tendon or ligament pain
PRP therapy can be used to treat a variety of acute and chronic injuries, including but not limited to:
- Tennis elbow
- Rotator cuff tears
- Knee osteoarthritis
- Achilles tendinitis
- Plantar fasciitis
- Ligament injuries
- Acute and chronic tendon problems
- Injuries muscles
What to Expect from Your Platelet Rich Plasma Procedure
The procedure takes approximately 30 minutes to one hour, including preparation and recovery time. Performed safely at The Orthopaedic Clinic, PRP therapy can relieve pain without the risks of surgery, general anesthesia, or hospital stays and without a prolonged recovery. In fact, most people return to their jobs or usual activities right after the procedure.
Some patients report swelling and stiffness or mild to moderate discomfort after the injection. This is a normal response and is a sign that the treatment is working. Over time, the affected area will begin to heal and strengthen and you will experience considerably less pain.
Regenerative medicine is not a “quick fix” and is designed to promote long-term healing of the injured tissue. While most patients require only one injection, the regeneration of tissue takes months and may require multiple injections. The total number of treatments you will need depends on your age, the area being treated and the amount of pain you were experiencing before starting therapy.
Will My Insurance Cover It?
While PRP has helped thousands of patients over the years, it is still relatively new and as a result is not yet covered by many insurance plans. Since the cost for and types of treatment required varies significantly from patient to patient, you will be given pricing info during your initial consultation.
If you think that PRP Therapy is something that you might be interested in, please visit us at The Orthopaedic Clinic for further information.