Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) has gained significant attention over the past decade or so, thanks to its growing use in anti-aging treatments and hair regrowth. But what many people don’t know is that PRP also offers significant benefits for people with chronic pain issues, including issues involving the joints and soft tissues, like ligaments and tendons.
At Mid-Jersey Orthopaedics, our team offers advanced PRP therapy using state-of-the-art techniques and a patient-centered approach to achieve long-lasting pain relief without surgery or ever-increasing doses of pain medicine. Here’s why so many patients are exploring PRP as an effective treatment for their pain.
PRP is a blood-derived product that features high concentrations of platelets and plasma. Plasma is the liquid part of your blood, while platelets are cell fragments rich in proteins called growth factors that play a key role in natural healing and tissue regeneration.
PRP therapy starts with a simple blood draw. This draw is very similar to what you experience when a blood sample is taken for lab testing during a physical exam.
Next, we place the blood sample in a special machine that spins your blood rapidly, separating the plasma and platelets from the rest of your blood. Once prepared, we inject the PRP solution directly into the area where you’re experiencing pain, delivering healing components directly where they’re needed.
Depending on where the injection is placed, we may use diagnostic imaging for precise placement. Most appointments take under an hour from start to finish.
One major reason why PRP therapy is so popular is simple: It works. The growth factors contained in PRP go to work immediately to repair damaged tissue, build new, healthy tissue, and reduce inflammation associated with many acute and chronic issues.
While some inflammation can be helpful in initial healing, prolonged inflammation actually interferes with healing, leading to long-term pain and related complications.
PRP is also performed on an outpatient basis, meaning it’s a convenient option for people who don’t want a lengthy treatment process and a long recovery time afterward. And because it’s nonsurgical, the risks of infection and other surgery-related complications are significantly reduced or even eliminated.
Plus, because PRP is “made” from your own blood, you don’t have to worry about allergic reactions or rejection that can happen when donor or artificial products or components are used. PRP treatments can be “dosed” to your specific needs and repeated as needed for ongoing healing and recovery.
PRP is also popular because it treats the underlying cause of pain rather than simply masking your symptoms. As a result, many people can reduce their reliance on pain medication or avoid medication — and possible side effects — altogether.
PRP can help delay or even avoid surgery, and when surgery is recommended, it can be administered during your procedure to “jump-start” healing and recovery. It’s especially popular for soft-tissue injuries and for ramping up healing in tissues with limited blood supply — and hence, slower natural healing.
Direct delivery of healing components helps spur immediate healing, with effects that develop slowly for more long-term benefits. And finally, PRP works well in combination with physical therapy, too, enhancing outcomes over time.
While PRP can be a great treatment option for many types of pain, it’s not the right choice for everyone. To learn more about PRP and other minimally invasive therapies that can help you find relief from your symptoms, request an appointment online or by phone with the team at Mid-Jersey Orthopaedics in Flemington, Bridgewater, and Washington, New Jersey, today.
