Platelet – rich plasma therapy is a revolutionary approach to healing and tissue regeneration. PRP therapy biologically enhances healing for long-lasting pain relief and tissue repair. PRP therapy is popular as a safe option to trigger the body’s natural healing to restore function and return to play or the life you love after a soft tissue injury.
One of the most important aspects of PRP is it can have similar pain alleviating effects as a steroid injections but it is natural, and hasn’t shown to have the damaging effects that steroid injections can have on healthy tissue.
Platelet-rich Plasma (PRP) is a refined product made from your own blood (autologous).
Platelets play a critical role in the body’s natural healing ability, stimulating tissue repair and regeneration. Platelets regulate fundamental mechanisms involved in the healing process. The concentrated platelets in PRP are a good source of numerous biologically active molecules essential to healing in response to injury. PRP injections improve and accelerate tissue repair and regeneration. Because PRP is made from your own blood, there is no risk of adverse reaction, allergy or disease transmission.
A small amount of your blood is collected and prepared to separate the platelets from the other blood components. The concentrated platelet-rich plasma is combined with the remaining blood and is ready for injection.
The PRP is injected in to the injured area, often under ultrasound guidance. The activated growth factors stimulate the growth and release of repair cells to accelerate the healing process and provide symptom relief.
Side effects are minimal and may include pain at the site of injection that can last for a few hours or days and swelling that resolves within a few days. After treatment a patient will be advised to rest and avoid exercise for a time.
Generally, it can take up to a month to experience pain relief which will improve over the course of 3-6 months after treatment. However, the recovery period is determined by the type and severity of injury.
PRP is a non-surgical therapeutic option that is most commonly used after traditional treatments fail. PRP may be used:
Clinical application of PRP has been documented in many fields. PRP has been used in maxillofacial and oral surgery for decades. For the last 20 years it has been used in sports medicine, ophthalmology and for cosmetic applications including treatment for pattern baldness for hair regrowth, and facial skin rejuvenation.
In orthopedics and sports medicine, PRP therapy is used to reduce pain and improve healing of common soft tissue injuries of the knee, hips, shoulder and elbow. Treatments may also benefit patients with arthritis of the knee, hip, and shoulder.
PRP has been used to treat these conditions:
Currently available treatments for soft tissue injuries and joint pain only relieve symptoms and do not stop the course of the disease. Results are long lasting and don’t wear off over time, unlike the short-term efficacy of steroid injections which treat only symptoms and do not address underlying damage.
Advances in the scientific understanding of the healing process, tissue repair and regeneration support PRP therapy as a viable low-risk option to treat inflammation and pain, and speed healing. Since 2010 there have been almost 7,000 clinical studies on the safety, benefits and therapeutic applications of PRP.
Every patient is different and has unique needs. Some patients find relief with only one injection, while others may require a series of injections. The number of treatments needed will depend on your injury and condition, previous treatments tried, and future treatments contemplated. Dr. Cooper’s goal is to provide you with a safe and effective recovery so you can return to your pre-injury level of activity, as quickly as possible.
Contact Dr. Cooper at 310-860-3048 to schedule a consultation and learn about how Platelet-rich plasma therapy may benefit you.
