One of the biggest advances in holistic pain mitigation is platelet rich plasma injections, which use the body’s own natural healing processes to help ease pain and promote healing. PRP injections (or platelet rich plasma therapy) can deliver pain relief in just one or two sessions by promoting long lasting healing. Since it specifically targets the precise location of the pain, the common side effects of oral medication are avoided and the treatment lasts much longer.
While corticosteroids have long been the first line of defense against pain in the joints and musculoskeletal conditions, these types of injections only decrease inflammation and mask pain symptoms. In contrast, the exciting new option of PRP injections has shown exciting potential for patients who suffer from pain caused by:
- Osteoarthritis of the knee, shoulder, hip and spine
- Anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injuries
- Tennis elbow
- Ankle sprains
- Rotator cuff tears
- Chronic plantar fasciitis
- Hip or pelvic pain and instability
- Tendonitis
- Ligament sprains.
How do PRP injections work?
The body’s response to soft tissue injury, such as strains, sprains, and joint damage, is to deliver platelet cells which are made of the same growth factors used to build healthy muscle, cartilage, and soft tissue. These cells initiate the repair of damaged tissue, relieving inflammation and pain and creating a fast-paced healing environment. PRP injections boost this process by increasing the amount of platelet cells present at the source of the pain.
How is platelet rich plasma created and administered?
Creating platelet rich plasma is a simple process that starts with an ordinary blood draw. The vial of blood is centrifuged at high speed, separating out the platelets and creating a rich plasma that is 100% composed of your own blood and safe to be injected back into your body in its new, concentrated form. The injection is made at the site of the injury or pain, jump-starting your body’s natural healing process and speeding up the healing timeline.
PRP therapy is an outpatient procedure that only takes about an hour in the office and most patients return to their normal activities immediately. While some patients need several injections spread out over the course of a few months, most find that they receive relief from pain after their first injection. Initial improvement is generally noticeable within a week, and the effects last for several weeks as healing accelerates and the root cause of the pain is eliminated.
Ask Dr. Strasburger if this regenerative option could be right for you.