PRP (Platelet Rich Plasma)
Normal human blood is comprised of 93% red blood cells, 6% white blood cells, 1% platelets and plasma. Platelets are most well known for their blood-clotting function that works to stop bleeding. Platelets however, are also a critical component in injury healing and cell repair and regeneration. This is the major factor in taking advantage of the benefits of platelet rich plasma therapy.
Platelets are naturally rich in healing properties and also encourage the development of more stem cells at the site of injury. Together, platelets and stem cells speed healing, help regenerate damaged tissue and cells and reduce pain by correcting the problems that are causing the pain in the first place. The body’s first response to tissue injury is to deliver platelets to the area and to start boosting the multiplication of stem cells in that area. The benefits of platelet rich plasma therapy are in “super charging” the body’s first response.
Injecting the powerful growth factors found in these platelets into damaged ligaments, tendons, muscles and joints stimulates the natural repair process. Treating pain with PRP creates, stimulates and accelerates the body’s natural healing process and best of all, it is natural and comes from the patient’s own blood supply. There is little to no risk for adverse side effects or reactions to the injection.
It is simply taking the body’s own cells, modifying them slightly and reintroducing them into the injured area. Treating pain with PRP is the most recent advance in the pain medicine field, but the benefits of platelet rich plasma therapy are already being seen across the country.
Conditions Where Patients Frequently See PRP Benefits
Treating pain with PRP works most effectively for chronic ligament and tendon sprains/strains as well as some muscle applications including but not limited to:
- Spinal pain from degenerative disc or other injury
- Rotator cuff injuries and other shoulder injuries
- Shoulder pain and instability
- Carpel tunnel and other pinched nerve injuries
- Knee injuries and ligament tears
- Muscle tears and strains
- Patellofemoral syndrome and patellar tendonitis
- Ankle injuries, sprains and injuries
- Achilles tendonitis & plantar fasciitis
- Nerve entrapment syndromes
- Knee arthritis
- Shoulder arthritis
- Ankle arthritis
- Other injuries of the muscles, tendons, and ligaments
How using PRP for pain management works
Treating pain with PRP works like this: platelet-rich plasma is human blood that is spun down so that the platelet count is higher than normal. This concentrated plasma is then injected into the area of injury or pain in order to promote healing and pain relief. Platelets are the clotting cells of our blood, but they also have great potential in enhancing the healing of muscles, tendons and ligaments.
The benefits of platelet-rich plasma therapy have been used for several years now in the sports medicine field to treat injuries commonly suffered by athletes. It is also used in surgery to improve healing and overall success of the procedure being done. Clinical trials both past and present are shining light on the full spectrum of the use of use for PRP and almost all shows significant improvement in healing, regeneration, pain level, and functionality of the treated area. This makes PRP a prime focus of pain treatments in those who may not be a good candidate for invasive or minimally invasive surgeries or procedures. The benefits of platelet-rich plasma therapy are easy to see, and here at Surgical Specialty Associates, we are treating pain with PRP for many of our patients.