PRP INJECTIONS ARE BECOMING AN INCREASINGLY POPULAR ALTERNATIVE TO SURGERY AND ARE GETTING GREAT RESULTS FOR PATIENTS OF ALL AGES.
PRP stands for Platelet Rich Plasma, and appropriately, is plasma with many more platelets than what is typically found in blood. The concentration of platelets — and, thereby, the concentration of growth factors — can be 5 to 10 times greater (or richer) than usual. PRP has been used to treat injuries and also to improve healing after a surgery.
PRP can be carefully injected into the injured area. For example, in Achilles tendonitis, a condition commonly seen in runners and tennis players, the heel cord can become swollen, inflamed, and painful. A mixture of PRP and local anesthetic can be injected directly into this inflamed tissue.
Afterwards, pain in the area of the PRP injections may actually increase for the first week or two, and it may take several weeks before the patient feels a beneficial effect.
PRP injections can be used to treat a number of injuries, including but not limited to:
- Chronic lower back pain
- Spinal stenosis
- Tennis elbow
- Rotator cuff tears
- Knee osteoarthritis
- Achilles tendinitis
- Plantar fasciitis
- Neck pain
- MCL tears
- Tendon problems
- Injuries to ligaments
- Injuries to muscles
