What is Platelet-rich plasma (PRP)
Platelet-rich plasma or PRP is a concentrated solution made using a patient’s own platelets. After being injected into the person’s body, it promotes healing of the injured areas, including, tendons, ligaments, muscles and joints. Plasma is a component of the blood that contains special factors, which support blood clotting. Blood also contains proteins, which are essential for cell growth, thus speeding up the healing process.
PRP treatment, including PRP therapy in Spring Hill, has been proven to be effective, AND it’s approved by the US Food and Drug Administration. Many famous professional athletes like Tiger Woods and Rafael Nadal have received PRP treatments for various injuries and conditions such as sprained knees and chronic tendinitis. PRP has been credited by some athletes because they claim it allowed them to return to their game more quickly.
What types of conditions are treated with PRP?
The effectiveness of PRP in different types of conditions is still being evaluated. However, PRP has been applied to the following types of conditions:
- Tendon injuries: a tendon is a strong fibrous collagen tissue attached to the bone. If a tendon is injured it usually takes a long time to completely heal. Doctors have used PRP injections in treating tendon injuries, such as, a tennis elbow, or Achilles tendonitis.
- Acute injuries: PRP injections have been used by doctors to treat acute sport injuries, like pulled hamstring muscles or knee sprains.
- Osteoarthritis: Doctors apply PRP injections to the knee to people who suffer from osteoarthritis. A study from 2015 shows that PRP injections are more effective in treating osteoarthritis than hyaluronic acid injections.
- Post-surgical tissue repair: PRP has been used to support the healing process of certain types of tissue damages, such as, a torn tendon or torn ligaments.
- Hair loss: PRP has also been injected in the scalp to stimulate hair growth. Research from 2014 shows that PRP injections are effective in treating male pattern baldness, also known as androgenic alopecia.
How do doctors prepare PRP injections?
After they have collected blood from the patient, they would put the patient’s blood sample in a centrifuge to separate blood into layers. Once the centrifugation process is done the doctor or the medical technician will take the solution from the centrifuge and extract the concentrated solution for PRP injections.
The injectable PRP solution is administered through the use of a numbing lidocaine solution when the area is on scalp. A local anesthesia is used to reduce further discomfort during the treatment session in areas such as knees, ankles and other major joints. During the PRP therapy in Brooksville session doctors make use of an imaging device, for instance an ultrasound, to inject the solution into the right area. The whole process usually takes an hour.
What are the side effects of PRP?
Since PRP involves the process of injecting a substance into the body, there are some potential side effects that come with it (just like with any other medical procedure).
PRP contains substances that directly come from the patient’s own body. This dramatically reduces the risk of an allergic reaction, which can occur when injecting other medications such as cortisone or hyaluronic acid. Compared to other medical procedures, PRP carries a very low risk of side effect which can come from the injection itself and can result in:
- Infection build up
- Nerve damage
- Pain at the injection site
- Tissue damage
Before the procedure, it is best to discuss the potential side effects and the procedure process with your doctor.
How long is the recovery period for PRP injections?
Most people who receive PRP injections can continue with their daily activities straight away after the treatment. Since PRP injections are used for healing or growth purposes, the results may not be immediately visible. It would usually take several weeks or months to experience complete recovery.
PRP Spring Hill – Further Information
If you would like more information about PRP therapy in Spring Hill and Brooksville area, please don’t hesitate to Contact Us.
The material contained on this site is for informational purposes only and DOES NOT CONSTITUTE THE PROVIDING OF MEDICAL ADVICE, and is not intended to be a substitute for independent professional medical judgment, advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified healthcare provider with any questions or concerns you may have regarding your health.