Platelet-rich therapy (PRP) is a minimally-invasive, non-operative solution for a wide range of conditions and injuries. Individuals who have suffered a sports injury or who are living with chronic pain may find success with PRP as it aims to promote healing and restore damaged areas in the body.
One of the most interesting facts about PRP is that it relies on the body’s natural healing process to repair damaged ligaments, tendons, muscles, joints, and tissue. By injecting platelets directly into the injured part of the body, we are able to encourage the body to step up and heal itself. PRP has become increasingly popular in recent years, largely because many people are opting for more natural solutions to chronic pain and acute injuries. As a pain management clinic, Texas Partners Healthcare Group strives to offer our patients treatments that are both safe and effective.
Today, we are going to answer some of the most frequently asked questions about PRP in an effort to help you better understand if it’s right for you. As always, if you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact us and schedule an appointment.
Platelets are found in the blood along with red cells and white cells. Although platelets are most well-known for clotting blood, they also contain hundreds of little proteins – or growth factors – which are critical to how the body recovers from injuries.
So, PRP is plasma injections loaded with more platelets than what is usually found in the blood. This concentration of platelets can be up to 5 or 10 times greater than the normal levels. Prior to the PRP injection, your platelets will be separated from other blood cells and concentrated using a process called centrifugation. We then combine the concentrated platelets with the patient’s blood before injecting.
Now that we know what PRP is, let’s go over some of the questions we field the most:
How long it will take for PRP to be effective will depend on the individual and the type of injury or condition they are suffering from. However, most people notice improvement within several weeks. It is important to note that some patients experience increased pain in the days immediately following the treatment. This pain should become less intense each day, and you should notice an improvement over the next 2 to 6 weeks. Some patients experience ongoing improvement anywhere from 6 to 9 months following the injection.
PRP is most effective in treating the following conditions:
In most cases, PRP injections are not painful. However, some patients do experience discomfort. The level of discomfort will depend on the patient and the area of the body being injected. As mentioned earlier, there may be some increased pain immediately following the injection, but this will go away. If it does not, please contact Texas Partners Healthcare Group immediately.
PRP is considered a permanent fix that is unlike most other types of therapy. The timeline in which a patient will feel better will depend, but most people experience a noticeable improvement in several weeks. The procedure will take under an hour, and you will be able to immediately return to your regular daily activities.
Platelet therapy is just one of many pain management solutions offered at our pain management clinic in Frisco. If you have questions about platelet therapy or would like to learn more about the benefits, please contact Texas Partners Healthcare Group today and schedule an appointment at one of our clinics.