People looking for a safe and effective treatment option for joint and spine injuries and pain will likely want to try platelet-rich plasma (PRP) therapy. Rather than being just a pain reliever, like a cortisone injection, PRP injections can repair, regenerate, and heal the damaged components of joints, including tendons, ligaments, and even cartilage. There are numerous advantages of PRP therapy compared to other procedures.
How Does PRP Therapy Work?
Blood is comprised of several main components, including:
- White blood cells
- Red blood cells
- Platelets
- Plasma
Platelets are the focus of PRP therapy, as they can help to heal chronic injuries. Platelets are cells that circulate in the blood to promote blood clotting and control bleeding. They also have growth factors and specific proteins that help heal wounds and repair tissues. Platelets can trigger the healing process, reduce pain, and decrease inflammation.
What Conditions Can Benefit from PRP Therapy?
PRP therapy is used in adults of all ages to treat musculoskeletal injuries, including:
- Chronic tendonitis and tendinosis
- Osteoarthritis and degenerative arthritis
- Neck and back pain
- Sports and exercise injuries
- Hip, knee, and shoulder pain
- Acute ligament and muscle injuries strains and sprains
- Sciatica or sciatic nerve injury
- Fractures
What Can I Expect During a PRP Therapy Session?
During a PRP therapy appointment, a technician draws your blood and then places the blood sample in a centrifuge to spin at high speed for up to 10 minutes to isolate the platelets and plasma. After preparing the concentrated platelet-rich plasma, the treatment area is cleansed and numbed with a local anesthetic. Using the guidance of advanced imaging techniques, a PRP doctor injects the regenerative PRP into the damaged areas of joints and other body structures.
What Can I Expect After a PRP Therapy Session?
After the PRP injection, there is typically a short recovery period where there may be some swelling or discomfort at the injection site. This should resolve on its own as the area heals. You may feel the results of the PRP healing in anywhere from 2-8 weeks. Symptom relief and the healing process may continue for several months. Subsequent PRP injections may be given to keep the healing process going.
Is PRP Covered in Personal Injury Damages?
If you have sustained injuries from accidents, such as motor vehicle collisions, workplace mishaps, and slip and fall injuries, you would be well-advised to consider PRP treatment to reduce pain and restore function. A restorative and regenerative medical procedure like PRP therapy may be the best way from preventing your accident-related damage from becoming a chronic and lifelong inconvenience.
A physician who performs PRP treatment may not only help you, they can also provide documentation as a medical professional. Medical records are a potent and powerful tool to provide evidence of your injury and need for treatment in a personal injury lawsuit. Plus, you’ll likely want to speak with your doctor and attorney about having the cost of PRP therapy covered in the damages award of any successful personal injury lawsuit.
