What You Might Not Know About PRP Therapy
Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) therapy has gained popularity in many medical fields and has proven effective in managing several complications. The New Brunswick PRP therapy specialists at Pain & Anesthesia care apply this technique to help relieve pain from injuries due to work or sports, general wear and tear, overuse, or medical complications such as arthritis. The treatment supports and boosts your body’s natural healing ability, thereby speeding healing, triggering cell proliferation, and stimulating tissue regeneration in the treated area. More information about the treatment option is outlined herein.
What it Is
PRP therapy is a typical regenerative medicine that utilizes your body’s natural growth factors to stimulate healing. Platelets in your blood cause clotting but can encourage healing in high concentrations. PRP utilizes this fact where the damaged tissues or joints are exposed to a high concentrated platelet solution. The solution promotes circulation, triggers new tissue and cell production, and eases inflammation.
Therapy Process
Generally, the PRP therapy process is simple and can be completed in about two hours. There are fewer preparations required, as you will only be required to hydrate well in advance to make blood draws easier.
PRP Therapy Steps:
- Blood Collection
When your provider recommends PRP therapy for your treatment, you must understand that your blood will be used for platelet extraction. Your provider will collect between 15-50 millimeters in a procedure virtually identical to giving blood for a blood test. The needle is inserted in our vein on the arm, and the blood is captured through a small vial.
- Centrifuging the Blood
A device spinning at high speed will be used to separate the solid part of your blood from the liquid part. The centrifuge will separate the plasma, platelets, white blood cells, and red blood cells.
- Processing and Collecting the Platelets
While your regular blood contains about 200,000 platelets per milliliter, the platelet-rich plasma contains five times as much. The platelet concentrate is collected in a syringe for administration.
- Injection
This is the final stage of PRP therapy, where the prepared solution is injected into the treatment area. An ultrasound probe is used to guide your provider to inject the fluid into the proper location, depending on the nature of the condition treated.
Your provider may use betadine, iodine, or alcohol to cleanse the treatment area during your appointment. Generally, the procedure takes several minutes to complete, and general anesthesia will be used to improve your comfortability. Your provider will wait for about fifteen minutes after the anesthesia is injected to allow it to take full effect.
If the injured area has scar tissue, the tissue will be punctured severely to allow PRP to permeate.
After the Injection
You should be able to return to your daily routine. However, it is normal to feel some tenderness and experience some swelling in the treatment area as the PRP fills the treatment area. But this should fade away in no time. Talk to your doctor if you experience other complications, or your issue persists longer. Also, it would be good to talk to your doctor about managing your discomfort. Some painkillers are discouraged for PRP therapy.
If you are in pain, reach out to Pain and Anesthesia Care today to learn if PRP therapy can help you with your condition. Your provider will take you through the procedure to help you understand it better.