Back muscle injuries can occur during a sports career. Dr. Alicia Carter, a highly-experienced back doctor at Regenerative Medicine and Orthopedics, offers platelet-rich plasma injections, or PRP injections, to treat back muscle injuries. Here is more information about how PRP injections help promote healing for back muscle injuries.
Back Muscle Injuries
Playing sports can result in lower back strain. During active activities, the muscles that support your lower back can overstretch or tear, causing muscle strain or sprain. Pain and muscle spasms are symptoms of muscle strain, often slowing down daily activities.
If you are experiencing back pain or stiffness after a sports injury, visit a back doctor specialist for medical evaluation and to find out what caused your injury. At Regenerative Medicine and Orthopedics, Dr. Carter treats all her patients personally. During the initial consultation, Dr. Carter will perform orthopedic and biomechanical assessments and review your medical records. Our in-office ultrasound and fluoroscopy machines and Dr. Carter’s expertise in back and muscle pain make it possible for you to receive a same-day diagnosis for your injury. After the diagnosis, Dr. Carter will discuss treatment goals with you to create a customized plan.
PRP Injection Process
PRP injections use your body’s blood cells to help stimulate the natural healing process and decrease downtime after a sports injury. To prepare a PRP injection, the doctor draws a blood sample. This blood sample will contain red blood cells, platelets, and plasma. Platelets are blood cell fragments that are highly rich in growth factors. The doctor then places the blood into a centrifuge to concentrate the platelets. The centrifuge separates the platelets and plasma by spinning the blood sample.
Dr. Carter offers high-dose PRP injections to boost your immune response and help you prepare for your next game. This process involves a larger blood sample and multiple spins in a centrifuge to draw out higher platelet concentrations. High-dose PRP injections can include up to 25 to 30 times the baseline and total amount for platelet concentration.
At Regenerative Medicine and Orthodontics, PRP treatments are performed in our office. Dr. Carter injects the plasma and platelet layers into the muscle, targeting muscle soreness using trigger points on your back. We utilize X-rays or ultrasound guidance to allow for greater precision for injections.
Benefits of PRP Injections
After a PRP injection, your body’s growth factors, stem cells, and white blood cells travel to the target site. They help promote faster healing for your injury by eliminating damaged cells and tissue. The platelets in the injection release growth factors that stimulate tissue repair and collagen repair.
You may be experiencing inflammation as a result of your injury. Swelling can occur as the body starts repairing itself. PRP injections address inflammation at the injection sites, reducing long-term swelling, which can result in pain reduction.
Ask a Back Doctor About PRP Injections
To see if you are a candidate for PRP treatment for your back muscle injury, you can upload your MRI report and X-rays to our website or text us a picture of your MRI report. We will give you a free PRP injection estimate. To schedule an appointment with a back doctor at Regenerative Medicine and Orthopedics, we invite you to text or call us or fill out our online form today.