PRP, or platelet-rich plasma, are the blood cells drawn from a patient that release growth factors and proteins to help heal an injury. When an injury happens, those platelets target the injury site to start the healing process. After a patient’s blood is drawn, the blood is then concentrated into an injectable form that stimulates new collagen production. Here are some common injuries you could treat with PRP injections:
Tendon Injuries
Tendon injuries sometimes heal at a slower rate due to the limited blood supply. Well-known tendon injuries, such as tennis elbow, golfer’s elbow, and rotator cuff injuries, typically respond well to PRP injections. These injections target the injured tendon with platelets that the tendon might not normally receive, which works to alleviate pain, strengthen the tendon, and restore flexibility.
Ligament Injuries
Ligaments are flexible fibers of tissue that connect bones together and support joints. They are necessary for healthy joint movement and overall mobility. Due to their lower blood supply, they could also heal at a slower pace. With platelet injections, the growth factors in PRP encourage the production of new cells, speeding up the recovery from ACL sprains or tears, MCL injuries, and ankle sprains.
Muscle Injuries
Muscle injuries, such as hamstring tears, quadriceps strains, and calf injuries, occur among athletes and active individuals. To reduce downtime, a high concentration of platelets and growth factors may be injected directly into the injured area. Because the platelets are taken from the patient’s body, there is less likely to be any adverse reaction to the injection.
Joint Injuries
Overuse, trauma, or degenerative joint injuries can take three months or even longer to heal. PRP injections might reduce joint stiffness caused by osteoarthritis, shoulder injuries, hip injuries, and TMJ (temporomandibular joint). This therapy is an option for people who have found other treatment methods, like oral medications or physical therapy, ineffective at easing their discomfort.
Chronic Pain Conditions
Platelet-rich plasma injections can be used to treat chronic pain by reducing inflammation that could contribute to tissue damage. Signs of chronic inflammation are heat, swelling, pain, and loss of function. Chronic pain can be due to the following:
- Lower Back Pain
- Sacroiliac (SI) Joint Dysfunction
- Plantar Fasciitis
- Bursitis
Cartilage Injuries and Degeneration
Cartilage injuries, like meniscal tears, occur in the knees, hips, and shoulders. When cartilage is harmed, it can lead to long-term joint instability issues, which then lead to stiffness and chronic pain. The reduction in inflammation from the PRP injection increases the blood supply to the cartilage, helping slow the degeneration of weight-bearing joints.
Bone Fractures
While most bone fractures heal naturally over time, there are instances when the fracture is delayed or doesn’t heal completely. This can lead to pain and limited range of motion. When a bone is fractured from excessive stress or accident, the healing typically involves the formation of new bone tissue. A fracture may vary in severity from a minor crack to multiple breaks. With a PRP injection, you could enhance the healing of the soft tissue affected by the fracture.
Nerve Injuries
Nerve injuries can be considered as a more severe condition. The nerves in our bodies transmit signals between the brain and the body. PRP injections work to repair damaged nerves and fix disruptions at a faster rate. This therapy may help patients recover from the weakness, numbness, and loss of bodily functions associated with nerve damage.
PRP Injections for Your Recovery
Platelet-rich plasma injections have many benefits, such as enhanced tissue healing, a decrease in inflammation, and increased collagen production. PRP aids your body in its natural healing process and can treat things like tendon and ligament injuries, muscle and joint pain, bone fractures, and degeneration. Contact Regenerative Medicine and Orthopedics to find out if their PRP injections are the right treatment for your concerns.