Hey Southwest Washington and Gresham Oregon residents, here at Opdahl Regenerative Medicine, your pain is our priority! With 5 different locations, our providers are ready to help improve your quality of life using Regenerative Medicine. While there are many Regenerative Medicine therapies available, we want to highlight and educate you on the pain-relieving properties of PRP injections. With that, lets get into today’s blog, Not All PRP Is The Same: Key Components and Differences of PRP.
Key Components of PRP:
Have you ever heard of PRP? PRP stands for Platelet Rich Plasma, this therapy is a relatively new option for torn ligaments but is also extremely effective and safe. For instance, the treatment involves taking a small amount of your blood, placing it in a centrifuge, a device that rapidly spins the sample, separating out the other components of the blood from the platelets and concentrating them within the plasma. The PRP is then injected back into the site of the problem area or injured ligament. The injection kickstarts the healing process by consequently decreasing pain and enabling movement.
Differences of PRP:
Now that you know the basics of PRP, lets dive deeper! From prep techniques to your individual chemistry, there are several factors that can dramatically impact the PRP product. These are, its concentration, and ultimately, whether or not it works in improving your pain and function. One of the greatest factors is that many clinics that use PRP for their patients can use different kits to obtain the PRP from their patients. This can result in a platelet concentration from 3-5x instead of a concentration level of up to 15x! When looking for a Doctor to perform your PRP procedure make sure they are able to get the correct platelet concentration for your condition. The next big difference is not all clinics use image guidance when performing the injections. This can result in the Doctor performing a blind injection not knowing for certain if the PRP is going in the right spot. All injections that we do are done under ultrasound guidance for precise needle placement.
PRP Recovery + Risks:
While PRP injections may be a quick and easy fix for your joint and ligament issues it is also a quick and easy procedure as well. Each treatment takes about 45 minutes on average and there is no down or recovery time as this is an outpatient procedure. If you choose PRP, prepare to have your blood drawn; to ease this, make sure you drink plenty of water and eat beforehand. While rare, some risks of PRP may include bleeding from the injection site, tissue damage, infection, and nerve damage. To be sure if PRP is the best treatment for your problem area, always consult with your provider first.
Problems PRP Can Treat:
PRP may treat a multitude of issues. These issues include musculoskeletal injuries such as ligament tears, cosmetic procedures such as hair loss, and even post-surgical healing! PRP may also be used to help alleviate Arthritis pain by reducing inflammation, making your joints easier to move. The mechanism behind PRP injections is not completely understood. Some studies show that the increased concentration of growth factors in platelet-rich plasma may stimulate or speed up the healing process. Speeding up the healing process includes shortening healing time for injuries, decreasing pain, and even encouraging hair growth. Furthermore, this treatment is a great option for those who are in need of rapid joint and pain relief.
We hope this article helped you understand the key components and differences of PRP! Make sure to give us a call or come on in today. We can’t wait to help relieve your pain.
Sources:
https://glamormedical.com/the-different-types-of-prp-therapy/
https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/treatment-tests-and-therapies/plateletrich
Learn More About Alternative Ways to Alleviate Your Pain
Get back to doing the things you love, faster & without surgery.
Request an Appointment Today!