PRP, or platelet-rich plasma, therapy is all the rage among professional athletes.
PRP can help you overcome injury, too. Even more, you don’t have to be a famous athlete or experience sports injury to benefit.
The revolutionary treatment is an alternative to surgery and prescription medications when you’re struggling with soft-tissue or joint problems. It uses a treated sample of your own blood to stimulate healing. After the easy procedure, your pain reduces and function returns.
Orthopedic specialists Nic Gay, MD, Masi Reynolds, DO, and April Mancuso, MD, of Silicon Valley Orthopaedics, offer PRP treatments to patients in Foster City and Fremont, California. Here’s what you should know about PRP. We can help you explore whether the treatment is right for you.
Your blood is made up of red and white blood cells, plasma, and platelets. Platelets are responsible for blood clotting and contain numerous factors that trigger healing. The PRP encourages the release of specialized growth factors and cytokines that accelerate injury healing.
Platelets also encourage healthy cells to flock to the site of your injury and multiply, replacing injured cells.
To create PRP, we take a sample of blood from your arm. We use a machine called a centrifuge to spin the blood at very high speeds to separate the platelets and plasma (PRP).
The concentrated PRP is then injected into areas that need treatment, like your heel, knee, or back.
Immediately following PRP treatments, you may have increased inflammation and discomfort at the injury site. But, as your body’s healing goes into overdrive in response to the PRP, your pain lessens and your function improves.
PRP is most effective on soft-tissue injuries. Tendon tears, osteoarthritis of the knee, and Achilles tendonitis are the types of injuries that respond well to PRP treatment. PRP is also effective after you’ve had surgery because it encourages faster healing.
Pulled muscles, sprains, and, in limited cases, bone fractures also respond well to PRP therapy.
PRP is generally safe and carries no risk of side effects. The treatment uses your own blood, so your body isn’t going to reject it or react negatively. Think of PRP as a way to boost your body’s natural function.
PRP may be combined with other treatments, like hot and cold packs or physical therapy. It can be effective enough to help you avoid or delay surgery. And, if you should end up needing surgery, PRP can help you heal faster.
PRP is not covered by insurance, and the number of treatments you’ll need depends on the area treated and the extent of your injury.
If you’re an injured aspiring athlete, a weekend warrior, or just a person trying to reduce pain and get back to everyday life, consider PRP. We welcome you to make an appointment to evaluate your soft tissue or joint injury and determine if PRP is an option for you. Call today or use this website to schedule your visit.
