Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) therapy is a ground-breaking treatment that not only relieves a variety of pains but also promotes long-term healing in the musculoskeletal system. Let’s take a look at what exactly PRP therapy is and whether you should consider it as a treatment option for your orthopedic issues.
How Does It Work?
Your blood has cells that have growth factors and stimulate healing. PRP therapy isolates and extracts these cells and transports them into specific areas of your body that need it the most. Platelet-rich plasma has properties that accelerate, stimulate, and promote healing in the body. This can do wonders in terms of healing damaged parts of the body, which ends up reducing symptoms of pain and discomfort.
What to Expect During A PRP Treatment
During a PRP treatment session, you will see your doctor in an in-office visit. Your doctor will extract a small amount of blood from your body and put it in a centrifuge machine to separate the platelet-rich plasma from the blood’s remaining content. Once isolated, the doctor will inject the plasma into the specific part of your body that needs treatment via injection. On some cases, imaging tools may be used to ensure the injection is administered in the correct place. Once your PRP treatment is over, you are allowed to leave immediately and go on about your day. You may feel some pain or soreness due to the injection but this is temporary.
Your doctor may recommend multiple sessions of PRP therapy for effective results. The number of sessions you require depends on the type and extent of your injury or pain.
Benefits of PRP Therapy
Benefits of PRP therapy include the following:
- Minimally invasive – PRP therapy is administered using injections. There are no incisions, stitches, or scars involved.
- Fast Recovery – Because of its minimally invasive nature, recovery from PRP therapy is quick and easy.
- Fast-Acting – PRP therapy gets you results quickly. Within a few weeks, you will notice your pain symptoms decreasing.
- Repeatable – PRP therapy can be repeated to get you better results.
- Safe – Because PRP therapy uses your own blood as treatment, it is completely safe. There are virtually no side effects or negative reactions.
What Can PRP Therapy Treat?
PRP therapy is a versatile treatment option that helps with a lot of issues. They include osteoarthritis pain in joints such as the shoulder, elbow, hip, and knee, ankle sprains, tennis elbow, and ACL tears.
PRP therapy is also great for post-surgery healing as it can bolster and speed up healing following the procedure. It is also a great treatment option for those trying to delay surgery. Because of its healing properties that deliver long-term results, you may be able to put off surgery for several months, years, or even indefinitely.
It is also great for old injuries that didn’t heal properly and still cause aches and pains. PRP therapy jump starts and accelerates healing that had essentially stopped at some point.
PRP Therapy in Austin, Texas
If you would like to learn more about PRP therapy and how it can help you with your orthopedic issue, contact the experts at ALL STAR Orthopedics of Austin. They have substantial experience treating all types of issues using PPR therapy and other regenerative technologies. Make an appointment by calling (512) 346-4933 or request an appointment online.
