When it comes to state-of-the-art and effective treatments for orthopedic conditions and injuries, platelet-rich plasma (PRP) therapy is a prime example. PRP therapy is a regenerative medicine treatment that offers long-lasting relief from pain, inflammation, swelling, and other symptoms caused by orthopedic conditions or injuries.
PRP therapy uses the body’s own components to stimulate healing. Musculoskeletal injuries and conditions cause physical damage to the body. While our bodies do a good job of healing on their own, in some cases, they can use help. Here are some examples of when PRP therapy can help:
- If you suffer an injury to the knee, PRP therapy can help boost healing so you get better quickly.
- If you have chronic pain caused by an old injury that didn’t completely heal, PRP therapy can trigger new healing in the area.
Whether your injury is new or old, the regenerative and healing properties in PRP therapy can effectively reduce your pain symptoms.
How Does It Work?
PRP therapy is performed in a physician’s office and is a minimally invasive procedure. Your doctor will start out by drawing a small amount of your blood. The blood will be placed in a centrifuge machine to separate the platelet-rich plasma within it from the rest of the blood content. Once isolated, your doctor will take the platelet-rich plasma and insert it into the targeted area of your body via injection. In some cases, your doctor may use an imaging device to guide the injection directly into the problem area.
After the treatment, you may feel some soreness or pain, however, this should subside in a few days. You can resume your activities immediately following the treatment. Over the next several weeks, you will notice an improvement in symptoms. For more effective results, your doctor may recommend a set of PRP therapy sessions instead of a single treatment.
PRP therapy is a great treatment because it doesn’t involve incisions, stitches, or hospital stays. It also has a very low risk of infection or complications because the platelet-rich plasma comes from your own body. The treatment is repeatable, and no anesthesia is necessary.
What Can PRP Therapy Treat?
PRP therapy is very versatile. It can be used to treat all type of injuries, conditions, and illnesses associated with the musculoskeletal system. Examples include osteoarthritis pain and deterioration in joints, Achilles tendinitis, tennis elbow, and ACL injuries.
PRP therapy can also help you heal faster after surgery. Initially, PRP therapy was used in sports medicine to quickly get injured athletes back on the field. The healing properties found in concentrated amounts of PRP trigger healing much more intensely than the body’s natural system. This helps you get better not just in an effective way but also quickly.
Finally, effective results can help you delay or even eliminate the need for surgery. If you need joint replacement surgery in your knee due to the deterioration of cartilage or damage to the joint, PRP therapy may be able to not only relieve your symptoms but also promote healing in the damaged joint.
This can offer you long term relief, so you can confidently delay surgery to another point in the future. In some cases, PRP therapy can even eliminate the need for surgery by effectively healing the injury or reducing pain symptoms significantly.
PRP Therapy in Austin, Texas
If you have a musculoskeletal condition or injury or have recently gotten surgery and want to find a solution to reduce your pain while promoting healing, contact the team of professionals at ALL STAR Orthopedics of Austin. We use state-of-the-art treatments to get you back on your feet quickly. Make an appointment by calling (512) 346-4933 or request an appointment online. We look forward to serving you!
