In recent decades, the emergence of ground-breaking regenerative medicine approaches has revolutionized how various conditions and injuries are treated. One such treatment approach is the platelet-rich plasma (PRP) therapy, which has been shown to effectively relieve pain and promote healing in patients suffering from tendonitis, osteoarthritis, tennis elbow, plantar fasciitis, among other musculoskeletal conditions and injuries.
If you have heard about PRP therapy and you are wondering how it can help with your orthopedic condition or injury, read on to get a basic understanding of it, particularly how long its efficacy typically lasts and its benefits.
Factors that Influence the Efficacy of PRP Therapy
Clinical studies have shown that PRP injections can be effective for up to nine months. Nevertheless, the precise amount of time that PRP injections last essentially varies from person to person. Overall outcomes vary from situation to situation, as well.
Take for example PRP for arthritis: a study published in the American Journal of Sports Medicine suggests that patients living with osteoarthritis who received PRP injections reported symptom improvement just one week following their PRP treatment, and it lasted for six months. Additionally, the use of periodic maintenance injections had greatly increased the duration of the therapy’s efficacy.
Of course, more severe or complex orthopedic conditions are likely to decrease the duration of PRP treatment’s efficacy.
The overall health of a PRP therapy candidate is also a factor in the length of the treatment’s effectiveness. The healthier the patient, the more responsive they likely are to therapy and the better able they are to maintain the therapy’s efficacy.
Lastly, the way in which a patient’s body responds to the initial PRP injections can also help determine how well – and how long – they may benefit from the treatment.
The Benefits of PRP Therapy
Regardless of how long PRP injections last, they have shown to be a viable option for people seeking an alternative to pain medications or invasive procedures for their orthopedic problems.
Unlike open surgery, which can take weeks or even months to recover from, you may feel the benefits of PRP therapy within as little as a week after receiving your first shot. That’s because PRP therapy helps restore and boosts your body’s healing mechanism.
It is a simple outpatient procedure in which a small sample of your blood is drawn and spun at high speeds to separate the platelets from other components to obtain a higher concentration of growth and healing factors. The concentrated platelet-rich plasma is then injected into and around the area of injury using image guidance, thereby triggering the accelerated healing process. It involves no stitches and, because it utilizes your own blood, it has no risk of a transmissible infection and an extremely low risk of an allergic reaction.
What’s more, PRP therapy only takes about an hour or two, including preparation and recovery time. It does not require a hospital stay nor downtime. In fact, you can return to your job or normal activities right after your procedure.
You may require up to three PRP injections within a six-month period, usually performed two to three weeks apart, but you may be able to achieve significant to complete relief after the first or second shot. Symptom improvement is said to gradually increase as your healing progresses.
Platelet-Rich Plasma (PRP) Therapy in Austin, TX
At All-Star Orthopedics of Austin, board-certified orthopedic surgeon Dr. Carolyn Hyde employs a variety of innovative treatment modalities, including PRP therapy, to effectively address the full range of musculoskeletal conditions and injuries.
To learn more about this revolutionary treatment and whether you are a suitable candidate for it, call us today at (512) 346-4933 to arrange a consultation with Dr. Carolyn M. Hyde or use our online appointment request form.
