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PRP Therapy

What   is PRP?

  • Plasma is the liquid portion of whole blood. It is composed largely of water and proteins,
  • it provides a medium for red blood cells, white blood cells and platelets to circulate through the body. Platelets, also called thrombocytes, are blood cells that cause blood clots and other necessary growth healing functions.
  • Platelet activation plays a key role in the healing
  • In PRP, there is rich concentration of platelets in plasma.

What is PRP therapy?

Platelet therapy, or platelet rich plasma (PRP) therapy, is a revolutionary new treatment, in a form of Regenerative Medicine, that relieves pain, by giving a biological boost to the healing process.

How PRP is prepared?

 To create PRP therapy, a small sample of your blood is drawn (similar to a lab test sample) and placed in a centrifuge that spins the blood at high speeds, separating the platelets from the other components. These platelets have been further refined and concentrated depending on their specific use. The concentrated platelet rich plasma (PRP) is then injected into and around the point of injury

How does PRP works against pain?

Platelets are important for blood clotting, but also contain hundreds of proteins called growth factors, which can be extremely helpful in the healing of injuries. These  growth factors that can trigger cell reproduction and stimulate tissue regeneration or healing in the treated area. Platelet-rich plasma is simply blood that contains more platelets than normal.

How is our PRP  different?

The physicians and staff at our hospital have been specially trained to perform the PRP and Stem Cell procedures. We utilize state of the art equipment to create the highest quality customized Platelet concentrates

Furthermore, our expertise do it by hand, the platelets that are produced have far fewer red and white blood cells. It has been established, that contamination of the platelets with red cells creates a more painful injection and also produces less stimulation of stem cells. We discover that using a customized process, done by hand, results in a more highly successful treatment and one that requires fewer sessions  to accomplish its goals or healing.

How is our approach to treatment different?

Certain structures are best imaged under fluoroscopy and others are best imaged with the ultrasound unit. Best recovery or outcome only happens when we injected prp in  precise way in to right structures or pain generator by using  ultrasound guidance technique. We don’t  treat patient only seeing lesion or tears in mri, but we always use comprehensive approach or treatment to ligament, tendon and capsule of that joint , as a part of therapy ,by restoring the joint integrity and strength.

How does PRP therapy works?

These activated platelets are then injected directly into your injured or diseased body tissue. This releases growth factors that stimulate and increase the number of reparative cells your body produces

It works by following

  • It stimulates the formation of new cartilage
  • By reducing inflammation, it slow down the progression of osteo-arthritis
  • It causes easing friction and pain in joints by producing more joint fluid
  • Reduce sensation of pain by generating more protein.

Which modalities are used to inject?

An ultrasound or fluoroscope is to be used for precise placement of injections.

How often should this procedure be done?

The precise number of treatment sessions varies with the area that was injured, the type of injury, and your ability to heal.

 Generally you can expect between one and 4 sessions. You may, however, gain considerable to complete relief after the first or second injection

In which pain conditions it is to be used?

  • Rotator cuff tears
  • Achilles tendon ruptures
  • Osteoarthritis of knee
  • Osteoarthritis of hip, shoulder
  • plantar fasciitis
  • anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injuries
  • Tendinosis
  • Tendinitis
  • Tennis elbow or Golfer’s elbow
  • Ankle sprain
  • Ligament injury
  • Alternate good option for patients, not responding with steroid and oral pain relievers.
  • Back pain due to degenerative disc diseases.

 

Advice before doing PRP :Do not take aspirin or aspirin-related medications such as nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs,like dynapar, ibuprofen,for two weeks before your therapy.

You should not have PRP therapy if you have:

  • Abnormal platelet function
  • Active systemic infection
  • Active cancer
  • Low-platelet count
  • Severe anemia

What are the expected results?

  • In various studies, comparing PRP with steroid, after having 2 year follow up, showing that PRP has more potential long term benefit, than steroid injection for tennis elbow.
  • As a compare of other injection,like steroid, PRP therapy do not work instantly for pain relief.
  • However, our goal of this treatment is to actually heal the tissue, restore the integrity of tissue, the results are usually long term and often permanent.
  • Initially improvement is seen within few weeks, but gradually healing process continues.
  • After prp therapy, definitive tissue repair is seen in MRI images and Ultrasound.
  • We can abolish the surgical intervention by PRP therapy , before the damage progresses and condition is irreversible.

 

How long does this procesure  takes or complete?

The whole process generally takes only one to two hours

 Is PRP treatment effective?

  • Based on available evidence-based literature, the success of PRP therapy depends on the method of preparation and composition of PRP, the patient’s medical condition, anatomic location of the injection, and the type of tissue injected.
  • The most promising early results have been seen when PRP treatment is used for chronic tendon conditions, such as lateral epicondylitis (tennis elbow)and Achilles tendinosis, which impacts the Achilles tendon.

Advantage of PRP Therapy

• Need of anti-inflammatories medication and other strong medications like Opioids are reduced drastically.
• significant decrease in pain and stiffness and improvement of physical functions of knee joint

PRP Therapy Risk & Side Effect

  • A PRP injection is a low-risk procedure and does not usually cause major side effects.
  • The procedure involves a blood draw, so make sure you are hydrated and have eaten beforehand to prevent feeling lightheaded. After the procedure, you may experience some soreness and bruising at the injection site.
  • Because PRP injections are made up of your own cells and plasma, your body will not reject or react negatively to them.
  • The risk of an allergic reaction is much lower than with other injectable medications like corticosteroids.

PRP Therapy Care

  • Keep the PRP injection site clean and dry.
  • Leave the bandageon site, for 12 to 24 hours and then replace the bandage with a Band-Aid until the site heals.
  • You may do shower ,but change the bandage if it gets wet.
  • DO NOT apply icer, on the PRP site because ice reduces swelling. The therapy is meant to cause swelling, which helps you heal.
  • You may have some swelling and bruising for three to seven days.
  • DO NOT use any drugs for two weeks:
    • Aspirin
    • Ibuprofen
    • Naproxen
  • Other anti-inflammatory (anti-swelling)

Post PRP Activity:

  • Most people return to their jobs or usual activities right after the procedure. You will be told .which activities you may and may not do,
  • For PRP in the arm, wrist or shoulder, do not pull, tug, grasp, lift weight or grip with the arm, wrist or shoulder for six weeks.
  • Also, do not do any motion again and again.
  • For PRP in the hip, knee, ankle or foot, use crutches for a day or more u,ntil you can walk without the pain getting worse
  • If you have PRP in your hip, knee, ankle or foot, please have someone, along with .drive you home.