Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) care uses injections of a concentration of a patient’s platelets to accelerate the healing of injured tendons, muscles, ligaments, and joints. In this way, PRP injections use each patient’s healing system to improve musculoskeletal problems.
Injections are prepared by taking anywhere from one to a few tubes of your own blood and putting it through a centrifuge to concentrate the platelets. They now inject these activated platelets directly into your injured or diseased body tissue. This releases growth factors that stimulate and increase the number of reparative cells your body produces. Ultrasound imaging is sometimes used to guide the injection.
Platelet-rich plasma has been found to significantly enhance healing processes and using a PRP injection for shoulder pain caused by rotator cuff tears, for Achilles tendon ruptures, and for other soft-tissue injuries is becoming more common.
PRP has also been demonstrated to improve function and reduce pain in people who have tendonitis or chronic tendinosis conditions such as tennis elbow or golfer’s elbow.
Advantages
The key advantages are that it can reduce the need for anti-inflammatories or stronger medications like opioids. Also, the side effects of injections are very limited because, since the injections are created from your own blood, your body will not reject or react negatively to them. Learn more about PRP injections by selecting the best doctor at DSCMD for your particular condition and insurance.
PRP key points to remember
- Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) comes from a patient’s own blood.
- It is a concentrated source of growth factors and cellular signaling factors that play a significant role in the biology of healing.
- Basic science studies show that this treatment may improve healing in many tissues.
- Few clinical studies in humans show the effectiveness of PRP treatment.
- Anti-inflammatory medicines should be stopped before and after PRP treatment is given
Charlotte, NC based Dermatology Specialists, we take pride in offering our patients the latest and best treatments available. We are happy to discuss any questions you may have about the PRP procedures and which procedure is best for you. Contact Dermatology Specialists of Charlotte, Charlotte’s top Ballantyne and Blakeney Dermatologist, for your dermatology care.