PRP Joint Injections
Relieve pain with PRP joint injections
PRP joint injections are a treatment that uses a patient’s own blood cells to boost healing. The Bliss Room offers PRP joint injections to treat injuries and trauma to the joint that have not benefited from other forms of treatment.
What is Platelet-Rich Plasma?
Platelet-rich plasma consists of the liquid portion of blood called plasma and platelets, which are a type of blood cell that plays a healing role in the body. Platelets support clotting but also contain growth factors that trigger cell reproduction and stimulate tissue healing in the treatment area. Because platelet-rich plasma contains a higher concentration of platelets than blood, it is an effective treatment for injuries and trauma.
What to Expect During The Procedure
The specialist will begin the procedure by drawing the patient’s blood. Then, the vial of blood will be placed into a machine called the centrifuge that will rapidly spin the blood to separate the platelets and plasma from the rest of the blood.
The solution will then be transferred into a syringe and injected into the patient’s joint. Depending on the patient’s condition, the injection may be guided by ultrasound. The patient will then be moved to a recovery room for observation, to ensure they don’t experience any adverse reactions or side effects. The entire treatment will take about 30 minutes.
The goal of PRP injections is to increase the concentration of growth factors in the joint to accelerate the healing process. Though the exact mechanism behind PRP injections is not completely understood, research has shown that the increased concentration of growth factors in platelet-rich plasma may stimulate or speed up the healing process, shortening the healing time for injuries and alleviating pain.
Who is a Candidate for PRP Injections?
PRP injections may be done to treat individuals diagnosed with the following health conditions:
- Tendon injuries
- Tennis elbow
- Achilles tendonitis
- Pulled hamstrings
- Pulled muscles
- Post-surgical repair
- Osteoarthritis
PRP injections may also help increase circulation and reduce inflammation.
The Recovery Process for PRP Injections
After the procedure, patients may experience increased sensitivity, mild swelling, and bruising at the injection site. Patients being treated for a sports injury or post-surgical pain may need to rest for a few days.
How Soon Will Patients Feel The Results?
The effects of PRP injections vary from person to person. Some patients experience an improvement in their symptoms immediately after the injection, while others may need a few days or even weeks to feel the results. We encourage every patient to follow recovery instructions and attend each of the follow-up visits.
Risks of PRP Injections
Because the PRP solution is obtained from the patient’s own blood, there is minimal risk of infection or other complications. Other common side effects may include an increase in inflammation and pain after the injection.
Before the procedure, the specialist will numb the treatment site with a local anesthetic to reduce the risk of discomfort and sensitivity. The entire procedure is generally safe and well-tolerated by patients.
