Platelet therapy, or platelet rich plasma (PRP) therapy, is a revolutionary new treatment that relieves pain by promoting long lasting healing of musculoskeletal conditions using the healing power of your own body. This rapidly emerging technique is showing exciting success with osteoarthritis of the knee, shoulder, hip and spine, rotator cuff tears, chronic plantar fascitis, anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injuries, pelvic pain and instability, back and neck injuries, tennis elbow, ankle sprains, tendonitis, and ligament sprains. Our physicians were the first in the Washington DC area to use this revolutionary technique and have helped to further the understanding and science behind its continued development. They can determine if this advanced, non-surgical treatment is right for you.
The physicians and staff at StemCell ARTS have been specially trained to perform the Regenexx® family of PRP and Stem Cell procedures. We utilize state of the art equipment to create the highest quality customized Platelet concentrates. Each case is done by hand by our lab technicians to create the exact volume and concentration of platelets for each specific application. Furthermore, because we do it by hand, the platelets that are produced have far fewer red and white blood cells. It has been shown that contamination of the platelets with red cells creates a more painful injection and also produces less stimulation of stem cells. We find 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.
There is no question that putting the right treatment on the right structure will create the best outcome. All of our injections are done under either ultrasound or fluoroscopic guidance. Certain structures are best imaged under fluoroscopy and others are best imaged with the ultrasound unit. The best outcomes happen when the treatment solution is delivered to the injured structure using specific guidance techniques. Further, we believe that it is not enough just to treat the injury that showed up on the MRI. We believe that true recovery can only happen when the joint integrity and strength is restored. Therefore we will do a comprehensive treatment of all the ligaments, tendons and joint capsules of that joint as part of the treatment. In this way we think we can give the injured structure the best opportunity to fully recover.
The body’s first response to soft tissue injury is to deliver platelet cells. Packed with growth and healing factors, platelets initiate repair and attract the critical assistance of stem cells. PRP therapy’s natural healing process intensifies the body’s efforts by delivering a higher concentration of platelets. 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, jump-starting and significantly strengthening the body’s natural healing signal. Because your own blood is used, there is no risk of a transmissible infection and a very low risk of allergic reaction.
The procedure takes approximately about two hours, including preparation and recovery time. Performed safely in a medical office, PRP therapy relieves pain without the risks of surgery, general anesthesia, or hospital stays and without a prolonged recovery. In fact, most people return to their jobs or usual activities right after the procedure.
In the beginning, enough treatments need to be done to maximize recovery. 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.
Unlike a typical injection that is done for pain relief, these injections do not immediately remove pain. However, because the goal of PRP therapy is to actually heal you, the results are usually long term, often permanent. Initial improvement may be seen within a few weeks, gradually increasing as the healing progresses. Research studies and clinical practice have shown PRP therapy to be very effective at relieving pain and returning patients to their normal lives. Both ultrasound and MRI images have shown definitive tissue repair after PRP therapy, confirming the healing process. The need for surgery can also be greatly reduced by treating injured tissues before the damage progresses and the condition is irreversible
Resolve your symptoms with help from the Orthopedic Regenerative Medicine specialists at StemCell ARTS.
If you would like to learn more about PRP therapy, contact National Spine & Pain Centers today.
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