What is PRP?
PRP, platelet-rich plasma, can help your body heal when it is injected. Plasma is a part of your blood that contains proteins that are able to help your blood clot as well as support cell growth. PRP is the isolation of that plasma from your blood and using it to inject back into your body for healing purposes.
PRP works by injecting your own plasma into areas of damaged tissue, in order to stimulate your body to grow new and healthy cells. Many athletes, such as Tiger Woods, have used PRP to help heal injuries.
What conditions can PRP help with?
Utilizing the body’s natural healing process, PRP therapy is a concentration of platelets that are injected into the damaged ligaments, tendons, and joints to promote tissue repair and accelerate healing.
Hair Loss
By injecting PRP into the scalp, doctors can promote hair growth and prevent hair loss. In a study from 2014, PRP injections were effective in treating male pattern baldness.
Tendon Injuries
Tendons are bands of tissue that connect your muscle to the bone, they are also usually slow to heal if you injure them. PRP can be used to help treat chronic tendon problems – like tennis elbow, and jumpers knee.
Acute Injuries
Doctors can use PRP to treat sports injuries like a pulled hamstring or knee sprains.
Post-Surgical Repair
Doctors can use PRP injections to fix a tendon that has torn after a surgery, or a ligament.
Osteoarthritis
Doctors can inject PRP into the knees of those who suffer from osteoarthritis to help ease the pain.
How to Prepare for PRP Injections
PRP can be injected in several different ways. Depending on where and how you are being injected, the procedures will vary.
One way, a topical numbing solution, like lidocaine, is applied before you receive your injection. Another way, is a local anesthetic is mixed with your PRP to reduce discomfort. And lastly, sometimes your doctor will inject your PRP during a surgery.
What happens during the PRP process?
Before you start your PRP treatment, doctors will get a blood sample. The size of the sample will vary depending on where you are going to be injected. One your blood is drawn, it is then placed in a centrifuge, which is a machine that spends really fast, which makes the blood separate. The separation process takes about 15 minutes. Once this is done, a healthcare professional will then take it and begin to prepare it to be injected. Once the plasma is ready, doctors will usually use imaging machines to target the specific area that is being injected.
How long does it take to recover from PRP injections?
After you receive your PRP, it is often recommended to rest the area – mostly because of the actual injury rather than the injection. Many people are able to resume daily activity after their PRP injection.
While you may not notice anything immediately after receiving the injections, you should be able to notice a change in several weeks or months after.
I’m interested in getting PRP injections
To learn more about Platelet-Rich Plasma Therapy in Boulder, Broomfield or Louisville and to learn if you’re a candidate, contact ThriveMD by calling (720) 534-2333 for more information. You may also fill out the form below, and we will reach out to you quickly to answer all of your questions about PRP.
