What is PRP?

PRP stands for platelet rich plasma. This therapy falls under the umbrella of regenerative medicine. The body is designed to get better on it’s own, and entirely capable of repairing itself. Instead of undergoing surgery which can include severe risks, many people are looking into a less invasive and more natural way for the body to heal. When a patient receives a Platelet Rich Plasma (PRP) treatment, our Doctors use your own blood and process it to separate the platelets and growth factors (which specifically promote healing), and place them into the area of injury.

How does PRP work?

Let’s say you get a cut or on your finger, the platelets find that area and form the clot. The platelets carry cytokines, apha granules and growth factors. When these form, they send signals in the area and also up and down regulate gene expression to get your body to heal. Platelet Rich Plasma (PRP) attempts to recreate this phenomenon by localizing these growth factors and cytokines in the area of injury.

The healing process of untreated injuries:

Often times people will experience a minor (sometimes severe) injury and leave it untreated. An example could be a tear in a tendon in your shoulder, knee, elbow or other joint. Initially this injury will cause lots of inflammation. As time goes on and the inflammation goes away, the tendon has tried to heal itself but the collagen has formed in an abnormal pattern. This attempt of healing the injury without help can cause the long term pain that many people experience.

When patients use platelet rich plasma (PRP) treatment, it aids the body and injury to properly heal. This can prevent the chronic pain and restore functionality of the injured area.

Can steroid injections do more harm than good?

Many physical medicine doctors have been using steroid injections to treat joint pain for years. Over time steroids are likely not good for long term use. In 2017 JAMA (The Journal of the American Medical Association) looked at patients with knee arthritis who consistently received steroid injections in their knee. The patients who were consistently receiving knee steroid injections, had significantly less cartilage volume than the study group who was only receiving saline. The cartilage in your knee provides shock absorption/cushion between your bones and also provides smooth movement when you are walking, running, etc. A loss in this cartilage will result in knee pain, inflammation and decreased function. Additional risks of using steroid injections for knee pain long term, could be endocrine dysfunction, high blood sugar and decreased bone density.

How do I know if PRP is right for me?

If you’re tired of being slowed down or in pain due to an injury, come in for a free consultation as soon as possible! Platelet Rich Plasma (PRP) treatment can be used to treat torn tendons, tendinitis, muscle injuries, pain from arthritis and various types of joint pain. If you have had an injury and are experiencing pain, inflammation, decreased functional ability, then you may want to consider Platelet Rich Plasma (PRP) treatment. At Aaaah Wellness in Mesa, Arizona our team can help you go over your regenerative medicine options and see what may be the best fit for you.