What is PRP Therapy?
PRP is a regenerative therapy option used to healing of damaged tendons, ligaments and arthritic joints. It focuses on healing the damaged tissue and creates an optimal healing environment by providing nutrients, proteins, and growth factors to stimulate the tissue repairing process. The patient’s blood is used in the procedure, and platelets are isolated, which are then concentrated many times higher than present in the blood. PRP therapy is then injected into a non-healing tendon area under ultrasound guidance.
How is PRP Different from a Cortisone Shot?
Cortisone is a great pain reliever and essentially does nothing to heal the condition. If you have had a cortisone injection for your condition in the past, and your pain was relieved, but for only a short time, PRP might be the right treatment for you.
What Happens After The Injection?
After the injection, the site is usually bandaged with a simple adhesive bandage that should stay dry for at least 24 hours. The patient is expected to be sore for 2-5 days following the procedure. We advise the patients not to take anti-inflammatory pain medications for at least two weeks following the injection. Acetaminophen (Tylenol) may be used, and sometimes a prescription pain reliever for a very short period is required. We generally have patients decrease their activity drastically for a couple of days following the procedure. In the weeks that follow the injection, the pain will typically reduce gradually from the injury, and 50-75% pain reduction in a patient’s pain is considered a successful outcome.