How do PRP injections work?

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The first stage in your PRP therapy is taking a sample of your blood. Your provider at Fern Creek Medical Center draws off blood from a vein in your arm, just as if you were giving a blood donation. 

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The blood goes into a centrifuge that spins around at such a high speed that the various parts of the blood separate.

Your provider then harvests the platelets and injects them into your body at the treatment site. The growth factors in the PRP boost the growth of new tissue, including collagen, a supportive fibrous tissue. The PRP boost helps your body to heal damaged tissues that it couldn’t completely heal the first time around.

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These types of improperly healed injuries are a common cause of chronic musculoskeletal pain. They also cause weakness in the affected tissues so you might find you haven’t got full use of the affected limb or joint. PRP injections give your body the extra lift it needs to complete the healing task.

Because the ingredients in PRP come from your body, PRP injections are a very safe form of treatment, with virtually no possibility of an adverse reaction.

 

What conditions can PRP injections treat?

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PRP injections are a useful option for soft-tissue injuries like sprains and strains that won’t heal properly. The Fern Creek Medical Center team has had success with treating patients who have conditions like:

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• Joint pain

• Plantar fasciitis

• Achilles tendon injuries

• Tennis elbow

• Golfer’s elbow

• Patellar tendinitis

• Hamstring strains

• Rotator cuff injuries

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PRP injections can also speed up the healing of acute injuries.

It can take a while for PRP injections to take effect, so you might not experience instant results after your treatment. Improvement usually begins after the first few weeks and carries on for several months. You might need a series of PRP injections to get the maximum benefit.