Platelet Rich Plasma (PRP)
Health Comes First
PRP
Want to get back to what you want to do after an injury? The newest, cutting-edge non-surgical treatment for certain injuries and chronic conditions is here.
What is it?
PRP.
What is PRP?
PRP stands for “Platelet Rich Plasma”. That really doesn’t explain what PRP is though. PRP consists of blood drawn from a patient which is spun in a centrifuge for a specific period of time to concentrate and remove red cells. This leaves behind the plasma and growth factors present in a patients own blood, just in a more concentrated amount. PRP is about 4-7 times more concentrated than the original whole blood. We use this in a very targeted manner to treat many different conditions, including but not limited to: arthritis, tendinitis, tendon and ligament injuries like severe sprains and strains, athletic injuries, plantar fasciitis, and chronic ankle pain just to name a few. PRP is a cutting-edge non-surgical approach to acute injuries and chronic conditions, using the bodies own natural healing abilities and delivering it in a controlled manner to the source of pain.
What does PRP do?
The Platelets in PRP are what start the inflammatory cascade when blood vessels are damaged. Platelets stick together to begin healing the damaged areas of the blood vessels they travel through. They release proteins that begin signaling the body that damage is present, starting tissue regeneration and the healing process.
After blood has been drawn and spun in the centrifuge the PRP will be injected into the location of pain. This is when the injection becomes “activated” signaling the body to begin repairing the damage.
Peak PRP
The Peak PRP system used in our office is all single use. The only thing reused is the base that the centrifuge chamber plugs into, that way there is no risk of cross-contamination with other samples.
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"The PEAK Platelet Rich Plasma System represents an innovation in autologous cellular therapies featuring a vertical rotor centrifugation process. The proprietary technology consistently delivers 3 ml of 7.8x high-concentration platelet-rich plasma (PRP) from 27 ml of whole blood more efficiently than any other product on the market." (https://www.depuysynthes.com/hcp/mitek-sports-medicine/products/qs/peak-platelet-rich-plasma-system#tab4)
What to expect from PRP
PRP is not a magic bullet or fairy dust (If you find either of these please let us know). Patients are often placed in a walking shoe or walking boot after an injection and given specific instructions on activity levels and weight bearing status. Anti-inflammatory medications like ibuprofen, Advil, and other NSAIDs should be avoided after a PRP injection. Icing and elevating are the recommended standard for any pain control needed. Sometimes pain is increased after an injection but usually subsides quickly. Results may vary, but most patients report back in a month with at least some if not significant improvement.
How much does PRP cost?
PRP injections are currently not covered by insurance, and therefore is a cash pay service. If you have questions about the cost, please give our office a call at 541-779-5227 and we would be happy to discuss payment arrangements.