What is Platelet Rich Plasma (PRP)?
This is a form of regenerative medicine that harnesses the body’s internal healing substances to promote the repair of damaged muscles, tendons, ligaments, cartilage, bone, and nerves.
How does PRP treatment work?
Platelets are in our blood. The platelets create clots to stop bleeding. Platelets release multiple internal growth factors. These growth factors signal your immune system to remove damaged tissue, lay down new blood vessels, and lay down new tissue in replace of the damaged tissue that was removed.
We can draw some blood. Place the blood sample in a centrifuge and spin it. The platelets will separate from the red blood cells. This process concentrates the platelets above the normal amount that appears in the blood. We can take this concentrated amount of PLATELET RICH PLASMA, and inject it into joints, muscles, tendons, and ligaments. This concentrated dose of platelets will deliver many growth factors into those tissue that will signal the immune system to come in and initiate repair of the damaged tissue.
What are the benefits of PRP treatment?
PRP is natural. It promotes healing. Patients avoid systemic side effects typically associated with oral medications and corticosteroids (cortisone), which are commonly used to treat painful degenerative orthopedic conditions.
What can I expect from PRP treatment?
This treatment works best when it is given early in the disease process. The best results occur in patients who have mild to moderate degenerative changes of the joints, tendons, ligaments, and muscles.
The treatment takes about 4-6 weeks to start to experience the benefits because the process of tissue repair takes place over the course of 3-12 months.
Frequently Asked Questions about PRP treatment
- Does insurance cover this? It truly depends on your insurance. Some health savings and medical savings accounts may cover the treatment. Financing may be available to help offset costs.
- How much does the treatment cost? This varies depending on how many structures need to be treated. Remember “time is tissue!” If pain continues past 3 months and you choose to do nothing to treat it, the symptoms will slowly get worse as the chronic degenerative, nonhealing phase of tissue destruction progresses. Once it progresses to a point where it there is severe damage to the joint, tendons, and ligaments then it is much more difficult and expensive to treat conservatively. At this point you may need to see a surgeon.
- What if I tried it PRP before and it did not work? There are many reasons to consider when the treatment fails to work. Did the physician take time to do a thorough assessment of you and the underlying condition? Did the physician check your blood to make sure your platelet levels were normal before you had the treatment? Does your physician have the best equipment on the market capable of concentrating your platelets to get the most benefit from the treatment? PLATELET DOSE MATTERS!!! Did your physician use ultrasound or fluoroscopic guidance to make sure the platelets were injected into the proper structures?
Thinking about getting PRP treatments?
Living with pain is something no one wants. When a solution is available that alleviates daily pain and helps you enhance your quality of life, that’s good news! At Spine Center Atlanta, we offer cutting-edge regenerative medicine treatments in the greater Atlanta area that deliver the pain relief you deserve.
Our dedicated team has in-depth knowledge and experience, as well as the compassionate approach you’re looking for. Let our experienced providers guide you to the best treatment that works for your unique symptoms.
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Let your pain be a thing of the past. Contact our knowledgeable team today for more information or to schedule a private consultation. We’ll put you on your healing journey!