FAQs: Understanding PRP Therapy

Platelet Rich Plasma Injections are used to enhance healing by using your own blood components. Our PRP physician will draw your blood and place it in a centrifuge where the platelets are extracted to release healing proteins. He will then inject the solution directly into your injured area using an ultrasound-guided technique to ensure accuracy. The healing proteins, known as growth factors, stimulate repair and regeneration, giving you faster healing and quicker pain relief. In most cases, one to three injections are required.

PRP Injections can accelerate the healing of a number of conditions for the hip, knee, arm, shoulder, lower leg, foot and ankle. Please consult our page of conditions treated by PRP for a more complete listing, but here is an abbreviated list:

• Acute muscle tears and strains
• Chronic Tendinopathies (tennis elbow, Achilles tendon, patellar tendon and rotator cuff)
• Ligament injuries (ie: medial or lateral collateral ligament—MCL/LCL)
• Osteoarthritis

Most patients tolerate the injection well enough, but there may be soreness due to PRP-induced inflammatory response. Expect some swelling and soreness during the first 48 hours after the injection. You will be given pain medication to help alleviate the discomfort.

Injections of platelets are safe since you're using your body's own blood components and there are no foreign substances being injected. The only noted risk in clinical trials was the possibility of infection which is not unique to platelet injections. Anytime a person undergoes an injection there is this risk. Since there are no foreign bodies being injected and there is no concern of disease transmission, PRP therapy is considered safe.

You might be if you have moderate osteoarthritis in the hip, knee or shoulder or chronic tendinitis in the elbow or ankle. Typically, you would have had failed conservative treatment options such as rest, medication, and/or physical therapy.

PRP is not for everyone. Patients with severe anemia, low platelet count, abnormal platelet function, active systemic infection or those with an active cancer are not recommended to be administered PRP. We do not recommend it for the following individuals:

• Anyone with a cancer (such as prostate cancer or breast cancer) who has not been in remission for at least 5 years
• Certain other malignancies or blood-borne diseases that are currently being treated
• Any current infection
• Patients with multiple medical issues may not be good candidates
• Patients using an anticoagulant can receive PRP with counseling

PRP is intended as a healing modality and not for quick pain relief. Your pain will gradually subside as the injured tissue repairs and pain-relieving growth factors activate. This process can take weeks or months, but when successful, the effect is long-lasting. If relief is not sufficient at three months, a second injection may be performed. Maximum effects are usually seen at six to nine months. Some knee joints may require two injections in closer proximity in time.

Recovery times are influenced in-part by the condition and body part being treated:

• Injections in the elbow or shoulder: You may be placed in a sling for 48 hours up to one week. More time may be needed for comfort.

• For the ankle: Achilles tendon, peroneal tendon, plantar fascia. You will be required to wear a walking boot for up to two weeks or more if needed. If you have the infection in the right ankle, you cannot drive due to the boot being on your foot.

• If you have an injection in your knee for osteoarthritis, you only need to rest for 24 hours and then you can return to your normal activities.

• If the injection is in your patellar tendon or quadriceps tendon, your knee may be placed in a knee immobilizer for one to two days.