Despite what its name suggests, tennis elbow isn’t a condition that only affects athletes. Anyone who uses a frequent and repetitive motion with their arms is prone to this condition.
Once you have tennis elbow, it is hard to get rid of. It can seem like no amount of exercising, stretching, or resting can ease that lingering pain.
Traditional tennis elbow treatment relies solely on grueling physical therapy sessions that may never result in a full recovery.
Luckily, PRP therapy has evolved to the point where the damaged tissues in your joints can actually be regenerated.
Read on to find out how our tennis elbow cure can have your arms feeling like new again!
What Is Tennis Elbow?
Tennis elbow, also known as lateral epicondylitis, is a condition that is characterized by torn or swollen tendons attached to the elbow joint.
Because hitting a ball with a racket requires repeated twisting and jerking of the arms joints, this condition is common among tennis players, hence the name.
But it also common for non-athletes to suffer from this condition. If you have a job where you must lift heavy objects all the time or perform repetitive tasks with your arms, you can get the condition as well.
It doesn’t happen just from dramatic, fast movements, either. Even a small motion done with improper form can have a cumulative effect on the delicate tendons in your elbow.
There is also some evidence that tobacco use increases your chances of developing tennis elbow pain.
What Are the Symptoms of Tennis Elbow?
Tennis elbow is usually characterized by a sharp pain in the elbow, accompanied by swelling. The pain may exist as a persistent ache that becomes more clear when lifting objects or bending your arm.
The Tennis Elbow Treatment: Platelet Rich Plasma Therapy
Until recently, the only treatment for tennis elbow was rest and physical therapy. And in many cases, the damage would be permanent.
It does not have to be that way any longer. Platelet Rich Plasma (PRP) therapy can cause new tendons to develop from scratch. Tissue that would otherwise stay damaged will be like new.
How Does It Work?
It all starts with a sample of the patient’s own blood.
Blood contains several components, like red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets. Platelets are the part of your blood that is responsible for closing wounds and rebuilding damaged tissue.
The blood is taken to a laboratory and placed in a centrifuge. A centrifuge is a special piece of equipment that spins so fast that the various components of blood become separated. This allows the lab technicians to collect a sample of pure platelets.
Now, these platelets can be returned to your doctor, who will inject the platelets at the damaged site, in this case, your elbow.
Normally, your body would not be able to send enough platelets to your elbow to heal the damaged tissue. But this super-concentrated dose of plasma can heal tissue with more power than your body is capable of on its own.
Now that your elbow tendons have help from these extra platelets, they will begin to heal all on their own!
PRP therapy can work for all sorts of injuries and conditions. With PRP, you can finally tackle pain in your hips, shoulders, and knees.
Best of all, PRP does not wear off like typical medications. PRP treats the cause of the pain, not just the symptoms. You may find that your elbow actually becomes stronger as time goes on!
How Do I Know That PRP Is Right for Me?
Sometimes joint pain can be managed with more conservative techniques like physical therapy, pain medication, and rest. But if you have tried this route and found that your pain is persistent, it may be time to ask your doctor about Platelet Rich Plasma therapy.
When Should I Avoid PRP Therapy?
Not everyone is a suitable candidate for PRP therapy. This is typically due to pre-existing medical conditions or certain medications a patient is already taking. The following is a list of people who should not try PRP.
- Any cancer patient who has not been in remission for at least five years. Cancer disrupts the immune system, and introducing a huge load of platelets into an already stressed body can do more harm than good.
- Low platelet count. Without enough platelets to draw from, the treatment will not be effective.
- Patients on anticoagulant medication or blood thinner. Anyone whose blood is already being altered through medication could have an unexpected reaction to PRP therapy.
When Can I Expect to See Results?
New PRP patients need to understand that this is not a quick fix. Unlike pain killers, this treatment does not instantly mask symptoms.
However, it does promote actual healing. And just like with any major wound, it can take weeks or even months for the pain to completely subside.
Most patients report that they experience the maximum benefits of PRP about six to nine months into their treatment.
Is PRP Painful?
The short answer is yes, you can expect some aching and swelling to follow a PRP injection.
It is comparable to the feeling of getting a bump on your head after a fall. Your body is sending so much energy to that spot to promote healing that the skin swells up and there is some aching.
You can expect a similar sensation after a PRP injection; a noticeable to a manageable discomfort. It should go away after about 48 hours.
Set Up a Consultation Today
If you have read this far, there is a good chance that you could benefit from Platelet Rich Plasma therapy. This tennis elbow treatment is the most advanced and powerful in the arsenal of modern medicine.
For medical questions, please contact us by phone. For all other questions, feel free to use our handy online form. We hope to hear from you soon!