What is Platelet-Rich Plasma (PRP)

At Pain Treatment Institute, we offer Platelet-Rich Plasma (PRP) therapy, a modern and progressive treatment that harnesses the body’s own healing mechanisms to address musculoskeletal (MSK) conditions. Derived from the patient’s own blood, PRP is considered 100% natural and is a minimally invasive procedure that takes about 30 minutes to harvest the high concentration of the patient’s own platelets to help accelerate the natural healing of injured tendons, ligaments, muscles, and joints. With minimal downtime and a lower risk of complications, PRP therapy is an excellent option for patients seeking a quicker return to their normal activities.

What Conditions are treated with PRP?

PRP therapy has shown promising results in various studies to help accelerate healing and repair in musculoskeletal (MSK) conditions such as:

• Chronic tendon injuries, such as tennis elbow, golfer’s elbow, rotator cuff injuries, and Achilles tendonitis
• Ligament sprains: Commonly in knees and ankles.
• Muscle injuries: Accelerating recovery of muscle strains.
• Joint disorders: Including osteoarthritis, particularly in the knee, hip, and shoulder joints.
• Plantar fasciitis
• Lower back pain related to disc problems

How does PRP Therapy Work?

The process begins with a blood draw from the patient. This blood is then placed in a centrifuge, where it is spun to separate the platelets from other blood components. The concentrated platelet-rich plasma is then extracted and injected directly into the affected area. This enriched plasma contains high levels of growth factors—natural substances capable of stimulating cellular regeneration and tissue repair.

What are the Benefits of PRP?

PRP is renowned for its natural ability to enhance the body’s own healing processes based on the voluminous amount clinical studies available on PubMed. By concentrating platelets from the patient’s own blood and injecting them into the affected area, PRP therapy accelerates the repair of injured tissues such as tendons, ligaments, muscles, and joints.

• Reduced Inflammation and Pain: Patients often report a significant reduction in pain and inflammation following PRP treatment
• Enhanced Healing: PRP promotes the natural healing of tissues by stimulating cellular growth and collagen production
• Minimally Invasive: PRP therapy is a non-surgical option that involves simple blood extraction and injections
• Low Risk of Side Effects: Since PRP is derived from the patient’s own blood, there is a minimal risk of allergic reactions or rejection by the immune system
• Quick Recovery: The procedure usually requires minimal downtime, allowing patients to return to normal activities relatively quickly compared to surgery.
• Reduced Dependence on Medications: PRP therapy may decrease the need for pain medications
• Can Delay Surgery: For some patients, PRP therapy can postpone the need for surgery by alleviating symptoms and promoting healing.

What is the Science Behind PRP?

PRP is rich in several key growth factors that play crucial roles in healing and tissue regeneration. Growth factors are instrumental in stimulating cellular processes such as cell proliferation, migration, and angiogenesis (the formation of new blood vessels), which are essential for tissue repair. These growth factors in PRP work synergistically to enhance the body’s natural healing processes, making PRP a powerful tool repair and regeneration of tissue. Key Growth factors found in PRP include:

• Platelet-Derived Growth Factor – stimulates cell replication, skin formation, and angiogenesis. PDGF is vital for promoting the healing of connective tissues and the formation of new blood vessels.
• Transforming Growth Factor-Beta (TGF-β)- Promotes the formation of the extracellular matrix and is critical for wound healing and bone regeneration. TGF-β also plays a role in the regulation of cell growth and differentiation.
• Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor (VEGF) – Enhances angiogenesis, which is crucial for healing as new blood vessels provide essential nutrients and oxygen to healing tissues.
• Epidermal Growth Factor (EGF) – Stimulates cell growth, differentiation, and survival. EGF is particularly important in promoting epithelial and epidermal regeneration during wound healing.
• Fibroblast Growth Factor (FGF) – Promotes the growth of fibroblasts, which are cells critical for wound healing through their role in collagen and extracellular matrix production.

Am I a Good Candidate for PRP?

Determining the suitability and effectiveness of PRP therapy involves the review of key critical factors to ensure safety and highest efficacy of the PRP treatments:

• Patient Selection: Patient evaluation includes medical history, age, health condition, injury type and past treatment history. Patients with certain health conditions, such as blood disorders, active infections, or certain types of cancers, may not be suitable candidates for PRP.
• Blood Draw and Technique. The quantity and quality of platelets are dependent on the amount of blood draw and PRP processing technology. At Pain Treatment Institute, we maximum our blood draw to provide the highest level of platelet concentration and utilize the latest centrifuge speeds to influence the treatment effectiveness.
• Previous Treatments: If traditional treatments such as physical therapy, medication, or corticosteroid injections have not provided adequate relief, PRP might be a suitable next step. It’s important that PRP is considered as part of a comprehensive treatment plan.
• Patient Health: Ideal candidates are generally in good health and do not have conditions that could impair healing. Chronic diseases, such as severe diabetes or immune system disorders, may affect the effectiveness of PRP therapy.
• Lifestyle Factors: Lifestyle factors, including smoking or poor nutrition, can impact the healing process and the overall effectiveness of PRP therapy.
• Age and Activity Level: While PRP can be effective for patients of various ages, younger patients with more active lifestyles may experience quicker and more robust healing responses. Elderly patients can still benefit, but the expectations and treatment goals may differ based on their overall condition and activity needs.
• Frequency of Injections: The number and frequency of PRP injections can influence outcomes, with some conditions responding better to a series of injections rather than a single treatment.
• Expectations: It’s crucial for patients to have realistic expectations about the outcomes of PRP therapy. While PRP can significantly aid in pain reduction and tissue healing, it is not a cure-all and works best when integrated into a broader treatment regimen tailored to the patient’s specific needs.

Why Pain Treatment Institute for PRP?

At Pain Treatment Institute, we offer true regeneration. Our regenerative therapies utilize the latest FDA approved systems that are tailored to meet the needs of our patients. Our treatments focus on the science, clinical research, patient selection, patient education and the pragmatic excellence of Dr. Syed who leads our regenerative medicine. We are committed to integrating regenerative medicine as part of our comprehensive treatment offering.

Accepting New Patients

Our pain management physician group is committed to providing advanced treatments with regenerative medicine. We are accepting new patients. Contact our office to schedule an appointment.