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Tucson Vein & Body
PRP Injections
What are PRP Injections?
In recent years, doctors have discovered that the body has the ability to heal itself. Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) therapy is a form of regenerative medicine that harnesses and amplifies the natural growth factors found in blood cells to help heal damaged tissue. PRP is produced from a person's own blood and is a concentration of platelets, which are critical for blood clotting. This concentrated PRP is injected into an injured or diseased area of the body to accelerate the healing of damaged tendons, ligaments, muscles, bones, and joints.
A key advantage of PRP injections is that they can reduce the need for opioids or even over-the-counter anti-inflammatory medications. In fact, the use of anti-inflammatories should usually be ceased at the time of PRP treatments, as platelet-rich plasma optimizes the initial inflammatory response involved in healing.
How are PRP injections performed?
PRP injections are prepared by drawing one or more tubes of your own blood. The blood is then placed in a centrifuge to separate its components: red and white blood cells, plasma, platelets, etc. The platelets are collected and concentrated to anywhere from 2 to 8 times their normal number. These concentrated platelets are then mixed with a blood plasma liquid base and injected directly into the area of injury. Ultrasound imaging is sometimes used to guide the injection.
What injuries can PRP injections treat?
PRP injections are primarily used for soft tissue injuries such as minor rotator cuff and Achilles tendon tears, and their use in other soft-tissue injuries is becoming more common. They have been shown to improve function and reduce pain in people with tendonitis or chronic tendinosis conditions, such as tennis elbow or golfer's elbow. PRP can also treat injuries to ligaments and muscles; for example, it has been shown to improve muscle regeneration in gastrocnemius (calf) muscle injuries.
Recent data suggests that PRP treatment is superior to hyaluronic acid injections (also known as viscosupplementation or "gel shots") for knee osteoarthritis, particularly in terms of the duration of its positive effects. Additionally, emerging data indicates that PRP combined with hyaluronic acid is more effective than either treatment alone.
Do PRP injections have side effects or risks?
Side effects of PRP injections are minimal because they are created from your own blood, reducing the risk of rejection or adverse reactions. As with any injection, there is a very small risk of infection. Beyond that, there are no significant risks, although the effectiveness of the treatment can vary and be unpredictable for individual patients.
Schedule a complimentary consultation with us to customize your treatment plan to meet your needs.