The body’s platelets are exceptionally helpful for many functions, including clotting blood – but they also carry critical growth proteins with healing properties. Platelet-rich plasma, or PRP, is a cutting-edge treatment that utilizes those growth proteins to heal damaged or worn-down tissues.
PRP isn't only for young people and athletes; people also use it to heal age-related orthopedic and cosmetic issues. At Alpha Orthopedics & Sports Medicine, we offer PRP for a variety of conditions and injuries.
Dr. Brian Snow and Dr. Jon Thompson are our board-certified orthopedic surgeons who provide PRP for sports injuries, knee pain, hip pain, and arthritis.
PRP is a treatment that uses the plasma and platelets in the blood to heal and regenerate tissues. It’s a simple, minimally invasive procedure, only requiring a blood draw and injection into the area of concern.
The process begins with drawing a vial of blood. We take that vial and put it in a centrifuge machine, which spins the blood down to separate the plasma and platelets from the other components.
During centrifugation, the platelets are in a higher concentration, making them more potent after the injection.
After the centrifuge finishes, we take the platelets and plasma and put them into a syringe for the injection. We clean off the area of pain or injury and inject the platelet concentration into your body.
Although the effects aren't immediate, the growth proteins in PRP go to work immediately. They begin forming new tissues and healing any area of degeneration or injury. The overall result is less pain and better functionality.
PRP is an excellent option for many people, not only for professional athletes but also for injuries. We also use PRP for several age-related conditions. As you age, it's more common to have specific issues due to long-term wear-and-tear on the joints and other tissues.
PRP may be a great option if you're living with age-related orthopedic concerns. A few of the conditions we treat PRP with as you age include:
Osteoarthritis is a form of wear-and-tear arthritis that affects various joints. It’s a common condition as you age and ends up breaking down the protective tissues in the joints. PRP helps slow down the degenerative process and may heal some damaged tissues to reduce pain.
Fractures can happen to anyone – but the risk increases with age and the development of osteoporosis. It also gets more difficult for the bones to heal with age, which is where PRP can help.
Rotator cuff tears, ACL injuries, and tennis elbow are just a few of the tendon and ligament injuries you may suffer with age. PRP is beneficial in helping these injuries heal and preventing long-term disability.
PRP is an excellent option for many age-related issues, especially arthritis in the shoulders, hips, and knees. It also helps you heal faster after certain types of orthopedic surgery.
The length of time one PRP injection lasts depends on many factors, including the extent of the problem and where you had it injected.
However, most people get anywhere from six months to two years of relief from a straightforward injection. The platelets continue to work for about nine months when they lose effectiveness.
The result, though, is an area that's better off than it was before the injection. With renewed tissue healing, you may get many more years out of the injection if you take care of yourself and avoid reinjury.
Don’t hesitate to call one of our offices in McKinney and Prosper, Texas, for arthritis treatment. You can also contact our team on our website to schedule an appointment with Dr. Thompson or Dr. Snow to discuss treatment options.
