How Does Platelet-Rich Plasma Therapy Work In Regenerative Medicine?

Platelet-rich plasma therapy has become a very popular treatment approach  in recent years. Orthopedic and sports medicine practitioners mostly use these injections to help athletes and other people overcome injuries and chronic conditions. That’s because platelets have this amazing ability to kickstart healing and rejuvenate damaged tissue.

Read on to discover how platelet-rich plasma therapy works, what conditions it can help with, the benefits of this treatment approach, and where to find regenerative medicine therapy in Woodlands, Texas.

What Is Platelet-Rich Plasma?

The liquid part of your blood is called plasma, and it contains red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets. Each component plays a vital role in our bodies. For example, platelets are a reservoir of growth factors essential for blood clotting, immune response, formation of new blood vessels, and healing. 

Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) is simply blood plasma drawn from a patient and processed to increase platelets’ concentration and activity. After that, a doctor injects PRP into the injured or problematic area to stimulate healing processes.

How Does Platelet-Rich Plasma Therapy Work?

Regenerative medicine aims to repair tissues and organs damaged due to injury, old age, disease, or other factors. PRP therapy does exactly that. Here is how it works:

Injection

After you talk to a regenerative medicine specialist and confirm that PRP therapy is the right treatment approach, you will visit their office. During the appointment, they will draw blood from you and put it in the centrifuge to separate the red and white blood cells from the platelets. 

The highly-concentrated platelets are mixed with blood plasma and injected into an injured area. Sometimes a doctor may use ultrasound technology to ensure the best injection site for maximum benefits.

Activation

After the injection, growth factors activate many signaling pathways that stimulate healing and reduce inflammation. As a result, patients may experience pain in the injection site or injured area for days or weeks. However, they can expect the benefits to start after the pain subsides.

Relief

PRP therapy is a safe procedure that usually doesn’t cause side effects. However, some people may experience soreness, redness, discomfort, and bruising. In some instances, PRP injections could cause nerve injuries, infection, tissue damage, or bleeding. Since they are made with a patient’s blood, the risk of allergic reaction is low.

Most patients experience pain relief during the first weeks of the treatment. However, you should talk to your regenerative medicine doctor and discuss when you can expect significant benefits based on your condition and the treatment.

Who Can Benefit From PRP Therapy?

Doctors use PRP injections to help people with:

• Hair loss
• Injuries of muscles, ligaments, or tendons
• Post-operative healing
• Osteoarthritis
• Skin rejuvenation
• Bursitis
• Back and shoulder pain
• Knee problems
• Other conditions

Regenerative Medicine Therapy in Woodlands, Texas

You can get platelet-rich injections and other regenerative medicine modalities in Progressive Pain and Rehabilitation in Woodlands, Texas. This regenerative medicine center uses innovative and personalized treatments to achieve the best health outcomes. We offer non-surgical solutions that eliminate your symptoms and help you live a pain-free life.

Click on the button below to schedule an appointment with Dr. Edward Nash and discuss platelet-rich plasma and other regenerative medicine treatments to overcome your pain and injuries.