Joint pain is an issue that happens due to an injury or degeneration of tissues within the body’s joint spaces. Arthritis is a prevalent reason people experience joint pain, along with normal wear-and-tear or acute trauma.
Many treatments help with joint pain, but they don’t all fix the root problem. Platelet-rich plasma is a cutting-edge treatment that uses your own cells to promote healing in the joints.
At Delmarva Pain and Spine Center, Dr. Shachi Patel and her team offer regenerative medicine and other helpful treatments for acute and chronic pain.
Platelet-rich plasma is a form of regenerative medicine that utilizes your blood and cells to stimulate the body’s natural healing process. It’s a minimally invasive treatment that requires a blood draw and a needle stick.
The core components of PRP are platelets and plasma, two components of blood. Plasma is the liquid portion, while platelets help with clotting and have regenerative properties.
The PRP process is very simple. We take a vial or two of your blood and put it in a centrifuge. The centrifuge spins the blood down, separating the plasma and platelets from the other cells.
What’s left is a concentrated injection with platelets, growth factors, and plasma. The platelets contain effective growth factors that aid in healing injuries and degeneration from the inside out.
Joint pain occurs for many reasons – from degenerative arthritis to acute cartilage or tendon tears. Whatever the cause, joint pain is a real problem that affects every aspect of your life.
Physical therapy, oral medications, and steroid injections all help with joint pain, but they don’t fix the actual issue causing discomfort. PRP is a great option for pain relief because it targets the root cause.
Platelets contain potent growth factors that aid healing, thereby speeding up the body’s recovery mechanisms. The platelets do this by:
PRP helps address the underlying cause of joint pain, whether it's an injury or osteoarthritis. It does this through reducing the inflammatory response, restoring tissue integrity, and accelerating the body’s healing process.
The PRP procedure is quick and minimally invasive, taking only about 45 minutes for one injection. It’s relatively painless, requiring a needle stick for the blood draw and one for the injection itself.
There are a few side effects with PRP, including redness or soreness at the injection site and risk of infection. However, these risks are low with proper technique.
PRP isn’t an instant fix; it can take weeks to months for the platelets to begin repairing tissues to the point you get relief. However, once you notice a difference, it continues to improve over the next few months.
Many people experience relief after a PRP injection for several months to a year or more. Dr. Patel discusses your joint condition and health to give you an idea of how long you can expect to have relief.
To learn more about regenerative medicine for joint pain, schedule an appointment with Dr. Patel, call our Newark, Delaware office, or visit our website today.
