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Platelet-rich plasma therapy, sometimes called PRP therapy, takes advantage of our blood’s natural healing properties to repair damaged cartilage, tendons, ligaments, muscles, or even bone.
A growing number of people are turning to PRP injections to treat an expanding list of painful conditions and or injuries, including osteoarthritis. It is commonly used for knee arthritis, we also use this method on other joints as well such as shoulders, wrists, sacroiliac, ankles and hips. This is also used to help treat pain from the neck and low back. This can be used to treat disk pain and or arthritic pain from the entire spine.
When treating osteoarthritis with platelet-rich plasma, we inject PRP directly into the affected joint.
The goal is to:
• Reduce pain
• Improve joint function
• Slow, halt and even repair damage to cartilage
Platelet-rich plasma is derived from a sample of the patient’s own blood which is easily obtained at their time of the visit. The therapeutic injections contain plasma with a higher concentration of platelets than is found in normal blood. This is also all
prepared in the doctor’s office.
What is plasma? Plasma refers to the liquid component of blood; it is the medium for red and white blood cells and other material traveling in the blood stream. Plasma is mostly water but also includes proteins, nutrients, glucose, and antibodies, among other components.
What are platelets? Like red and white blood cells, platelets are a normal component of blood. Platelets secrete substances called growth factors and other proteins that regulate cell division, stimulate tissue regeneration, and promote healing.
We use PRP therapy to treat osteoarthritis and also theorize that the platelet-rich plasma:
• Inhibits inflammation and slow down the progression of osteoarthritis
• Stimulates the formation of new cartilage
• Increases the production of natural lubricating fluid in the joint, thereby easing painful joint friction
• Contain proteins that alter a patient’s pain receptors and reduce pain sensation
Platelet-rich plasma injections are outpatient procedures. Because the patient’s blood must be drawn and prepared for injection, a typical procedure may take anywhere from 45 to 90 minutes.
Whether the patient has a one-time injection or a series of injections spaced over weeks or months is up to the individual patient and doctor. If a series of injections is planned, a doctor may recommend a single blood draw during the first visit and use fresh PRP in the first injection and freezing and thaw the remaining PRP as needed for future injections. However, some experts believe freezing and thawing PRP negatively affects its usefulness and prefer to do a separate blood draw for each PRP injection. Dr. Rosenblatt believes it is safer to take a fresh sample of blood prior to any new injection.
Platelet-Rich Plasma Injections
Require Precision
• An experienced physician, like Dr. Rosenblatt, should perform the injections. The use of imaging technology (e.g., fluoroscopic guidance) ensures a precise injection.
• Precision is important because, like viscosupplementation treatments, platelet-rich plasma injections must be made directly into the joint capsule.
Scientists are still exploring which arthritis patients should be eligible for PRP injections. While nodefinitive conclusions can be made, research suggests that PRP injections are appropriate for patients of all ages.
Dr. Rosenblatt explains, “When appropriate, PRP injections are an extremely safe and effective way to help treat the pain of so many different types of individuals. I have used this technique on young athletes and for older patients with joint and or spine pain with great success. It even surprises me sometimes how well this treatment works. It’s truly amazing how people with acute or chronic pain and or injuries respond to this treatment.”
In Dr. Rosenblatt’s beautiful freestanding interventional pain management building in Delray Beach, FL, individuals have been able to benefit from this technique. People have flown in from all over the United States for this treatment specifically with Dr. Rosenblatt. He has been performing this procedure with great success. Every patient is evaluated by the Dr. Rosenblatt and a comprehensive treatment plan is always made. Please look forward to more articles about Dr. Aaron Rosenblatt and the vast number of procedures he performs to help people with all types of pain. His main focus is to help individuals avoid surgery, eliminate pain medications and to ultimately feel much better on a daily basis and enjoy life!
American Pain Care Specialists
13722 S. Jog Road, Suite A, Delray Beach, FL 33446
Web: www.improvepain.com
Book An Appointment With Us Today!
561-819-6050
