PRP – Harnessing your Body’s Healing Potential

PRP (Platelet Rich Plasma), is a cutting-edge treatment option that has shown effective results in promoting tissue healing and reducing inflammation.  The leading frontier of orthopedic surgery is called Orthobiologics, which includes regenerative stem cells, and stem-cell-like treatment options, like PRP. 

If you’re sidelined from your activities due to injury, or because of inflammation like bursitis, tendinitis (rotator cuff, biceps, achilles, patellar tendon, tennis elbow, golfer’s elbow) or arthritis, you might have tried various conservative treatments like rest, physical therapy, anti-inflammatory medications, and even cortisone steroid injections, but the pain persists, affecting your game, work and your daily life. 

Don’t give up! Your body is amazing as its own resource to help heal itself!

PRP is Simple in Nature

Even though PRP is cutting-edge and revolutionary, it’s very simple and straightforward and is performed in the office. We prepare PRP by drawing your blood, and then centrifuging it to separate the red cell layer from the PRP layer, which is then injected into your joint or the site of your injury.

The dense concentration of platelets is anti-inflammatory, like cortisone (but without the side effects of cortisone), and jumpstarts healing so that your body can quickly repair your injury and restore function.  Platelets also have growth factors and cytokines, like platelet-derived growth factors and insulin-like growth factors, that can aid and expedite healing. Professional athletes like Steph Curry, Rafael Nadal, Tiger Woods, Takashi Saito, and Christiano Ronaldo have had PRP treatments. 

Not only is it a same-day procedure, but most patients leave the office within an hour. 

Tissue Injury

For tissue injury, when PRP is injected into the damaged area, it stimulates the tendon or ligament to activate the healing cascade. The concentration of platelets — and, thereby, the concentration of growth factors — can be 5 to 10 times greater. As a result, new collagen begins to form in the injured tissue.

This may improve pain and function and eliminate the need for more aggressive treatments such as long term medication or surgery. 

Arthritis

For arthritis, Level-1 research studies have shown that PRP and its anti-inflammatory response improves pain, stiffness, and function, better and longer than cortisone injections and lubricant injections.   

Also, multiple cortisone injections, if too frequent or too numerous, may actually weaken tissue and affect cartilage. Cortisone shots may provide temporary pain relief and stop inflammation, but it’s short-lived. PRP is your own natural anti-inflammatory and lasts longer. 

It’s akin to the tortoise and the hare story.  Cortisone is like the hare, the bunny – it works quickly but then goes away quickly.  PRP’s anti-inflammatory effect is like the tortoise-  slower, but steady, and sustained for the win!

Limits

There is no limit to the number of treatments you can have; however, literature has shown that about 15% of patients do not see improvement and might then consider other treatments such as surgery at that point. 

Dr. Ignacio is a surgeon who believes surgery doesn’t have to be the answer to everything. Your own blood has the healing power to restore joint function and optimize tissue healing. It’s like “surgery without surgery,” as her own patient described.

And if surgery is required, PRP can allow the choice to opt for the repair of one’s own tissue and enhance the repair, as opposed to having to resort to a reconstruction that requires replacing your tissue.  Your body’s own healing potential is incredible!