PRP for Pain Management
PRP
Platelet Rich Plasma
One of the latest and most exciting advancements in regenerative medicine is Platelet Rich Plasma, known as PRP.
BU Wellness & Med Spa is proud to offer PRP therapy for a variety of medical and aesthetic needs to our clients.
Platelet Rich Plasma is a fraction of your own blood drawn and spun down in a special centrifuge, and then reinjected into damaged areas to promote cell regeneration. Platelets are very small cells in your blood that are involved in the blood clotting process. They release multiple growth factors that stimulate tissue growth. In particular, PRP stimulates the growth of collagen which is the main component of connective tissue. This promotes healing and tissue responses including attracting stem cells to repair damaged tissues.
PRP needs to be prepared in a way to ensure the maximum amount of platelets along with a high concentration of growth factors. The more growth factors that can be delivered to the damaged tissues, the more likely tissue healing takes place. At BU Wellness Clinic, our PRP procedures incorporate significantly higher blood platelet concentration and are much purer than PRP offered at clinics utilizing a simple bedside centrifuge to process blood draws. Our PRP therapy procedures produce the best possible patient results and fewer inflammatory side effects due to the purity of the PRP mixture.
PRP is prepared by drawing 50cc’s of whole blood from the patient and then spinning the blood in a special centrifuge that layers out platelets. This 50cc’s of whole blood generally yields about 7-8cc’s of platelet rich plasma.
Prior to a PRP procedure, a patient needs to hold non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs for at least 4-5 days, and may resume them one week after. Also, patients with blood thinners including Aspirin need to hold them for one week before the procedure.
Contraindications to the administration of PRP include platelet dysfunction, low platelet count, infection, anemia, sepsis, anti-coagulation therapy and chronic skin disease or cancer.
How is PRP Collected
Blood is drawn from patient's arm
Centrifuge whole blood
Separate RBC, WBC and Platelet
Aspirate serum only and spin again
Obtain highly concentrated platelet
PRP for Pain Management
PRP therapy is a regenerative approach, diametrically opposite to the traditional method of healing tissue injuries which has been to use non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs as well as steroid injections, which while reducing inflammation, also markedly impede the healing process. This is the cutting edge of medicine and has helped many high profile athletes to recover quickly from injury without surgery.
PRP has been shown in a number of studies to decrease pain and inflammation and enhance healing in multiple orthopedic conditions and sports related injuries.
The average number of treatments is two to four separated by four to six week intervals. The need for another treatment can be determined by the responsiveness of tissues to the therapy.
PRP is an ideal alternative to total joint replacement and cortisone injections for patients with moderate arthritis of the knee, shoulder, hip or other joints. If you would like to find out more about PRP procedures and how it can benefit your pain condition, then contact us at 630. 891.3131 to schedule your appointment today.