CARE & TREATMENT IN NEW YORK AND NEW JERSEY
Platelet Rich Plasma (PRP) injections are a cutting-edge medical procedure designed to alleviate joint and muscle pain. This treatment is particularly effective for conditions such as arthritis, muscle strain, tendinitis, tendinosis, torn ligaments, and other injuries to connective tissues.
The development of PRP injections can be traced back to Royal Biologics, a pioneering company that 2014 became one of the first ten companies worldwide to create a disposable vessel for spinning PRP and bone marrow. This advancement marked a significant milestone in regenerative medicine, offering patients a promising alternative to traditional pain management methods.
The PRP injection process is straightforward yet highly effective. It begins with drawing a small amount of the patient’s blood into a PRP syringe. This syringe is then placed in a centrifuge and spun for 5-8 minutes to separate the blood components. The PRP is isolated from the red and white blood cells (depending on whether a leukocyte-rich or leukocyte-poor PRP is needed).
Once the PRP is prepared, it is drawn into a syringe with the appropriate needle size and injected into the joint, ligament, or muscle that requires treatment. For spinal disorders, this procedure is performed under fluoroscopy to ensure precise delivery. At the same time, treatments for other joints may involve ultrasound guidance or the skillful use of anatomical landmarks by the provider.
The equipment used for PRP injections includes a centrifuge-based closed PRP system, vials, syringes, and needles. The entire procedure typically takes about 20-30 minutes, depending on the joint being treated, the patient’s body habitus, and the ease of venipuncture.
Patients preparing for a PRP injection should expect a venipuncture to draw the PRP sample. It’s crucial to minimize NSAID use seven days before and after the procedure, and those with significant cardiac history or on medications such as ASA, Plavix, or Eliquis should consult their doctor.
During the procedure, patients undergoing spinal disc injections will be positioned on their stomachs. The initial blood draw involves just a pinch, and the area to be injected will be numbed with lidocaine to minimize discomfort.
After the injection, patients should avoid alcohol, smoking, and applying ointments or lotions around the injection site for at least three days. The site should remain dry and free from irritation during this period.
The primary benefits of PRP injections include improved function, decreased inflammation, and reduced pain. Unlike treatments that merely mask symptoms, PRP injections promote healthy tissue regeneration, offering a more permanent solution.
Most patients require only 1-3 injections for successful results, unlike other treatments such as epidural steroid injections (ESI), trigger point injections (TPI), or Botox, which often require continuous administration over months or years.
While PRP injections are generally safe, potential risks include soreness (indicating the treatment is working), bleeding, bruising, swelling, infection, and injury to surrounding structures. Complications are managed with pressure dressings, compression, and antibiotics as necessary. Using fluoroscopy and sterile fields (chloroprep) further ensures patient safety.
Ideal candidates for PRP injections include patients with herniated nucleus pulposus (HNP), discogenic back pain, degenerative disc disease (DDD), degenerative joint disease (DJD), torn ligaments or tendons, ligament or tendon strains, and connective tissue damage. Additionally, it can benefit patients who have not responded to corticosteroid injections (CSI) or hyaluronic acid (HA) treatments or those seeking post-operative tissue healing.
However, PRP injections are not suitable for patients with recent stent placements who cannot discontinue blood thinners, those at high risk of adverse embolic or thrombotic events, individuals with bleeding disorders, anemia, platelet disorders, or those undergoing chemotherapy. Patients with HIV/AIDS, hepatitis, or rheumatoid arthritis should also avoid this procedure.
Following PRP injections, patients can expect decreased pain and inflammation, along with increased function. Improvement in your symptoms can be seen as early as 1 week after the injection. However, it may take 3 weeks to 3 months to achieve your most optimal result.
A follow-up appointment in 3-4 weeks is recommended to discuss the healing process and assess progress.
Major academic institutions such as the Hospital for Special Surgery (HSS) and renowned doctors like Dr. Rodeo have documented case studies and patient testimonials highlighting the success of PRP injections.
Platelet Rich Plasma (PRP) injections activate your body’s natural healing process at the site of injection. This leads to active regeneration of healthy tissue by promoting a cascade of cellular signaling molecules that are normally active when your body is initially injured. These cells, proteins, and enzymes tell your body to form new healthy collagen fibers, connective tissues, and hyaline cartilage.
PRP is made from your own blood. The process of making PRP starts with drawing your blood using a small needle. The blood is then spun in a machine. This machine is called a centrifuge and it is used to separate the different components of your blood. Once the blood is separated by centrifugation, the red blood cells, the white blood cells and the plasma can be extracted. The plasma contains a highly concentrated amount of platelets, proteins, and enzymes. The platelets are blood cells that promote clotting and healing at the site of injury, which allows our body to heal and recover. Once platelet cells are activated in our body from an injury, the platelet cells then activate a signaling cascade of other cells, enzymes, and proteins that promote healing, repair, and regeneration of new healthy tissue. This is why PRP is so advantageous; because it allows your own body to repair itself.
You should consider PRP injections if you have:
You should get a PRP injection because it is a form of regenerative medicine meaning that it doesn’t just treat symptoms like pain and radiculopathy, but it actually induces healing and new tissue formation. This means that your injury is actively healing. Rather than a steroid injection or medications that mask the pain, PRP will heal the affected area and result in a more permanent solution. Steroid injections are very useful and have been used with great success for decades, however a steroid injection simply reduces inflammation and in turn decreased pain, however, structurally nothing changes.
PRP works by initially causing inflammation, because inflammation is how our body knows to heal itself. Then shortly after the initial inflammatory stage, the healing stage will begin leading to reduced inflammation, decreased pain, and increased healthy cellular turnover and new healthy cell function. Moreover, you will need fewer PRP treatments compared to other types of injections.
You can start seeing results from PRP injections in about 1-2 weeks. Sometimes, it may take up to 12 weeks with consecutive injections once every 4 weeks for the affected area to fully heal. In other words, it may take 3 injections over the course of 12 weeks to achieve the most optimal healing results. This means that after getting the initial injection, it could take a few days before your pain begins to improve. Although other types of injections may take away pain more readily, PRP injections don’t just treat your symptoms, but instead achieve lasting results by removing damaged cells and replacing them with healthy cells.
PRP injections are generally safe, but there can be some side effects. These include:
If any problems come up, they can usually be fixed with bandages, pressure, or antibiotics. The procedure is done using special techniques to keep it as safe as possible.
After getting a PRP injection, keep the bandage on for the rest of the day and take it off after three days. For at least three days, don’t drink alcohol, smoke, or put any creams or lotions on the injection site. Keep the area dry and don’t rub or irritate it.
You’ll have a follow-up appointment in 3-4 weeks to check how you’re healing and to discuss any next steps. This visit is important to make sure the treatment is working well and to address any questions or concerns.
PRP injections offer a promising solution for those seeking relief from joint and muscle pain and promote long-term healing. For more information or to schedule a consultation, please call our office at 516-355-0111 or click here to fill out an appointment request form.
