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A recent study in the Journal of Intervention Medicine added to the growing consensus on the value of PRP (Platelet-Rich Plasma) injections in the medical field, spotlighting the impact PRP injections can have on patients experiencing chronic pain.
The study showed a single administration of intraarticular PRP injection is safe and effective for pain relief and functional improvement for knee pain sufferers up to 6 months after treatment. While the study focused only on knee pain patients, research across the medical field shows PRP injections offer enduring pain relief for many debilitating conditions and injuries.
How Do PRP Injections Help Relieve Pain?
The research shows growth factors in the platelet-rich plasma can stimulate or speed up the healing process, which shortens injury healing time and decreases pain. Growth factors contain reparative cells. As the damage heals, you’ll experience reduced inflammation, improving the functional rotation of the affected joint.
What Does the PRP Treatment Process Involve?
To produce the platelet-rich plasma, your doctor will draw blood and then place the blood into a centrifuge, which separates blood cells from the platelets and the plasma. After removing the red blood cells, only platelets (including cytokines and growth factors) and plasma remain.
The doctor injects the PRP sample into the target injured area. Many doctors use fluoroscopy and ultrasound to guide the PRP injection process with greater precision, to enhance PRP injection results, and to reduce treatment side effects.
What Types of Pain Can PRP Injections Treat?
PRP injections can help treat the pain symptoms associated with a range of conditions. The studies show PRP is suitable for relieving pain associated with:
- Golfer’s elbow and tennis elbow
- Neck conditions
- Osteoarthritis of the knee and shoulder
- Muscle strain recovery
- Shoulder pain treatment
- Rotator cuff injuries
- Cartilage injuries
- Tendon and ligament injuries
Why Are Patients Choosing Regenerative Medicine for Pain Relief Over Traditional Options?
According to Precedence Research, the global regenerative medicine industry was worth $29.42 billion in 2023, and projections show the industry will be valued at $154.05 billion by 2033.
Advances in regenerative techniques, growth of investment in bioprocessing facilities, increasing media coverage, and new studies showing how athletes benefit from regenerative medicine could be behind the PRP market growth.
Patients are increasingly seeking out alternatives to addictive pharmaceuticals and potentially dangerous surgery as a means to treat their chronic pain symptoms.
How Can I Determine If I’m a Good Candidate for PRP Pain Relief?
While there are no universal criteria for PRP pain relief candidates, patients who meet the following standards generally see the best results from PRP injections:
- You’ve tried NSAIDs, and they don’t provide sufficient pain relief
- Steroid injections don’t work or are against family doctor’s recommendations
- You’ve tried physical therapy with limited improvements
PRP injections are not suitable for:
- Patients who are anemic
- Patients who are pregnant
- Patients currently undergoing anticoagulation therapy
- Patients with bleeding disorders
The initial consultation with your PRP therapy doctor is instrumental in analyzing your pain levels and determining the best course of treatment.
During the consultation, your doctor will review your medical history, discuss your treatment goals, and explain the PRP therapy process to help you decide whether you wish to proceed with treatment. Once you and your doctor agree PRP may be a viable pain relief option, they will book initial diagnostics to analyze your symptoms and review the damage to the targeted area.
Upon establishing the cause of the pain, whether an injury or a systemic condition such as osteoarthritis, the doctor will plot your path to enduring pain relief with PRP therapy.
As Miami leaders for regenerative medicine, STEMS Health tailors our PRP treatment approach to you and your pain symptoms. We step beyond the one-size-fits-all approach to pain resolution and build individualized treatment programs combining your natural resources with our decades of experience in regenerative care.
Take the initial first step towards treating your pain symptoms for the long term. Call our Miami Beach clinic today at (305) 677-0565 to review the potential value of PRP injections.
