Platelet Rich Plasma (PRP) Injection.
PRP INJECTIONS
PRP injections can be used to settle down painful inflamed joints or to help with the healing of soft tissues.
At MP Sports Physicians, we use Regen Lab PRP kits, which allow us to produce different types of PRP.
Leucocyte (white cell) rich PRP is used for injection into degenerative tendons (tendinopathies) as the white cells induce a stronger inflammatory and healing response. We also call this THT.
Leucocyte (white cell) poor PRP has very few white cells, making it more suited to injection into joints where we are trying to settle inflammation down. This version would be used to help the symptoms of arthritis
INJECTION PROCESS
Your PRP will be injected under ultrasound guidance into your problem area. The skin will be cleaned, then local anaesthetic injected around the area to numb it. When possible, the doctor will inject the PRP through the same needle as the anaesthetic by changing the syringe over, but sometimes there will be 2 separate injections required. A dressing will be applied to the skin on completion and you may be given a compression bandage to optimise comfort and minimise swelling.
HOW MANY INJECTIONS WILL I NEED?
This depends on your condition. Many patients with knee arthritis need 3 injections over 3 weeks, but many tendons only ever need one.
WHEN WILL I FEEL BETTER?
You will usually have substantial pain improvements within 2 weeks, but joints often take 6 – 8 weeks to fully settle and full healing of a tendon takes at least 12 weeks.
There are a number of groups researching the effects of PRP. There have been contentious results in some of the research. Make sure you discuss the pros and cons of your particular case with your doctor to have a realistic expectation of outcomes.
PRP is only one part of your recovery. It can kick start the body into settling or healing the affected area, but once this has been achieved, it is important that you can commit to your rehabilitation and strengthening program. Please ask your doctor for instruction sheets specific to your condition outlining your post procedure recovery plan.