Regenerative medicine is an up-and-coming treatment for various issues, including orthopaedic injuries. We even utilize it after surgery to stimulate your tissues to heal more efficiently.
If you're considering PRP therapy, you likely have many questions about when you feel the effects of the treatment and how often you may need repeat injections.
Dr. Brandon Downs and the team at Orthopaedic Specialists offer regenerative medicine treatments in conjunction with other therapies to enhance healing times and promote positive patient outcomes.
Dr. Downs is an orthopaedic specialist with years of experience in cutting-edge treatments and regenerative medicine therapies like PRP.
Understanding PRP therapy
PRP is an autologous treatment, meaning we make it from the cells in our blood. This treatment makes the therapy appealing to many patients because of the decreased risk of bloodborne infections from other blood products.
The main two components in PRP injections include platelets and plasma. Platelets are the cells in the blood that clump together and form clots when you're injured or bleeding. They also carry vital growth factors that help rebuild tissues from the inside out.
The plasma is the liquid aspect of the PRP injection, providing a vehicle for the platelets to enter your body and begin working.
PRP is a straightforward procedure that begins with a simple blood draw. We typically draw a vial of blood from your arm and take it to a machine called a centrifuge.
While in the centrifuge, the vial of blood spins down, separating the red and white blood cells from the plasma and platelets. It also concentrates the platelets to harness all the growth factors possible.
Once the machine finishes, we inject the prepared PRP into your joint or injury to stimulate healing and encourage faster and better results.
Who can benefit from PRP?
Many medical professionals use PRP for various reasons, from orthopaedic injuries like fractures to rejuvenating the skin with vampire facials.
Our practice uses PRP for chronic and acute injuries and after surgery to promote a fast recovery process. Some of the conditions we use PRP for include the following:
- Torn tendons or ligaments
- Fractures
- Tendinitis
- Osteoarthritis
- Muscle injuries
Dr. Downs also utilizes PRP for post-surgical healing after procedures like an ACL reconstruction or a rotator cuff repair, which helps to stimulate your body's healing response to the surgical area, promoting tissue growth and recovery.
When does PRP begin to work?
PRP is a long-acting treatment, so you may not see results immediately. However, Dr. Downs usually gives anesthetic medicine in the PRP injection, providing short-term, immediate pain relief.
It may take several weeks to months until you feel the full effects of the PRP injection — but why so long?
The platelets and growth factors need time to work, rebuilding essential cells and tissues. They also stimulate your body's healing process, which helps quicken the recovery time, even though it doesn't work overnight.
However, you should see noticeable changes in pain and mobility within a few weeks of the injection, with the results improving over time.
Dr. Downs often uses PRP in conjunction with other treatments like physical therapy to improve the outcome of your injury.
To schedule a PRP injection, call Orthopaedic Specialists today or request an online appointment at one of our six offices in the Nashville, Tennessee, area.
