Platelet Rich Plasma Injections (PRP) at Manhattan Wellness Group
Platelet Rich Plasma Injections (PRP) At Manhattan Wellness Group
Platelet-rich plasma injections are one of the latest and most exciting advancements in regenerative medicine. A patient gets an infusion of their plasma to speed up the healing of injured tendons, ligaments, joints, or muscles. It uses the body's growth factors and stems cells to help with regenerating tissue.
What Exactly is PRP?
PRP is blood plasma enriched with platelets, and it represents almost half of the total blood volume. The primary role of plasma is to take nutrients, hormones, and proteins to the body parts.
To create plasma, the doctor takes a patient's blood and puts it in a centrifuge machine. The centrifuge spins it to separate the plasma from the rest of the blood components, containing platelets that help regenerate damaged tissue.
What Are the Indications for PRP?
The most common indications for platelet-rich plasma treatment is tendinitis or specific joint pain. Both pre-op or post-op patients benefit from faster healing and regeneration. Initial studies have shown that PRP injections into painful areas provide excellent pain relief. Tendons or especially ligaments, have an inadequate blood supply and, when damaged, can heal faster using growth factors and stem cells in the plasma.
How is the Procedure Performed?
A doctor takes 30-60 cc's of the patient's blood and places it in a centrifuge to separate it into three layers. The top layer includes the plasma and platelets, while the bottom contains red blood cells since they are the most substantial component and the middle layer of the white blood cells. The result contains more than four times of blood concentration. Once the PRP solution is ready, and the injection area sterilized, numbing medicine can comfort a patient.
How Well Does PRP Work?
The pain generally improves within a few weeks; since the tissue is healing slowly, it is a more gradual and extensive than steroid treatments.
PRP injections are often combined with a physical therapy program since physical therapy helps new tissue growth.
Most insurance companies typically cover PRP, and we'd be happy to call your insurance and get the necessary authorizations.