Platelet-rich plasma therapy or PRP, is an advanced treatment option that uses the patient’s own blood components to stimulate the body’s healing process in the damaged or injured area causing pain. How does it work?
Our blood is comprised of red blood cells, white blood cells, plasma proteins, and platelets. Platelets are known to release powerful growth factors into the blood stream that stimulates advanced healing in soft tissue. PRP therapy allows physicians the ability to isolate and concentrate the platelets found within the blood, creating a potent solution of natural protein rich growth factors that can be used to treat a variety of chronic pain conditions.
Michigan Pain Consultants is currently offering two options of platelet rich plasma therapy, standard platelet rich plasma (PRP) and leukocyte depleted protein enriched platelet rich Plasma, (L-PRP)
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Standard Platelet Rich Plasma
The general process of obtaining and preparing PRP is relatively simple. For a standard PRP procedure, a small amount of blood is drawn from the patient, placed in a filter and spun in a specially designed centrifuge to isolate and increase the concentration of platelets. This highly concentrated solution of platelets is then injected directly into the site of injury or damaged area, initiating a natural regenerative response from the body.
Standard platelet-rich plasma therapy is commonly used for acute and chronic conditions such as: tendinopathy, tendinosis, plantar fasciitis, muscle strains, annular disc tears, Achilles tendon injuries and joint inflammation.
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Leukocyte Depleted Protein Enhanced Platelet Rich Plasma (L-PRP)
The process for obtaining platelets for a L-PRP procedure is very similar to that of a standard PRP procedure. As with a standard PRP, blood is drawn from the patient, placed in a filter and spun in a specially designed centrifuge to isolate the platelets from the blood components. For L-PRP, the process to isolate the platelets and growth factors goes one step further. Following the centrifuge process, white blood cells (leukocytes) are also removed from the concentrated platelet solution through an additional filter. This additional filter also concentrates plasma proteins which inhibit the release of enzymes that stimulate the degenerative process. The L-PRP solution is then injected under guided x-ray directly into the site of injury, much in the same way as the standard PRP option.
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Why Remove White Blood Cells?
When injury occurs, white blood cells flood the injured or diseased area of the body and begin the process of breaking down the damaged cells or tissues. This process ignites inflammation which can cause pain, swelling and irritation at the site of injury. By removing white blood cells from the equation, inflammation is limited, prompting normal collagen generation and a reduction in the tissue damage incurred by limiting the breakdown of damaged cells during the healing process.
L-PRP therapy is indicated for both acute and chronic pain conditions such as: Osteoarthritis of the knee, shoulder and hip, tendon conditions and chronic nerve pain.
Platelet-Rich Plasma Therapy Patient Experience and Information
