Living with chronic pain after you have sustained an injury can make your life miserable. You may lose hope of ever being at your best since you have to endure debilitating pain and ineffective treatments. Due to the resulting limited mobility and isolation, you may become depressed and anxious. There is hope at Montclair Rejuvenation Center. The facility specialists have a reputation for pain management and restoring mobility among patients suffering from chronic pain using platelet-rich plasma (PRP) therapy.
The method helps damaged cells and tissue to regenerate using your body’s natural healing mechanism. This being a relatively new treatment method, most people have incorrect perceptions about how it works. Below, we bust 4 myths about PRP therapy to help you learn how this treatment works and what you stand to gain from it.
Myth 1. PRP Therapy is Only Available to Professional Athletes
The media has focused much on how elite athletes have bounced back into sports after an injury when using PRP therapy. Do not fall for this marketing gimmick since this is only meant to show how effective PRP therapy is. You do not have to be an athlete to access this treatment option.
Your treatment starts with your doctor isolating platelets from your blood using a centrifuge. The platelets are then mixed with local anesthesia before being injected into the treatment site. Treated blood has a high concentration of platelets (about 10 times higher) than a similar untreated blood volume. Your doctor is guided by ultrasound or fluoroscopy to deliver an accurate injection in the treatment site.
Myth 2. PRP Therapy is Not Safe
Since PRP therapy uses your plasma, the risk of developing an allergy after treatment is nonexistent. You may experience temporal slight pain and tenderness in the area of treatment soon after the injection. Your doctor will assess your injury and health history to establish if you are the right candidate for the procedure during your consultation.
Myth 3. PRP Therapy Will Not Help my Specific Injury
Similar to any other treatment option, there is no guarantee about wellness when using PRP therapy. However, there have been positive results among patients using this method to treat muscle, ligament, and tendon injuries. PRP has also been found to offer relief against pain and inflammation among patients with cartilage and bone injuries. The treatment can help if you have the following conditions:
- Tendonitis
- Rotator cuff injuries
- Arthritis
- Sciatica
Myth 4. PRP Therapy is an Experimental Technique
PRP therapy is based on established medical mechanisms. Your plasma is rich in proteins including growth factors that help speed up recovery after an injury. The platelet solution helps in blood clotting when you suffer an injury, stimulates tissue growth, and attracts stem cells, and enhances blood flow at the injured location to increase collagen production.
PRP therapy is being used in maxillofacial surgery and treating musculoskeletal injuries, common among athletes.
Consult your experienced doctor to learn more about PRP therapy.
