Living with chronic pain changes your life. Constant discomfort and ineffective treatments can lead to frustration and depression. From a social perspective, you can easily become isolated when you’re unable to participate in everyday activities.
Today’s advances in regenerative medicine offer treatment for pain relief without medication or surgery. Regenerative medicine works with your body’s own mechanisms to replace or “regenerate” damaged cells and tissues. When effective, the healing process can help relieve pain, restore function, and allow you to live a more normal life.
One of the most promising therapies in regenerative medicine involves platelet-rich plasma (PRP). This treatment has been successful in treating many types of soft-tissue injuries and diseases.
Interventional pain specialist Phillip Lim, DO, MPH, and the staff at NuVation Pain Group in Los Angeles and Buena Park, California, have extensive experience in using PRP to decrease pain and improve function. Dr. Lim’s expertise in regenerative medicine treatments ensures that each patient has the best possible outcome.
How does PRP work?
PRP uses elements from your own blood to promote healing and restore function. Platelets contain hundreds of proteins, including growth factors that help injuries heal. The proteins in platelets provide your body’s first response to injury or bleeding. When you’re hurt, your body sends platelets to the wound site to help blood clot and wounds heal.
Platelets also stimulate tissue growth when they release growth factors and other proteins. The growth factors increase collagen production and attract more stem cells and blood flow to the affected area, which aids in healing.
Dr. Lim creates your PRP solution by drawing a sample of your blood and using a centrifuge to separate the platelets from other cells. Without the other cells, the platelet-rich plasma solution contains a higher concentration of proteins than the same volume of normal blood. This concentrated solution provides more healing power to help reduce pain, slow injury progression, promote healing, or decrease the need for surgery.
What can I expect from PRP treatment?
Preparation of the PRP injection site includes cleansing the area and then numbing it with a local anesthetic. During the procedure, Dr. Lim may use ultrasound or fluoroscopy to ensure accurate location of the damaged area for precise placement of the injection in the affected tissue or joint.
Because it uses your own blood, there’s no risk of an allergic reaction with PRP therapy. You may have increased tenderness or pain at the injection site after the procedure. The American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons reports that the risks associated with PRP treatment, such as infection, tissue damage, or nerve damage, don’t exceed those typical with cortisone injections.
What types of conditions does PRP treat?
PRP can effectively treat many types of pain caused by injury or disease. Some examples are:
- Tendon injuries, such as tennis elbow
- Cartilage injuries
- Degenerative disc disease
- Heel pain (plantar fasciitis)
- Ligament or muscle strains
- Rotator cuff injuries
- Sciatica
- Spinal stenosis
Your eligibility for PRP treatment varies depending on the source of your pain, your overall health, and other contributing issues. After a thorough examination, Dr. Lim determines whether PRP is right for you.
Find out how platelet-rich plasma treatment can effectively relieve your symptoms and help you return to a normal life. Schedule a consultation with Dr. Lim to learn whether regenerative and restorative therapy is right for you. Book an appointment online, or call the office convenient to you to start your journey toward recovery.
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