Platelet-Rich Plasma (PRP) Therapy

PRP therapy uses platelets from your own blood to not only relieve pain, but to help your body heal itself. It is especially effective for injuries to tendons, cartilage, or ligaments, especially in the shoulder, elbow, or ankle, such as rotator cuff tendonitis, tennis elbow, and Achilles tendonitis, and for osteoarthritis, particularly in the knee, hip, or shoulder.

The entire platelet-rich plasma therapy process takes less than an hour. First, we draw blood and place it in a centrifuge for about 15 minutes to separate out the platelets. We then use an ultrasound machine to help guide the location of the platelet-rich plasma injection into the injured area of your body.

We will generally recommend physical therapy to help improve your strength and mobility. After six to 12 weeks, we ask that you come back in for an evaluation. We find that most patients experience substantial pain relief within 12 weeks, though some may require repeated treatments.

We do not recommend PRP therapy to our patients who:

• Have had a blood-borne cancer, such as leukemia, that hasn’t been in remission for at least five years
• Are pregnant
• Use a high dose of Coumadin
• Have Parkinson’s disease or cerebral palsy
• Have numerous medical conditions