Platelet-rich plasma, or PRP, has exploded in popularity among patients and providers, thanks to its ability to accelerate and support healing. This article answers many of the top questions people ask the best injury clinic in Chino Hills about PRP, including what to expect during and after PRP treatment.
Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) injections have become one of the most requested regenerative medicine treatments for people with chronic pain or pain that keeps coming back from old injuries. If you’re unfamiliar with PRP, it’s an orthobiologic treatment that uses a small sample of your own blood to stimulate tissue healing, reduce inflammation, and ease pain at its source.
PRP contains five to 10 times the platelet concentration found in normal blood, making it a powerhouse for regenerative medicine. Continue reading to learn what PRP is most often used for, what you can expect during treatment, and where to find regenerative medicine specialists who offer the best PRP therapy in Chino Hills.
What Can Platelet-Rich Therapy Help Treat?
In orthopedics and sports medicine, PRP injections are commonly recommended for conditions that are slow to heal or keep coming back. Some of the most common conditions that PRP works for include:
- Arthritis pain, including osteoarthritis
- Sports injuries, including those involving the neck, spine, or joints
- Overuse injuries, especially those that cause knee pain or shoulder pain
- Tendon and ligament injuries, including tennis elbow, golfer’s elbow, and plantar fasciitis
- Achilles tendinopathy
- Muscle tears and strains
How Platelet-Rich Therapy Works
PRP treatment starts with a simple in-office blood draw, similar to when you’d get a routine lab test. That vial of blood is then placed in a centrifuge, which spins fast and separates the blood into layers. One layer is a platelet-rich plasma concentrate containing platelets. Platelets are best known for helping blood clot, but they also release chemical signals called growth factors. These growth factors help signal the body’s repair process for irritated or injured tissue. PRP is meant to support healing, which takes some time. In the weeks following treatment, you should notice a gradual decrease in pain and inflammation as tissues heal and rebuild.
What to Expect During Platelet-Rich Treatment
A PRP therapy appointment is usually a simple, outpatient procedure performed in-office with little to no downtime:
- First, you’ll have a quick blood draw, similar to those done for lab testing
- Next, the blood is placed in a centrifuge that separates the platelet-rich plasma from the rest of the blood products
- Then the PRP is injected directly into the area being treated, such as a knee, shoulder, or a specific tendon or muscle
- Depending on the part of the body where you’re getting PRP, the best injury clinic in Chino Hills may use imaging guidance, like ultrasound, to ensure the injection goes exactly where you need it
The most common question people ask is, “Does getting a PRP injection hurt?” For most patients, feeling a brief pressure during the injection is normal. This pressure fades shortly after the procedure, but you may have some soreness, similar to what you’d feel after a workout, for a few days.
What to Expect After Platelet-Rich Treatment
PRP recovery is usually very manageable. In fact, most patients have very little downtime. However, you may experience:
- Feeling sore, especially around the injection area
- Mild swelling where the injection was done
- Bruising around the injection site
You can support your recovery from PRP treatment by taking it easy for a few days after your treatment, including skipping heavy lifting, long runs, or hard workouts until your clinician clears you. Many providers also advise avoiding anti-inflammatory medicines like ibuprofen or naproxen for a window of time, since PRP is meant to work with your body’s healing inflammation rather than shutting it down. The key to a great recovery and successful treatment is to follow the rehab and return-to-activity plan you are given.
Platelet-Rich Therapy Side Effects and Risks
Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) therapy is usually a low-risk procedure, but there are still some side effects and risks you should be aware of. Short-term, local soreness, bruising, and swelling are normal and usually resolve within a day or two. More serious complications are uncommon and may include infections or nerve or tissue damage. Having certain blood or platelet disorders, an active infection, or taking certain medications could increase your risks, so working with an accredited facility and medical providers is important.
Finding the Best Injury Clinic in Chino Hills for Platelet-Rich Plasma Treatments
Chronic pain can turn your entire life upside down. At Southern California Injury Treatment Center, we offer the best PRP therapy in Chino Hills for accelerating healing with your body’s natural healing cells.
At our state-of-the-art regenerative medicine clinic, our team starts by pinpointing what’s actually driving your pain, then matches your recovery plan to your goals, whether that’s getting back to work comfortably, returning to training, or finally calming a flare that keeps coming back.
Ready to heal old injuries or chronic pain with platelet-rich plasma treatment from the best regenerative medicine clinic in Chino Hills?
