Platelet Rich Plasma

Platelet-rich plasma or PRP is a very concentrated liquid full of your blood platelets. Your platelets start the blood clotting process after an injury. Platelets also contain growth factors — enormously potent proteins that restore damage and stimulate new tissue growth where needed. 

After an injury or any kind of tissue damage, the growth factors naturally present within your blood start the healing process. A PRP injection gives you that same injury response, but it’s far more effective because PRP contains only the platelets from your blood. 

A PRP solution that comes from your blood has up to 10 times as many platelets as the blood in your body, so it’s essentially pure superpowered healing in a tube. 

When reintroduced to your body by injection, PRP can immediately start rapid healing, targeting the area where you need it.

PRP can treat injuries and degenerative damage. It’s a common sports injury treatment for tendinitis, tendon tears, rotator cuff tears, and muscle damage. PRP may also help with osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis, but it’s not appropriate for all people with arthritis. 

If you’re having chronic pain due to tissue damage and inflammation, the Pain Control Center of Pittsburgh team may recommend PRP as part of a complete treatment plan. 

Your Pain Control Center of Pittsburgh provider uses a thin syringe to withdraw 15-50 mL (less than 2 ounces) of blood, usually from an arm vein. 

Then, a centrifuge whirls the blood at an extremely high speed. After the centrifuge process, your provider draws the highest quality platelets (the PRP) into a syringe. They safely discard the leftover platelet-poor plasma and red blood cells. 

In most cases, the Pain Control Center of Pittsburgh uses either X-ray or ultrasound guidance for PRP treatments. These imaging techniques show a real-time picture of the treatment area, which allows for optimal precision. 

Because the needle used in PRP is extremely thin, it’s usually a comfortable treatment process. The PRP treatment normally takes around 45-90 minutes in total. 

Some people may achieve healing and pain relief with just one treatment, while others may need several injections spread out over time. 

The Pain Control Center of Pittsburgh team designs a recovery plan centered around your needs so you can get the most from your PRP injections. Call the office or schedule an appointment online now.