Your shoulders are the most mobile joints in the body, so they are more prone to injuries. The most common shoulder injuries include sprains and strains, dislocations, slap tear, rotator cuff injury, and arthritis among others. Fortunately, the continued advancement in medical technology has resulted in advanced treatment options for these injuries.
Platelet Rich Plasma (PRP) therapy is a modern regenerative treatment that involves the use of body stem cells and utilizes the body’s natural ability to heal itself. It entails administering non-steroid injections on the injured part of the shoulders. PRP is one of the latest medical technologies that offer effective treatment options for patients with soft tissue injuries by shortening the rehabilitation period and eliminating the need for surgery.
The PRP Treatment Process
The physician obtains blood samples from the patient and puts it in a centrifuge to separate the blood into various components. The PRP is then separated from the other components in your blood such as red blood cells and injected into the injured joint or soft tissue in the shoulder. The injections are performed under the guidance of ultrasound or fluoroscopic to precisely place the PRP in the affected areas. Growth factors are then released to accelerate the production of reparative cells that help in restoring the injured shoulder tissues.
Before the Treatment
For quicker recovery, experts recommend that the patient should avoid strenuous exercise during the period leading to the treatment. Doctors also advise that one should keep away from the use of Nonsteroidal-Inflammatory drugs (NSAIDS) in the weeks before and after the PRP injection. This is because NSAIDs may inhibit the tissue healing process, thus rendering the treatment ineffective.
After the Treatment
Patients are likely to experience soreness for about two or three days after PRP therapy. The patient may experience slight discomfort in the injected areas, although injections into the shoulder joint impose minimal discomfort. It is imperative to note that PRP therapy is a progressive gradual process so the pain will reduce progressively over the healing period.
The recovery time frame is estimated at three to six months after the injections. For fast recovery, it is prudent to follow the doctor’s instructions and attend the scheduled follow-up appointments without fail so that the physician can monitor the healing process appropriately.
Pros of PRP Therapy
Platelet rich plasma therapy has recently gained popularity as an effective non-steroid treatment. The most outstanding advantage of PRP therapy is that it has no allergic reactions because it uses one’s own blood. Additionally, the treatment is a gradual restorative process that ensures complete healing through comprehensive repair of the injured shoulder area. Since it is not a surgical procedure, PRP eliminates the danger of post-surgery complications.
Furthermore, PRP injections are simple and painless and can be administered conveniently at the doctor’s office since the procedure does not require elaborate preparations. PRP is a convenient treatment method that fosters quick recovery thus saving the patient time and money. Since it is a healing therapy, PRP offers a long lasting solution to healing shoulder injuries.
PRP therapy is irrefutably an efficient and safe treatment option for any shoulder injuries. It is an innovative non-operative technique that seeks to relieve pain naturally while rejuvenating the shoulder tissues thus offering a sustainable solution. If you or your loved one suffers a shoulder injury, feel free to visit our office for a complimentary consultation. For more information regarding PRP injections, call us at (631) 485-1137 for medical guidance.