PRP Injection
What is platelet-rich plasma therapy?
Our blood consists of three main solid components: red blood cells (RBCs), white blood cells (WBCs), and platelets. Platelets consist of special proteins (growth factors), which can enhance our body’s natural healing response to an injury. Plasma is a liquid component found in our blood, while platelet-rich plasma (PRP) is a high concentration of platelets, plasma and other components. PRP is delivered via injection to the injured area to boost your body’s ability to repair damaged tissue. PRP is a relatively new method, which can treat several orthopedic conditions, such as tendon, ligament and muscle injuries, arthritis and fractures. PRP is useful to promote healing, alleviate painful symptoms and delay joint replacement surgeries. Based on the severity of the case, you might need 2-3 sessions for full recovery.
How does a PRP injection work?
PRP injections are an in-office procedure, takes about 45 minutes, and the general process is the following:
- Dr. Gadallah will first collect about 13 cc's sample of blood, which is like what you would expect with a lab test.
- The blood is then spun at high speeds in a centrifuge machine for about 10 to 15 minutes to separate the platelets and plasma from other blood components.
- Then, the injured part of your body is anesthetized with a local anesthetic.
- Afterwards, the concentrated platelet-rich plasma is injected into your affected area, which triggers your system to begin repairing and rebuilding tissue.
- During this procedure, your doctor might use ultrasound guidance for proper needle placement.
What is recovery like after PRP injection?
It is usually recommended to rest after leaving the office, however, many patients can return to light activities the next day. Effect of plasma appears in about 1-3 weeks.
- For a few days after your procedure, it is normal to feel some discomfort at the injection site.
- Topical pain medications and cold compresses will be prescribed by your doctor to decrease the discomfort.
- To support the healing process, you should avoid any strenuous activities such as heavy lifting or exercises.
Is PRP therapy safe?
- Oral surgeons and other health care professionals have used PRP therapy for several decades to reach good results in soft tissue repair and regeneration. When provided by a qualified specialist, PRP is considered to be safe and effective to treat many orthopedic conditions, which can even postpone or eliminate your need for surgery.
- Additionally, your own blood is used to retrieve platelets for the therapy that can effectively eliminate the risk of rejection or disease transmission, which might be a risk sometimes in the case of using donor materials.
Dr. Ahmed Gadallah has extensive experience in PRP therapy. He completed hundreds of PRP injections successfully and even submitted a research paper in 2016 with the title of “Comparative study between subacromial injection of PRP vs corticosteroid in cases with rotator cuff tendinopathy.”