PRP Injections

What is PRP?

Platelet-rich plasma (PRP), is made up of naturally occurring substances that are already in your body. The team at Jersey Integrative Health and Wellness draws a sample of your blood and spins it for 10-15 minutes in a machine known as a centrifuge. This process separates your blood into layers, one of which is a concentration of two different parts of your blood:

Platelets

Platelets have the vital role of rebuilding your tissues after an injury. They start by clotting your blood to form a scab. During this process, they release hundreds of growth factors, or proteins that help cells reproduce and differentiate into different tissue types.

Plasma

Plasma is the liquid part of your blood that makes it runny. It allows your blood to flow freely through your veins and makes PRP a liquid that’s easy to inject.

This combination is PRP. Today, medical professionals are using it increasingly to encourage cell growth. It helps initiate or speed up the healing process.

What can PRP injections treat?

At Jersey Integrative Health and Wellness, the team uses PRP in the form of injections to help heal tendinopathy, or injuries affecting your tendons. Tendons are strong bands of tissue made primarily of collagen fibers that connect your muscles to your bones. When this collagen breaks down, it causes tendinopathy. 

When injected into or near an affected tendon, PRP jumps into action by releasing growth factors to help your tendon grow new collagen. This makes for a much faster healing process than the one that happens naturally, which could take weeks or even months. One of the most enticing parts of PRP treatment is that it is very low risk because it uses your own blood instead of that of a donor.

What should I expect at my PRP injection appointment?

Before your appointment, the team will likely encourage you to stop taking any blood-thinning medications, like aspirin or ibuprofen, as these can interfere with the function of your platelets. You’ll have to avoid them for about two weeks after the injection, too.

Your PRP injection appointment starts with a blood draw from a vein in your arm. Once the PRP is prepared, the team may decide to mix it with a local anesthetic to treat your pain quickly. This is pain relief from the PRP often doesn’t take effect for several weeks.

In the weeks following your injection, you might see a gradual improvement of the pain and swelling near your injured tendon. You might want to rest for several days after your appointment, but this isn’t always necessary and largely depends on the severity of the initial injury. 

Book your consultation for PRP injections by phone or online at Jersey Integrative Health and Wellness today.