Platelet Rich Plasma Therapy
Platelet Rich Plasma or PRP is blood plasma with concentrated platelets. The concentrated platelets found in PRP contain huge reservoirs of bioactive proteins, including growth factors that are vital to initiate and accelerate tissue repair and regeneration. These bioactive proteins help to decrease unwanted inflammation while also stimulating the healing process. The result is decreased pain and improved function. If you are planning a treatment appointment please complete this form before your visit.
Intra-articular PRP therapy is an effective, natural treatment option for osteoarthritis. Osteoarthritis is a chronic degenerative disease where joint inflammation leads to destruction. PRP helps to decrease the level of inflammatory proteins in the joint, resulting in improved pain levels. PRP also increases joint lubrication proteins, which leads to improved function. These injections are performed by one of our skilled physician’s assistants using fluoroscopic guidance.
Repetitive movements can strain tendons and cause pain, swelling, and difficulty in movement. PRP therapy assists tendon repair and heals the tissue instead of masking the pain.
PRP Therapy is an innovative, all-natural treatment option for joint pain and tendon injuries. It’s a safe, non-surgical treatment that utilizes proteins and growth factors within platelets and plasma from your own blood.
When treating ailments such as osteoarthritis and tendinopathy, PRP has demonstrated a superior clinical benefit in numerous studies when compared to more traditional therapies. Platelet rich plasma therapy has been studied for decades. Unfortunately, it has not been utilized as often due to lack of insurance reimbursement. Our goal is to provide a cost effective way to offer this therapy to the community.
During your appointment, one of our specialists will draw your blood into collection tubes. These tubes will go through a series of steps in order to isolate your platelets in a small volume of plasma. This process takes about 25 minutes. If you are having an intra-articular injection and this is your first appointment, we will have you fill out a survey specific to your joint. Once the plasma is ready, it will be injected using either fluoroscopic or ultrasound guidance.
You will be asked to discontinue the use of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) such as ibuprofen (Motrin), Advil, Aleve or high-dose aspirin for 5 days prior to your treatment. NSAIDs may impair platelet function, which in turn may decrease the effectiveness of your PRP. It is also recommended to refrain from smoking as this can cause increased inflammation and limit the success of your therapy. Prior to your procedure, please click on the link below:
You will likely experience some discomfort and/or mild swelling after the procedure. Tendon therapies will generally cause more soreness than intra-articular injections. We recommend taking a pain reliever such as Tylenol as needed and using an ice pack if there is any swelling. Please do not take any NSAIDs until after you have finished your series of injections, at which point you may proceed to use NSAIDs as needed. You may return to daily activities and work at your own discretion. If your pain returns over time, you may benefit from follow-up PRP injections. Please contact us so that we may help provide additional guidance.
Q. What is PRP?
A. Platelet Rich Plasma Therapy is a relatively simple process in which the body’s potent healing factors are concentrated from a sample of blood and re-injected into a damaged or injured area (i.e. knee joint). This is a procedure that can be easily performed at our imaging center and takes approximately one hour total time.
Q. How does it work?
A. Platelets possess a treasure trove of healing factors which work to reduce pain and inflammation, and more importantly promotes the body’s natural ability to heal, improving function.
Q. How does Oregon Imaging Centers differ from other sites offering PRP injections?
A. Oregon Imaging Centers has world-class subspecialty-trained musculoskeletal radiologists who are dedicated to a culture of professional excellence, uncompromising technical proficiency and compassionate care. We utilize the precision of ultrasound and fluoroscopic imaging to assure safe and accurate PRP delivery for optimal effectiveness and outcomes.
Q. Who is a good candidate?
A. PRP therapy can be effective in treating multiple ailments including fascial, tendon and ligament injuries. PRP has also been proven to be a highly effective therapy for osteoarthritis. We do not perform PRP spine injections at Oregon Imaging Centers.
Q. How do I schedule a PRP at Oregon Imaging Centers?
A. You can contact us on our PRP scheduling line, (458) 215-4052 or by email at prp@oregonimaging.com and we will help coordinate your care.
Q. Are there any side effects?
A. Since PRP therapy only utilizes your body’s own healing properties there is no risk of allergic reaction or rejection of treatment by the body. However, since the growth factors trigger a complex cascade of healing, swelling and discomfort is expected for up to a week after receiving PRP treatment. Because of this expected ‘healing discomfort’, you should plan to have a friend or family member drive you home from the appointment.
Q. Will insurance cover it?
A. Insurance companies do not cover PRP treatments within the United States at this time.
Q. How effective is the PRP injection?
A. PRP has been shown to be more effective than other conservative methods, including steroid injections. Some people may notice significant pain reduction with a single injection; others may benefit more from a series of injections. Just like other conservative methods, there is always the possibility that you may not receive significant improvement. The radiologist can discuss this with you during your appointment.
Q. Are the injections painful? Will I have swelling or pain after my injection?
A. Levels of discomfort can vary depending on the site being injected. An intra-articular injection will yield minimal to no initial discomfort. An intra-tendinous injection will cause a greater degree of initial discomfort.
PRP injections trigger your healing response, which starts with inflammation. The degree of a patient’s initial inflammatory response can vary, but may present as swelling, redness and/or pain. Typically this discomfort only lasts a few days.
Q. Can I use ice on the area after the injection?
A. You may ice the site, it will not cause harm.
Q. When will I be able to exercise after the injections?
A. This will vary depending on your personal fitness level and response to the injection. You should not exercise until the inflammatory response from the injection has subsided. Utilization of physical therapy in correlation with some PRP injections, specifically intra-tendinous injections, may be beneficial. You can discuss the possibility of adding physical therapy with your treating physician if interested. Although your exercise level may be limited initially, you should be able to return to your normal daily activities the same day.
Q. Can I use a devise to immobilize the joint injection site for the first few days to help healing?
A. You may use an immobilizing devise such as a foot/ankle boot, scooter, sling, if you wish.