Platelet Rich Plasma Therapy for Chronic Pain By Alina Schneider, APRN and Meghan Chafee, APRN


regenerative medicine. Due to the long-term complications that surgical interventions may entail, less invasive procedures like PRP are becoming extremely popular as a safer alternative than surgery in the opti- mal management of soft tissue injuries and chronic pain.


P


Platelet Rich Plasma, or PRP, is blood plasma with concentrated platelets. The concentrated platelets found in PRP contain large reservoirs of bioactive proteins, includ- ing growth factors that are vital to initiate and accelerate tissue repair and regenera- tion. These bioactive proteins initiate con- nective tissue healing for bone, tendon and ligament regeneration. They help to promote development of new blood vessels and help to stimulate the wound healing process.


PRP therapy, which takes approximate- ly forty minutes to complete, begins with collection of the patient’s blood (essential- ly, a basic blood draw). The blood sample is placed in a centrifuge to separate the platelet-rich plasma from the other compo- nents of whole blood. Our providers will then inject the concentrated platelets into the site of the injury or pain. Platelets func- tion as a natural reservoir for growth factors that are essential to repair injured tissues. The growth factors that the platelets secrete stimulate tissue recovery by increasing collagen production, enhancing tendon stem cell proliferation, and tendon cell- related gene and protein expression. These growth factors also stimulate blood fl ow and cause cartilage to become fi rmer and more resilient. PRP activates tendon cells to proliferate quickly and produce collagen to repair injured tendons, ligaments, cartilage, and muscles.


12 Natural Nutmeg - January/February 2021


latelet Rich Plasma injections (PRP) are regarded as a revolutionary modal- ity of care in the fi eld of anti-aging/


PRP therapy is the re-administration


of your own platelets to activate the body’s natural healing process to help in repair and regeneration. High concentrations of platelets also stimulate the release of growth factors that further aid in tissue re- generation. PRP technique has been in use for over 2 decades, especially in the surgi- cal fi eld where orthopedic surgeons have used PRP to enhance the pace of healing. Various research studies have suggested that utilization of PRP can offer valuable benefi ts in soft tissue injuries as well as de- generative bone conditions such as spinal disc degeneration or arthritis. PRP is also used in aesthetics and dentistry.


Conditions Treated with Platelet Rich Plasma


Today, the data and statistical evidence


on the effectiveness of PRP therapy is still in the early stages. Based on early clinical medical research done so far, the following injuries and soft tissue conditions respond well to PRP joint therapy:


• Achilles tendinitis • Medial collateral ligament (MCL) tears • Knee osteoarthritis • Injuries to ligaments and muscles • Chronic lower back pain • Spinal stenosis • Tennis elbow • Acute and chronic tendon problems • Joint fractures • Plantar fasciitis • Neck pain • Rotator cuff tears


Benefi ts of Platelet Rich Plasma Therapy Here are a few reasons why PRP is pre-


ferred over surgical interventions or other more invasive procedures:


• Platelet-rich plasma injections are extremely safe and do not affect the endurance, stamina or athletic vigor of patients. Additionally, there is lim- ited down-time to the procedure.


• The risks of any side effects or long- term complications are very rare. Most patients report only mild side effects like localized pain lasting only a few days, some swelling and injection site stiffness.


• PRP injections are performed with local anesthesia.


Depending upon the initial extent


of an injury, the overall process of heal- ing may take a few weeks, and rarely, up to a few months. While most patients do not require more than 1-2 injections, you should know that complete regeneration of damaged collagen may require multiple sessions. In the early post-therapy period (2-3 weeks after the PRP injection), most patients report remarkable improvement in the severity of symptoms such as pain and discomfort.


Massaging the area before and after PRP treatment increases the blood fl ow to the affected area and improves results.


Alina Schneider, APRN and Meghan Chafee, APRN prac- tice at the Center for Holistic Healthcare in Glastonbury and are trained and certifi ed in PRP techniques for pain and


aesthetics. 860.430.5300. www.ctrforholis- tichealthcare.com. See ad on page 14.


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