PRP Specialist
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ARC Orthopedic Group
Orthopedic Surgery & Sports Medicine located in West Hills, CA
As one of today’s most effective regenerative treatments, platelet-rich plasma (PRP) uses your body’s cells to heal sports injuries and degenerative diseases. Board-certified orthopedic surgeon Umesh Bhagia, MD, at ARC Orthopedic Group recommends PRP treatments to accelerate wound healing, ease pain, and restore optimal function. If you’re ready to get back into action, call the office in West Hills or Thousand Oaks, California, or book an appointment online today.
PRP Q&A
What is PRP?
Platelet-rich plasma or PRP is a mixture of plasma (the liquid part of blood) and a large number of platelets (cells naturally in blood).
Your provider draws a sample of your blood and processes it in the office using a centrifuge. The centrifuge separates the different components, allowing your provider to draw the concentrated platelets and plasma into a syringe and use it for your PRP treatment.
How does PRP promote healing?
When you have an injury or disease, platelets travel through your blood to the damaged tissues. Then the platelets stop any bleeding and release proteins called growth factors.
Growth factors activate your body’s healing process by triggering a range of activities, including:
- Regulating inflammation
- Accelerating healing
- Recruiting stem cells to the area (to regenerate tissues)
- Stimulating new blood vessel growth
- Building a matrix that supports new tissues
Though you have natural platelets, sometimes your body needs the extra boost that the PRP injection provides. PRP is especially beneficial if you have a slow-healing wound, a severe injury, or your injury occurs in tissues that have a poor blood supply.
When might I have treatment with PRP?
ARC Orthopedic Group primarily recommends PRP to treat arthritis and sports injuries. You may benefit from a PRP injection if you have conditions such as:
- Osteoarthritis
- Rheumatoid arthritis
- Meniscus tear
- Rotator cuff tear
- Tendonitis
- Tennis elbow
- ACL tear
These are only a few examples of the many injuries or chronic conditions that improve with PRP treatment.
What happens during PRP treatment?
Your provider applies a topical anesthetic to numb the injection site. Then they use real-time imaging to guide the needle, precisely placing it at the damaged tissues. When the needle is in place, they inject PRP.
After a PRP injection, many people have a little discomfort at the injection site. Your provider may recommend that you avoid strenuous activities for a short time, giving the PRP time to take effect before adding stress to your injury.
Your provider talks with you, answers questions, and gives you more specific self-care instructions before you go home.
You may need more than one PRP treatment, depending on the type of injury or condition and its severity and location. However, you know your anticipated treatment regimen before your first injection.
To learn if PRP can improve your injury or degenerative disease, call ARC Orthopedic Group, or schedule an appointment online today.
