Ask Your Orthopedic Surgeon in Las Vegas, NV About PRP Injections
February 1, 2017 1:34 am Leave your thoughtsIf you’ve torn a ligament, experienced achy muscles, have bad joint pain or other similar issues, it might be time to ask your experienced orthopedic surgeon in Las Vegas, NV about PRP—an exciting area of research in the orthopedic surgery community, as well as the sports medicine community. You may find that, with the care of an experienced doctor, your pain is lifted and you have your life back again!
Here are some facts about PRP injections to get you started. If you think this treatment might be effective for you, or if you’d like to hear more about it, call the office of Bernard Ong, M.D. to schedule an appointment.
What is PRP?
PRP stands for Platelet Rich Plasma. Platelets are cells that are constantly circulating through the whole body. They are crucial for blood clotting, and thus have many important properties that can help with healing, such as helping cells multiply and specialize for the task at hand.
Both bone and soft tissue injuries require time to heal, and go about this process in stages. As bodies recover from injuries, the area becomes inflamed. During this time, there is an increase in cells in the damaged area (also known as cell proliferation), and this is when PRP is beneficial. PRP is thought to be a “boost” to the body as it heals, and can be extremely effective in everything from muscle tears to tendinitis.
Who can benefit?
PRP treatment has been around since the 1990s, when it was used for plastic surgery and more. Over the years, PRP has been shown to decrease pain, increase healing and improve functionality in a range of areas of the body, including the knees, ankles, shoulders, hips, wrists and elbows. There are also promising results for studies testing PRP for osteoarthritis. In other words, many, many people can benefit!
Professional athletes have utilized PRP in their healing processes, including NFL players, and even the golfer Tiger Woods.
How does this process work?
PRP is created by taking a sample of blood from the patient. This sample is then centrifuged, in order to separate all the components of the blood, and the platelet rich plasma is collected and treated before being injected into the tissue or bone that requires healing (such as ligaments or tendons).
Sometimes, your experienced orthopedic surgeon in Las Vegas, NV may use an ultrasound to guide the injection, though it is not always necessary.
Are there any side effects?
Since the blood is collected directly from the patient and not donated from someone else, PRP is a low-risk procedure, and can be a helpful first step in recovery.
There will be a period of recovery afterward, in which patients should avoid exercising, and rest as much as possible, before starting a physical therapy program.
Call the office of Bernard Ong, M.D., a trusted orthopedic surgeon in Las Vegas, NV, to find out more about this procedure and see if PRP injections might be a good fit for you!
Categorized in: Orthopedic Surgeon
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