What You Need to Know About PRP Injections and Sports Medicine in Las Vegas, NV

If you suffer from an injured tendon, ligament, muscle or joint, you might be interested in a treatment option known as PRP injections. PRP injections, also known as platelet-rich plasma injections, utilize platelets from your own blood to rapidly restore function in tissue. PRP injections are a common practice in sports medicine in Las Vegas, NV.

There are a few things you should understand about the procedure and its efficacy. If you are interested, ask your sports medicine doctor if they offer PRP injections and if this treatment is a good option for you.

About PRP

PRP injections are created using your own blood. Doctors administer them at the site of an injury to restore high mechanical performance, boost wound healing and cause rapid tissue and bone generation.

The platelets in your blood contain highly concentrated growth factors, which stimulate tissue regeneration. During the procedure, your doctor will extract blood from your arm, separate the plasma and “activate” the platelets before injecting them at the injury site.

The procedure

Before your PRP injection procedure, avoid taking non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) such as aspirin for one week. The day before, it is very important that you drink lots of fluids.

When you go in for the PRP injection procedure, your sports medicine doctor will take between 15 and 60 ml of blood from a vein in your arm. While you rest, they will process the blood sample through centrifugation and separate the blood into different plasma fractions. The concentrate created from this process is called PRP. It is put into a tube and activated with calcium chloride.

Next, you will receive the injection. The doctor will inject a small amount into the injured area, such as your knee or hip joint. Deep-tissue injuries might require the assistance of ultrasound guidance. If the injury is close to the skin, doctors will likely not use a local anesthetic because it may interfere with the injection result. In total, you should prepare for the procedure to take around two hours.

After the procedure

After you receive your injections, the injury area might be swollen for three to five days. PRP injections are known to cause mild inflammation, pain and swelling for a few days after the procedure. You should protect and/or immobilize your injury area by using a brace or crutches during this time. You may apply a cold compress for 10 to 20 minutes a few times a day to help reduce swelling.

PRP injection efficacy

Sports medicine studies have shown that PRP injections help to reduce pain and increase functionality after multiple weeks. However, these injections may not work for everyone.

Many doctors also do not consider PRP injections to be a stand-alone treatment. They are commonly paired with other forms of rehabilitation such as stretching, strengthening exercises, anti-inflammatory medications and cold or heat therapy.

If you are interested in exploring PRP injections as part of rehabilitative sports medicine in Las Vegas, NV, contact Bernard Ong, M.D. Dr. Ong has provided orthopedic surgery and sports medicine services to clients for more than a decade, even being recognized as one of the top 100 doctors in Las Vegas. Call today!

Categorized in: Sports Medicine

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