Services
PRP Injections
Platelet-Rich Plasma (PRP) Injections
The best doctors have always known that the body has the ability to heal itself. Platelet-rich plasma therapy is a form of regenerative medicine that can harness those abilities and amplify the natural growth factors your body uses to heal tissue.
What is plasma and what are platelets?
Plasma is the liquid portion of whole blood. It is composed largely of water and proteins, and it provides a medium for red blood cells, white blood cells and platelets to circulate through the body. Platelets, also called thrombocytes, are blood cells that cause blood clots and other necessary growth healing functions.
Platelet activation plays a key role in the body’ natural healing process
What is platelet-rich plasma (PRP) and what are PRP injections?
Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) therapy uses injections of a concentration of a patient’s own platelets to accelerate the healing of injured discs, tendons, ligaments, muscles and joints. In this way, PRP injections use each individual patient’s own healing system to improve musculoskeletal problems.
PRP injections are prepared by taking anywhere from one to a few tubes of your own blood and running it through a centrifuge to concentrate the platelets in our office. These activated platelets are then injected directly into your injured tissue. This releases growth factors that stimulate and increase the number of reparative cells your body produces.
Ultrasound imaging is sometimes used to guide the injection. Each person is different and may require up to 5 injections depending on the amount of damage.
Aftercare Instructions for
Platelet Rich Plasma Injections
Platelet Rich Plasma Injections
Aftercare Instructions for Platelet Rich Plasma Injections Platelet Rich Plasma (PRP) works over about 6 weeks to stimulate healing. It is important to give it a chance to work so follow these directions closely!
Immediately AFTER PRP Injection:
Keep your injection site clean, dry and covered with a Band-Aid the day of your procedure. You may shower at any time. You may experience some localized swelling or bruising at the injection site that may take 3-7 days to resolve.
Avoid ice or heat to the injection site / joint. Some swelling is normal and part of the inflammation and healing process. About 1 out of 20 patients will experience a post-injection flare due to your immune system being hyper-stimulated. This may cause significant pain and swelling and typically resolves in just a few days. If needed due to swelling or intense pain you may apply ice to the injection site/ joint for 20 minutes every 2-3 hours. You might also need to take pain medication such as Tylenol, Tramadol or Vicodin.
Do not use any prescription or over the counter anti-inflammatory medicines such as Motrin, Advil, Ibuprofen, Aleve, Naprosyn, Naproxen, Voltaren, Diclofenac, Meloxicam, Mobic, or Celebrex for 4 days before AND 7 days after the procedure. Ideally, we would like you to avoid the use of these medications for 6 weeks after your procedure.
Aspirin is a weak anti-inflammatory so does not interfere as much with the PRP process. If possible, stop aspirin unless it is needed for heart or other conditions. Prednisone or any other corticosteroid medications must be discontinued 2 weeks prior to and 4 weeks after PRP injections. Call our office at if you develop excess pain, drainage from the injection site, bleeding, or fever, if another physician would like to put you on a new medication or if you are not sure if a medication should be taken.
You may drive home from the procedure if you had an upper extremity injection and drive an automatic transmission. It is strongly recommended that if you have a lower extremity procedure, you have someone drive you home.
Activity AFTER PRP Injection
For 2-3 days after your injection rest and avoid all activity other than minimal daily living requirements (bathing, dressing, cooking, etc). Avoid much walking if injected in hip, knee, ankle or foot. Use crutches if you can’t walk without discomfort.
For 1-2 weeks after your injection avoid strenuous activity. For upper extremity procedures such as injections into shoulder, elbow or wrist do not do any repetitive motion, lifting, pulling, pushing, or grasping with the arm. For lower extremity procedures such as injections into the hip, thigh, knee, ankle, or foot avoid prolonged walks, hikes, or running.
After 2 weeks return to normal activity but avoid things that cause increased pain in the injected areas. Supplements to Assist Healing
There are a few supplements that can assist the healing process:
Ligaplex II, Joint Care, Vitamin D, Vitamin C
Aftercare Instructions for
Platelet Rich Plasma Injections
Platelet Rich Plasma Injections
Aftercare Instructions for Platelet Rich Plasma Injections Platelet Rich Plasma (PRP) works over about 6 weeks to stimulate healing. It is important to give it a chance to work so follow these directions closely!
Immediately AFTER PRP Injection:
Keep your injection site clean, dry and covered with a Band-Aid the day of your procedure. You may shower at any time. You may experience some localized swelling or bruising at the injection site that may take 3-7 days to resolve.
Avoid ice or heat to the injection site / joint. Some swelling is normal and part of the inflammation and healing process. About 1 out of 20 patients will experience a post-injection flare due to your immune system being hyper-stimulated. This may cause significant pain and swelling and typically resolves in just a few days. If needed due to swelling or intense pain you may apply ice to the injection site/ joint for 20 minutes every 2-3 hours. You might also need to take pain medication such as Tylenol, Tramadol or Vicodin.
Do not use any prescription or over the counter anti-inflammatory medicines such as Motrin, Advil, Ibuprofen, Aleve, Naprosyn, Naproxen, Voltaren, Diclofenac, Meloxicam, Mobic, or Celebrex for 4 days before AND 7 days after the procedure. Ideally, we would like you to avoid the use of these medications for 6 weeks after your procedure.
Aspirin is a weak anti-inflammatory so does not interfere as much with the PRP process. If possible, stop aspirin unless it is needed for heart or other conditions. Prednisone or any other corticosteroid medications must be discontinued 2 weeks prior to and 4 weeks after PRP injections. Call our office at if you develop excess pain, drainage from the injection site, bleeding, or fever, if another physician would like to put you on a new medication or if you are not sure if a medication should be taken.
You may drive home from the procedure if you had an upper extremity injection and drive an automatic transmission. It is strongly recommended that if you have a lower extremity procedure, you have someone drive you home.
Activity AFTER PRP Injection
For 2-3 days after your injection rest and avoid all activity other than minimal daily living requirements (bathing, dressing, cooking, etc). Avoid much walking if injected in hip, knee, ankle or foot. Use crutches if you can’t walk without discomfort.
For 1-2 weeks after your injection avoid strenuous activity. For upper extremity procedures such as injections into shoulder, elbow or wrist do not do any repetitive motion, lifting, pulling, pushing, or grasping with the arm. For lower extremity procedures such as injections into the hip, thigh, knee, ankle, or foot avoid prolonged walks, hikes, or running.
After 2 weeks return to normal activity but avoid things that cause increased pain in the injected areas. Supplements to Assist Healing
There are a few supplements that can assist the healing process:
Ligaplex II, Joint Care, Vitamin D, Vitamin C