standard-title PRP Injections

PRP Injections

You might have seen athletes and other celebrities getting a procedure called platelet-rich plasma (PRP) injections to help quickly heal an injury. These shots use your own blood to treat sports injuries and help wounds heal after surgery. Some doctors even use PRP as a cosmetic procedure to target signs of aging. But it can be used for relieving pain as well. Let’s take a closer look.

What is a PRP Shot? 

The part of your blood that is mostly made of water and protein is plasma. This is what lets red and white blood cells and platelets move through your bloodstream. The platelets are a type of blood cell that makes your blood clot and plays a role in healing. 

PRP is often used on injuries or damage to tendons, ligaments, muscles, joints and skin. Plasma is collected by drawing blood and using a machine to separate the platelet-rich plasma from the rest of the blood. Next, the area of your body being treated with PRP injections will be numbed. Once you are numbed, plasma will be injected into the area of your body that is being treated. PRP injections typically take about 30 minutes to complete, but it will depend on the area you are treating.

Once the platelets have been injected into the area being treated, they break down and release growth factors. These are the compounds that help cells repair and renew. This triggers your body’s healing process. 

 

What can PRP Treat?

Platelet-rich plasma injections are often used to treat torn tendons, tendinitis, muscle injuries, arthritis-related pain and joint injuries. PRP is also becoming common for cosmetic procedures. For our office, PRP injections are used for temporomandibular joint disorder, headaches and other craniofacial pain conditions.

Together we can find an appropriate treatment plan for pain relief. Contact us at AZ Sleep & TMJ Solutions to learn more about PRP injections and if you are a good candidate for this treatment option.