PRP: A Game-Changer in Treating Arthritis

Arthritis is a term that refers to inflammation and swelling in the joints, and it encompasses more than 100 different conditions. Telltale symptoms of arthritis are joint pain and stiffness, which can lead to issues with mobility. 

Even though there are so many different types of arthritis, the two most common forms are osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis. Osteoarthritis occurs when the protective cartilage around your joints begins to wear away over time, and rheumatoid arthritis occurs when your immune system begins attacking the protective cartilage around your joints. 

There is no cure for arthritis; however, many different treatments can slow down the progression of the disease and reduce the severity of symptoms. One of those treatments is platelet-rich plasma (PRP) therapy, which our team offers at Pain Medicine Group in Sarasota and Oviedo, Florida.

In this month’s blog, we discuss how PRP therapy works and how it can transform your arthritis treatment plan. 

What is PRP therapy?

Your blood consists of a liquid plasma and three solid components: white blood cells, red blood cells, and platelets. 

Each cell type has its own job. Red blood cells transport oxygen, white blood cells fight infection, and platelets are your body’s super healers. Although platelets are the smallest cells in your blood, their ability to clot blood and regenerate cells is necessary to recover from bodily harm. 

Because platelets have these healing abilities, injecting a high concentration of them into an area that’s damaged or not healing properly can give your body a much-needed boost in order to encourage better and stronger cell regeneration and healing. 

PRP is an injection that’s created from a sample of your own blood by separating the plasma and platelets from the rest of your blood cells and concentrating them in liquid plasma, about three to five times greater than what already exists in your body. After creating the PRP, we inject it into the targeted area to supplement the healing process. 

How does PRP therapy work for arthritis?

A huge benefit of PRP therapy is that it’s a natural substance obtained from your own body, so you don’t have to worry about foreign ingredients or their adverse side effects when undergoing this treatment. 

In addition, the greater healing of PRP therapy can make other treatments, such as physical therapy, even more effective. 

When you get PRP therapy for your arthritis, these injections can:

• Reduce inflammation
• Slow down arthritis progression
• Stimulate new cartilage production and tissue growth
• Increase lubricating fluid around your joints
• Decrease pain sensations

Over time, as the PRP injections heal and repair joint damage, you should see a decrease in symptoms and an uptick in mobility. 

To learn more about how PRP therapy can change the game when it comes to treating your arthritis, schedule a consultation with the Pain Medicine Group team by calling the office near you or using our online booking feature today.