Tendons and fascias are both soft tissues. Traditionally, the treatment plan for those with soft tissue injuries like Achilles tendinitis or plantar fasciitis involved corrective surgery or physical therapy and long-term dependence on pain-reducing medications.
If this course of treatment is successful, that's fantastic. But what happens when this treatment plan fails? Do you have to continue living with the pain and rely on medications for the rest of your life?
The simple answer is no. PRP therapy is proving highly successful in treating the chronic symptoms associated with these soft tissue injuries and enabling sufferers to reclaim their lives.
What Is PRP Therapy?
PRP (platelet-rich plasma) therapy is a revolutionary procedure in treating the chronic symptoms of soft tissue injuries such as plantar fasciitis and Achilles tendinitis. A PRP therapy treatment plan utilizes the natural healing properties of the platelets and plasma to repair damaged or torn tendons.
Platelet-rich plasma, which is also known as autologous conditioned plasma, is taken from the body of the patient. Platelets, which are a component of our blood, contain proteins and substances that are known as growth factors and are instrumental in the healing process. Plasma is mostly water but contains certain nutrients, growth factors, proteins, and antibodies.
How Is PRP Derived?
A blood sample is taken from the patient and then processed to separate plasma from the blood. This concentration of platelets is much higher than what is found in normal blood.
This PRP concentration, which includes a potent concentration of growth factors, antibodies, proteins, and nutrients, is then injected into the damaged tissue to kick-start the healing process.
Why Is PRP Therapy a Revolutionary Procedure?
There are two reasons why PRP therapy is considered a cutting-edge treatment option:
- It helps stimulate healing by encouraging collagen production, a major component of tendon and ligament tissue.
- It contains proteins that have proven to be highly effective in altering pain receptors and reducing pain sensation.
Essentially, PRP harnesses the body's natural ability to repair itself by concentrating proteins and cellular products from our own body. When we use PRP, we can refine and concentrate the body's unique ability to repair itself by taking some of our richest proteins, growth factors, and enzymes and placing them where they're needed most.
PRP Therapy: Cutting-Edge Regenerative Medicine
Let's look at tendon injuries as an example. Chronic tendon injuries cause tendon pain. As a rule, torn or damaged tissue will hurt until it has healed. This is especially true when that tissue continues to be utilized without any rest or interruption to the mechanism that created the injury.
As such, one of the worst effects of living with these types of injuries is that the pain starts impacting your day-to-day life. The debilitating pain not only limits physical activity during the day, but because the pain is continuous, those suffering from chronic tendon injuries often experience a lack of sleep. Over time, fatigue can lead to a whole new set of health complications.
If you have tried other treatment options with little or no success, you could be a stellar candidate for PRP therapy.
How Soon Can I Expect Positive Results?
Because the severity, cause, and factors like age and biochemistry differ from person to person, the course of treatment varies from patient to patient. So, while one patient might start experiencing relief from pain and improvement in their overall condition within four weeks of treatment, another patient could take up to six months to respond.
Are You Searching for PRP Therapy in the Caldwell or Meridian, Idaho Area?
If you're searching for a PRP therapy provider you owe it to yourself to speak with our experienced doctors as soon as possible. Please feel free to contact us online or call our office directly at 208-855-5955 to schedule your appointment. We service all areas surrounding Meridian, Idaho as well as all areas in the Caldwell, Idaho area. We look forward to helping you!
