What is Platelet Rich Plasma (PRP) and Prolotherapy?
PRP and prolotherapy are both forms of regenerative therapies that have been studied and developed for many years. Both require injections into the desired area of treatment. The difference between the two forms are the substance that is injected.
In PRP, the substance used is your own body's platelet cells, which are full of healing factors. A concentrated preparation of this is made from blood drawn from yourself which is then processed by a centrifuge and carefully extracted. The resulting concentrate is thus "platelet rich plasma" and is used to inject into the desired area.
In Prolotherapy, a concentrate sugar/glucose solution is injected into the area which causes irritation. This stimulates the body to increase blood flow and inflammation into the area, promoting more healing of the injected area.
What can PRP/Prolotherapy treat?
PRP/Prolotherapy can treat:
- Shoulder joint and rotator cuff injuries
- Tennis elbow and golfer's elbow
- Carpal tunnel and other nerve compression conditions
- Hip, knee and ankle injuries and pain
- Arthritis
- Tendon and ligament injuries
- Chronic musculoskeletal pain
- Hair loss, wrinkles, scars and wounds (PRP)
Whilst PRP/Prolotherapy can be very effective in treatment many conditions, it may not be the right treatment option or the right timing for it. A lot of conditions require a combination of good medical care and appropriate physical therapy as a baseline, with PRP improving the rate and quality of recovery.
Hence, it is essential to have a detailed initial consultation first to determine if your condition is suitable for PRP/Prolotherapy. Ultimately, we want you to recover and improve your condition with the appropriate treatments.
How is my injection done and how many treatments do I need?
In most cases, the injection will be performed under ultrasound guidance. This enables us to see exactly where the target of the injection is, and to accurately guide the needle to reach it. This ensures the PRP or medication is injected into exactly where it needs to be.
Both PRP and Prolotherapy may require multiple treatments spread out over 4-6 weeks depending on the condition treated.
- PRP usually requires less injections and a typical treatment course is 1-3 injections. PRP can take several months before benefits become apparent so time between injections vary.
- Prolotherapy typically involves 6 weekly treatments and can require 2-5 treatments. However if there is are ongoing improvements in symptoms then more injections may be beneficial.
What are the risks and side effects of having PRP/Prolotherapy?
Possible adverse effects include:
- Injection pain
- Bleeding/bruising - rare
- Infection in the site of injection - very rare.
- Post injection inflammation
The most common side effect of PRP/Prolotherapy is post injection inflammation and pain at the injection site that can last from 3-7 days. This is expected and is a good sign the injection is in the right place and stimulating the body's healing activity.
How should I prepare for my injection?
We recommend you eat as healthy a diet possible, avoid drinking alcohol and have adequate sleep! As the source of your treatment is from your own body's cells, the more you keep your body healthy, the more you will benefit from the treatment.
Do not take any anti-inflammatory medications and please inform us if you take anti-platelet medications (e.g. aspirin) or have been treated with any form of steroid medications recently as this may impact your treatment.
Please allow approximately 1 hour for the injection appointment.
What should I do after my injection?
You will be provided with an information sheet after your injection which details what you should do. It is generally recommended to refrain from any strenuous activities for about 1 week after your injection.