7 Signs You Should See an Orthopedic Specialist
You’re experiencing joint pain. But what’s causing it? Check out these seven signs that it’s time to see an orthopedic specialist.
How Does PRP Work for Healing and Pain Management?
Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) has revolutionized orthopedic practice in the past 25 years. Over 90% of professional and collegiate sports team physicians report using it to help heal elite athletes, according to a National Library of Medicine study.
Our board-certified orthopedic surgeons with Alpine Orthopedics and Sports Medicine often use PRP to help heal soft tissue injuries, as well as joint conditions like arthritis.
What is a PRP injection, and how does it work?
PRP is an all-natural injection that uses your own blood to help speed healing of some orthopedic injuries.
First, our staff draws a sample of your blood. Then, we place your blood into a machine called a centrifuge, which separates your blood’s platelets.
We inject those platelets at the site of your injury. Your blood platelets go to work immediately, stimulating new blood vessels and soft tissue growth. By injecting platelets at the site of your pain, new cell growth happens faster.
Why orthopedic specialists use PRP for healing and pain management
Surgeons began using PRP in the 1980s and 1990s to help heal surgical wounds. Its use became popular in orthopedic practices since news reports revealed in 2008 that Tiger Woods had been treated with PRP to help heal a knee injury.
Preliminary and ongoing research provides evidence that PRP helps many orthopedic injuries heal faster. Tendon, ligament, and joint injuries require weeks or months to heal, often taking you out of the game for a season.
Professional and collegiate athletes can’t afford to forgo a season of play. That’s why PRP injections have become standard practice for sports team physicians.
Tendons and some ligaments are poorly vascularized. Blood carries life-giving nutrients to your cells. A weak blood supply makes soft tissue slow to heal.
Platelet-rich plasma contains a massive supply of blood platelets that contain important growth factors, which stimulate cell growth and tissue rejuvenation. Studies on a variety of orthopedic injuries and conditions show that PRP may help you heal faster.
What orthopedic conditions benefit from PRP injections?
Will PRP help heal your orthopedic injury? Research is ongoing. PRP helps heal some people, but it doesn’t work for everyone.
For example, a traumatic injury often requires surgery. Younger patients often fare better than senior adults. The research is stronger for some types of orthopedic injuries than others.
Tendon injuries
Many orthopedic practices now use PRP to help heal tendon injuries faster, including:
- Tennis elbow
- Jumper’s knee
- Achilles tendonitis
- Patellar tendonitis
Plantar fasciitis
Plantar fasciitis causes severe heel pain. PRP may help reduce your pain level.
Osteoarthritis
PRP may help ameliorate mild to moderate knee, hip, and ankle osteoarthritis by reducing inflammation and stimulating new cell growth.
Tears in soft tissue
It’s easy to strain muscles and ligaments beyond their capacity. You may experience a microscopic or minor tear in a rotator cuff or hamstring. Full tears require surgery, but small tears may heal with conservative methods, and PRP may speed healing.
Our team lets you know if PRP could be beneficial for your orthopedic condition or injury. Call Alpine Orthopedics or request an appointment through our online portal today.
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