How Do I Know If PRP Is Right For Me?
- Pain lasting at least 3 months or longer (for chronic conditions)
- Sprains, strains, tears of muscle/ligament/tendon (acute conditions)
- Symptoms and physical examination results consistent with diagnosis
- Persistent pain despite standard nonoperative treatment (PT, NSAIDs, activity changes, steroid injections, etc.)
- Pathological changes seen on diagnostic imaging: X-Ray, MRI, CT, and/or ultrasound
- Patient wishes to delay or avoid surgical treatment
Is this procedure covered by Health Insurance?
Platelet Rich Plasma (PRP) is a revolutionary new medical procedure, and like other medical breakthroughs such as Lasik surgery, is not yet covered by insurance. That said, PRP is both effective and affordable. While the number of injections you require may vary based upon your condition and it’s severity, each injection is hundred’s not thousand’s of dollars. Many physician’s offer a risk-free consultation in which they can evaluate your condition, determine your candidacy, and tell you exactly how many injections you may require. PRP is far less expensive than most surgical co-pays, in addition to being safer and often more effective than surgery as well. Flexible financing options are available for those who qualify.
How long does it last?
Platelet Rich Plasma (PRP) harnesses your body’s own natural properties to reduce recovery time and speed the healing process. Unlike many medical treatments that mask the symptoms or suppress your body’s pain response to an injury, PRP works to make your body heal more effectively and faster.This means you will regenerate new tissue, your own tissue, naturally. While positive outcomes cannot be guaranteed; because PRP stimulates your own innate healing potential and forms new body tissue, results are theoretically permanent, so long as you do not aggravate the original injury or have a degenerative condition. If symptoms do return PRP can be repeated safely many times.
Are there any adverse reactions?
Some patients have had some slight swelling, pain, or bruising shortly after the injection. This is likely due to the fact that blood and healing properties of the blood are rushing to the area of injury that has been injected to do it’s work, but this is temporary. There is a slight risk of blood clotting, increased bleeding, and a chance of infection, as with any other injection based procedure
Are there any contraindications?
Patients that are on a high dose of blood thinner such as Plavix, Coumadin, Warfarin, etc. have an increased risk of post procedure bleeding and hematoma. In these cases we require an INR score (blood clotting time study) to be performed before the procedure to ensure safety.
Is PRP FDA Approved?
The Food & Drug Administration reviews PRP Equipment, and is conducting further research into advancing this treatment protocol as an approved protocol.
