PLATELET RICH PLASMA THERAPY

 

PLANO, TX

Plano Stem Cell Doctor

The Stem Cell Institute offers platelet-rich plasma therapy to help boost natural healing capabilities and treat spine pain. Call us today for  more information or to schedule an appointment.

 

What is Platelet-Rich Plasma Therapy?

A liquid called plasma and solid pieces, like red blood cells, white blood cells and platelets, compose blood. Platelets, proteins produced by bone marrow, aid in the clotting of blood and travel through the bloodstream for about a week, awaiting an injury in need of its help. When platelets go unused during their time in the bloodstream, the liver eliminates them. Aside from helping to form blood clots, platelets contain growth factors, which help heal injuries, including those in the spine. Growth factors maintain cells and tissues, including keeping one’s skin looking young and refreshed, and heal wounds. When an injury occurs, growth factors release cells with collagen to heal the wound.

To begin the platelet-rich plasma therapy procedure, physicians take a portion of the patient’s blood. The physician places blood in a vial and inserts it into a centrifuge. As the centrifuge spins, platelets separate from the rest of the blood. As the platelets continue to spin, their power strengthens. The platelets are removed from the centrifuge and injected into the patient’s point of pain or injury. The extra growth factors surround the wound and begin repairing it as a few stem cells make their way to the point of injury to help as well. PRP injections can help the recipient avoid having surgery, which can result in more pain and health problems. PRP injections heal the wound quickly and leave very few negative side effects, if any. In addition to injuries, PRP can help conditions like lumbar spine disc pain and cervical facet pain. A physician can evaluate a patient to determine whether the patient would benefit from PRP and could possibly take the treatment as an alternative to surgery.

 

Treatment Benefits

As one ages, his or her growth factors become older and less effective. They are not able to heal wounds fully, correctly and quickly. Therefore, when an injury occurs, growth factors may need extra help to ensure the injury is completely healed. If the injury does not heal correctly, it could cause further health problems. Athletes who also may need to heal quickly to participate in upcoming events or training need strong growth factors. Platelet-rich plasma therapy, or PRP, multiplies the power of mending by growth factors to repair the wound quickly and correctly. Physicians administer PRP, a fairly new treatment, through injection at the point of pain or injury. The Stem Cell Institute serves the Plano, Frisco, McKinney, Allen and Carrollton areas for patients in need of PRP.

 

Risks and Other Factors

PRP comes with several risks, including pain following an injection, even deep into the muscle or bone, and infection. PRP can also cause allergic reactions due to the body’s rejection of its own plasma, blood clots if the needle damages blood vessels during treatment and bruises around the area of injection. Though the aforementioned risks accompany PRP, the procedure demonstrates a high success rate. The chance of one recovering well without issue from PRP remains higher than one suffering negative side effects from PRP.

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