What Are PRP Injections Used For?
PRP injections use your body’s platelets to quicken the process of healing injured tendons, ligaments, muscles, and joints. PRP injections provide a concentration of your own growth factors into the damaged tissue. These growth factors help your body heal itself. PRP therapy can treat the following conditions:
- Golfer’s elbow
- Tennis elbow
- Shoulder tendinitis
- Rotator cuff injuries
- Joint arthritis
- Hip, spine, knee, ankle, SI joint, elbow, and wrist injuries
- Headaches and migraines
- Sacroiliac joint pain
- Ankle sprains
- Achilles tendinitis
- Plantar fasciitis
- Muscle tears
Platelet-rich plasma is a component of the human blood with a high concentration of growth factors, the components responsible for cellular regeneration and healing. When you are wounded, the growth factors in your body activate tissue healing, collagen production, and cellular regeneration, helping you recover.
The PRP serum is drawn from a small sample of your blood, so it is completely natural and safe. When injected into an arthritic / injured joint, the growth factors stimulate cellular regeneration and increase blood circulation, helping you achieve less discomfort.
PRP Pre-Procedure Instructions & Tips
Please plan to be here about 30-45 minutes. Here are a few pre-procedure instructions that we find help optimize the results of the PRP.
Diet & Fluid Intake
Please increase your intake of fluid the day before your procedure by simply drinking 2 glasses of water in the morning before your PRP session, 2 glasses at lunch and 2 glasses at dinner (Please do not drink water too late in the evening or you will be up using the washroom at night). On the actual day of your procedure simply have a bottle of water (500 mL) before your session. Please eat a normal breakfast or lunch the day of your PRP session.
Supplements
Discontinue blood thinning agents such as vitamin E, vitamin A, Ginko, Flax, Cod liver oil, Essential fatty acids, and least one week before your treatment. Please stop multivitamins one week before your procedure as well. It is fine to continue Iron and vitamin D.
Alcohol & Smoking
Avoid alcohol for 3 days before your PRP session. If possible, stop smoking or limit smoking for 3 days prior to your procedure. The more the better as we find it really impacts on the healing process! We must inform you that smoking can cause the PRP to be less effective.
Medications
Avoid aspirin, Advil, Motrin, ibuprofen, naproxen, voltaren, and other anti-inflammatory medications for 3 days before your procedure (if possible please avoid for 7 days). We want inflammation to occur - as this is one mechanism by which PRP works! You may take Tylenol for any pains, discomfort, or joint pains you may have.
Important Information:
Are you Diabetic?
If yes, PRP can still be an option for you! Your condition simply must be well-managed. PRP is taking the healing factors of your blood and injecting them directly into a site that is needing extra help healing. If diabetes is poorly managed, there is diminished blood flow throughout your body that can cause a lack of crucial oxygen and nutrients to be delivered. It can also cause an impaired immune system, which can cause an individual to be more prone to experiencing complications from the procedure. For someone to qualify for PRP, they must be at their optimum health level for it to be the most effective.
Do you have an autoimmune disease?
If yes, unfortunately PRP therapy will not be an option for you. Autoimmune diseases cause the PRP to be ineffective. But don't worry, stem cell therapy can still be an option for you!
