How Long Does a PRP Injection Last

One of the most common questions among patients considering this treatment is “How long does a PRP injection last?” Platelet-Rich Plasma (PRP) injections have become a popular treatment option for those suffering from chronic pain, especially for conditions such as knee, shoulder and spine pain. In this blog post, we will explore the duration of the effects of PRP injections and what you can expect in terms of pain relief and function.

What You Need to Know

The PRP treatment can be used to support healing after trauma or joint injury. This technique can be used to treat male pattern baldness and stimulate hair transplant growth. It also enhances other cosmetic procedures.

PRP treatment is most effective after several weeks of joint injections and six to eight months of scalp injections. However, the results are not permanent. Patients may need additional injections as directed by their doctor.

Because PRP injections use patient-derived tissues, they are safe and can be used alone or in combination with other procedures.

What Is Platelet Rich Plasma?

Two elements make up platelet-rich plasma: plasma (or the liquid portion) and platelets (a type of blood cell that plays a vital role in healing the body). Although platelets are known for their ability to clot, they also contain growth factors which can stimulate cell reproduction and tissue regeneration. Platelet-rich plasma simply means that there are more platelets in blood than normal.

Clinicians take a sample of blood from patients to create platelet-rich plasma. The centrifuge spins the blood quickly, separating the platelets from other components and concentrating them in the plasma.

What is a PRP Injection?

After creating platelet rich plasma from a patient’s blood sample, the solution is injected into the targeted area such as an injury to the knee or tendon. Sometimes, ultrasound may be used to guide the injection. To speed up healing, the goal is to increase the concentrations of certain bio proteins and hormones (called growth factors).

It is still not clear what the mechanism behind PRP injections works. Research has shown that PRP injections may be able to stimulate or speed up healing, reducing the time it takes to heal injuries, and decreasing pain. It can even encourage hair growth.

What’s the Purpose of PRP Treatment?

PRP injections can be used to treat a variety of conditions, including musculoskeletal pain, injuries and cosmetic procedures.

Tendon, Ligament and Muscle Injuries

A variety of musculoskeletal injuries or conditions can be treated with PRP injections. Chronic tendon injuries like tennis elbow and jumper’s knee, for example, can take a while to heal. Adding PRP shots to your treatment plan can help speed up the healing process, reduce pain, and allow you to return to normal activities sooner.

Post-operative Healing

PRP was first used by doctors to speed up healing following jaw and plastic surgery. Post-surgical PRP injections are now available to heal muscles, ligaments and tendons. These tissues have a notoriously slow recovery time.

Osteoarthritis

Although early research suggests that PRP injections can be used to treat osteoarthritis stiffness and pain by modulating the environment of the joints and reducing inflammation, more research is needed.

How Can You Prepare for PRP Injections

Preparing for PRP injections is easy. These steps will vary depending on how you receive the PRP.

There are many ways to inject PRP. You may apply a topical numbing solution to your scalp prior to injecting PRP. If this is the case, you may need to arrive earlier to your treatment session.

Sometimes, the local anesthetic may be mixed with PRP to lessen discomfort. Sometimes, your surgeon may inject or apply PRP while you are in surgery. Preparing for PRP injections in this case would require following the instructions of your surgeon before you go.

PRP Injection Process

Here are some things you can expect from a PRP injection procedure:

• A healthcare professional will take a sample from your blood. The location where PRP is to be injected will determine the amount of blood that is taken. One study used 20 milliliters of blood to inject into the scalp. This is slightly more than one teaspoon.
• The blood is then placed in a centrifuge. The centrifuge spins very fast, causing blood components to separate. The process of separation takes approximately 15 minutes.
• The plasma is separated by a technologist and prepared for injection in the area.
• Imaging, such ultrasound, is often used by doctors to pinpoint the area for injections, such as the tendon. The doctor will then inject PRP into the affected areas.

Are Platelet-Rich Plasma Injections Effective?

To determine if PRP is effective for which conditions, more research is needed. Research has shown that PRP can speed up healing from injuries or surgeries for certain conditions like torn tendons. Some studies have shown that PRP injections can help heal injured tissue and increase mobility in people who have suffered rotator-cuff injuries. People with male and female pattern hair loss may see a decrease in hair loss through PRP injections. It is not known if facial PRP injections reduce visible signs of aging such as wrinkles or sagging skin.

The PRP injections can take up to 6 months before they start to work. It may take 6 months for some conditions to show their full effect, especially if they affect the hair or skin. You may have to repeat the process for certain conditions, such as hair loss.

How Long Does It Take To Recover From PRP Injections?

Your doctor might recommend you rest the area where PRP was injected following an injury. These recommendations are more specific to the injury than to PRP injections. PRP injections are not required for most people to continue with their normal activities.

You may not notice a difference immediately after you have received PRP injections. This is because the injections promote healing and growth. The area might heal faster and grow more hair over time than you expected, even if it takes several weeks or months.

Schedule an Appointment

If you’re suffering from chronic pain, PRP injection therapy may be the solution you’re looking for. At Florida Medical Pain Management, we specialize in using Platelet-Rich Plasma (PRP) injections to help alleviate pain and improve function in areas such as the knee, shoulder, and spine. Our team of experienced pain management specialists will work with you to determine if PRP therapy is the right treatment for you. With PRP injection therapy, you can experience a significant reduction in pain, and a return to your daily activities. Don’t let chronic pain control your life, take control of it with PRP injection therapy at Florida Medical Pain Management. Contact us today to schedule your appointment and take the first step towards pain-free living.

Our Treatment Services

Florida Medical Pain Management top priority is to serve all of our patients’ needs and create long-lasting relationships with them. Our treatments include:

• Treatment for Neuropathy
• Arthritis Management
• Back Pain Medication
• Chronic Pain Treatments
• PRP Injections
• Epidural Injection
• Regenerative Medicine
• Hip Pain Medication
• Ketamine Infusion Therapy

We want to help each patient live a more fulfilling and productive life by effectively managing their pain. Florida Medical Pain Management also provides home therapy and many more.Click here to see our other services.