If you’re suffering from arthritis and normal treatments don’t seem make any difference, it may be time to try platelet-rich plasma (PRP) therapy. While PRP therapy is a relatively new treatment, recent studies show its viability for treating arthritis.
Dr. Christopher Clark at Premier Spine and Sports Medicine in Hagerstown, Maryland, is a leading provider of this innovative remedy. Here’s how our team can help relieve your arthritis inflammation with one of the most advanced treatments available.
What is platelet-rich plasma therapy?
The goal of platelet-rich plasma therapy is to take full advantage of the body’s natural healing properties by using your own cells to treat damaged areas of your body. Your blood contains cells called platelets, and they’re filled with proteins that promote cell growth and stimulate new blood vessel growth.
Platelet-rich plasma is blood that has a higher-than-normal concentration of these platelets, giving it greater healing powers than normal. To make PRP, we draw some of your blood and put it in a centrifuge that separates out the platelets. Dr. Clark can then add a concentrated amount of platelets back into your blood, which he then injects into your body at the site of the pain.
This platelet-rich plasma can help speed up the healing process by stimulating new growth and repairing damage. As part of his focus on regenerative medicine, Dr. Clark uses PRP therapy to help heal injured muscles, tendons, ligaments, and joints. He can also use it to treat your arthritis pain.
How can PRP help with arthritis inflammation?
You can develop arthritis when the cartilage that protects the ends of your bones wears away, leaving bones to rub against one another, which causes pain. This is called osteoarthritis, and it’s the most common form of arthritis.
PRP therapy can alleviate arthritis symptoms by slowing the deterioration of the cartilage and preventing the inflammation that can occur. PRP therapy is used most often to treat osteoarthritis of the knee, but it can be used in other joints with similar effectiveness.
Platelet-rich plasma may also stimulate new cartilage formation and increase the amount of natural lubricating fluid in a joint. This extra fluid can ease the friction caused by the bones rubbing together. Doctors believe the plasma may also contain proteins that can change your pain receptors so that you feel less pain.
If you’re ready to take charge of your arthritis pain, contact Dr. Clark at Premier Spine and Sports Medicine. Call today or book your appointment online and get on the road to healing your arthritis inflammation.