How Do PRP Injections Work to Treat Pain?

When pain doesn’t relent with rest, a more targeted, biological approach may be the way to go. PRP injections use your body’s own cells to accelerate healing and reduce pain naturally. It’s a cutting-edge option for lasting relief.

Platelet-rich plasma therapy is a natural way to enhance your body’s ability to heal itself, and this is highly beneficial when it comes to joint pain.

The board-certified and fellowship-trained providers here at Nevada Orthopedic & Spine Center specialize in comprehensive orthopedic care, including sports medicine and pediatric care across all specialties.

PRP is a form of regenerative therapy that reduces inflammation and pain in damaged joints, ligaments, and tendons. For patients with orthopedic injuries, PRP may accelerate their recovery. For patients with chronic conditions, such as arthritis, PRP may ease pain and improve joint function.

What is PRP?

Platelets are a type of blood cell that play a key role in the healing process. They contain powerful growth factors that stimulate tissue regeneration to heal damaged tissues. PRP therapy uses your blood to create a concentrated source of platelets that, when injected into the target area, get to work reducing inflammation and repairing tissues.

To create PRP, we draw a small amount of blood and processes it in a centrifuge. This separates the red and white blood cells and concentrates the platelets. The final solution is injected directly into the injured or damaged area under imaging guidance to ensure precision.

Advantages of PRP therapy

If you’re an athlete, PRP therapy can help you get back in the game faster. This regenerative therapy can promote healing, allowing you to recover from injuries or orthopedic surgery at an accelerated pace.

PRP therapy is more effective at improving pain than hyaluronic acid in patients with knee arthritis, according to a study published in the Journal of Clinical Medicine. A separate review concluded that PRP is effective at improving pain in patients with musculoskeletal pain.

In athletes, PRP therapy accelerates recovery and optimizes outcomes in sports injuries such as partial rotator cuff tears, tennis elbow, and Achilles tendonitis, according to research published in the Journal of Orthopaedic Reports.

How PRP treats pain

PRP helps address the root of pain by enabling your body to repair damaged tissues from the inside out. The growth factors in PRP attract reparative cells, encourage collagen production, and stimulate blood flow to the site. Conditions that often respond well to PRP include:

Osteoarthritis, especially in the knees and hips
Tendinitis, including tennis elbow and jumper’s knee
Ligament sprains and strains
Chronic joint pain
Rotator cuff injuries

PRP may delay or even eliminate the need for surgery in some instances.

What to expect during and after treatment

PRP injections are a minimally invasive, in-office therapy that typically takes less than an hour from start to finish. You may experience some mild swelling or soreness afterward, but this usually resolves in a few days.

Unlike corticosteroid injections, PRP works gradually, and full benefits may take several weeks as your body initiates the healing process.

In most cases, a series of 1 to 3 injections spaced a few weeks apart is recommended, depending on your condition and response. PRP therapy is often used alongside physical therapy to aid recovery.

Explore a regenerative approach to pain relief

If you’re dealing with lingering pain from a joint or tendon injury, PRP therapy may be the next smart step. Our providers at Nevada Orthopedic & Spine Center use the latest techniques to support healing at the source.

Contact us today in Las Vegas and Henderson, Nevada at 702-878-0393 to schedule a consultation or request an appointment online to see if PRP injections are the right option for you.