What joint injuries can we treat with PRP?
Shoulders
Traditional options for patients suffering from many shoulder injuries include arthroscopic shoulder surgery to repair tears, or shoulder joint replacement. With both surgeries, months of rehab are required, and the patient must be aware of and prepared to take on the risks. As an alternative, PRP Injections can be performed with promising results for recovery without the need to undergo surgery.
Knees
Surgical options for those dealing with painful knee issues range from arthroscopic knee surgery to total knee joint replacement. Knee replacement is extremely traumatic and carries new-found risks of toxic wear particles entering the blood stream. Surgeries also often require months of painful rehab to regain strength and mobility. Most surgeries also accelerate the cascade of degeneration that leads to osteoarthritis. Depending on the severity of the knee injury, PRP may be a great alternative to surgery.
Ankles
Current surgical treatment options for common injuries and arthritis, include ankle arthroscopy to “clean up” damaged cartilage, fusion of ankle bones where cartilage has been lost, and tendon grafts screwed in place to strengthen loose connections between bones. All are painful and may not be effective in the long run. Depending on the severity of ankle injury, PRP may be a great alternative to surgery.
Elbows
If you are experiencing elbow pain, PRP is likely an excellent treatment option. In recent years, several studies have shown the effectiveness of platelet rich plasma in treating elbow tendon and ligament issues. In fact, these studies are so decisive that at this point in time, there are very few cases where surgery would be recommended for anything but the most severe elbow injuries.