Platelet-Rich Plasma Tendonitis

Have you ever had inflammation in your tendons? If yes, then you might know about the problem of tendinitis. But those who haven’t had it ever, simply understand that ‘tendinitis’ is a frustrating condition that happens when the fibrous cords connecting muscles to bones get inflamed. Although traditional ways like rest, ice, and physical therapy may work effectively in some cases, PRP injections have been proven as the most useful treatments for ‘tendonitis’ to date. In this blog post, we will learn more about how to cure tendinitis using platelet-rich plasma therapy.

What is PRP?

The term PRP stands for “Platelet-Rich Plasma.” Hence, the therapy involves using platelets present in the human blood. Biologically, PRP is a regenerative medicine treatment where your own blood is used to promote the natural healing of tendonitis. Let’s understand how PRP therapy works:

Blood Draw

Similar to a normal blood test, a small portion of your blood is taken out at first.

Centrifugation

Then, the taken-out blood is kept in a centrifuge. It’s a device in science labs that spins blood at high speeds. This process is important to separate different components of the blood and get the ‘platelets’ specifically (that we need for PRP injection patellar tendonitis).

Platelet Activation 

Once the components get separated and we get platelets, the latter undergo further processing to activate them.

Injection 

In the end, the concentrated PRP is then injected directly into the injured tendon area to cure tendinitis.
However not only tendons, you can opt for platelet-rich plasma injection for the shoulder as well. If you feel chronic shoulder pain or have any other shoulder injuries, PRP will let the pain go and offer long-term relief.

The Power of Platelets 

Now, many of you might question the significance of platelets. Or questions related to why only platelets are being used might occur. So, let’s try to understand what platelets offer, in particular, that they are the most important element of PRP.

As per science, platelets are tiny cell fragments that perform the main role of clotting blood. But they have so many growth factors such as proteins inside them. These growth elements play a very crucial role in tissue repair and regeneration. That’s why we focus on platelets more in PRP for tendinitis. 

The overall function of platelets in PRP therapy is as follows:

Stimulate Cell Growth

As the platelets contain growth factors like proteins, they help in the development of new tendon cells. As a result, the healing process begins to treat tendinitis.

Promote Tissue Repair

As platelets stimulate the natural healing mechanism of the human body, they create stronger and healthier tendon tissues.

Reduce Inflammation 

Tendinitis often leads to chronic inflammation. If you opt for platelet-rich plasma for tendonitis, then you can protect your tendons from inflammation. As PRP possesses anti-inflammatory properties, they help get rid of pain and improve the overall functioning of the body.

Pros & Cons of PRP For Tendonitis 

If you choose platelet-rich plasma injection for curing tendinitis, it will come with its own pros and cons. Let’s understand below:

Pros of PRP

Minimally Invasive

It’s a simple outpatient procedure with minimal discomfort and a relatively quicker recovery time.

Natural Healing 

As it involves platelets, it is based on the natural healing mechanism of your own body. Also, there are no chances of infections.

Reduced Recovery Time

First of all, PRP induces healing and lets you get back to normal life activities at a faster pace than traditional treatments.

Improved Function 

Its overall aim isn’t just to manage the pain, indeed it offers long-term tendon health and function.

Cons of PRP

Limited Research 

As the concept is new, there is less evidence of its efficacy. Also, the research is still going on.

Not a Guaranteed Fix

In some cases, the natural healing mechanisms of the patient’s body aren’t that effective to cure tendinitis. Hence it isn’t a guaranteed alternative to medications or surgery.

Cost

For many patients, the cost of PRP can be a barrier as it’s a new treatment plus if you want to cover its expenses via insurance, they vary from place to place.

Pain & Discomfort 

Although minimally invasive, the injection process might cause pain and discomfort that might not be fine for everyone.

Conclusion 

Overall, platelet-rich plasma injection is a very effective treatment method for the ever-frustrating and painful problem of tendonitis. If you also want to get rid of the pain and inflammation from the issue, you can connect with Legacy Clinic of Chiropractic. Being one of the popular clinics in The Villages, it aims to provide the best quality PRP therapies to its patients and make a change in their lives.