Platelet-Rich Plasma and Prolotherapy Provide New Hope and Accelerated Healing for Ligaments, Tendons, and Joints

Tendons and ligaments anchor muscles to bones, allowing us to perform a wide range of physical activities. Overuse or damage to these tissues over long periods causes the collagen fibers in them to form small tears, leading to common injuries like tendinosis. Tendons and ligaments have a poor blood supply and do not heal easily after sprains, strains, or repetitive motion.

Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) is a natural, increasingly popular therapy for damaged tendons and ligaments. PRP is widely used in sports medicine and orthopedics to treat tendon and ligament injuries. You can also get PRP therapy from Blatman Health and Wellness Center, your provider of functional medicine in Cincinnati and New York City.

First, we briefly discuss what tendons and ligaments are and how they can get injured. We then explore how PRP therapy works, its benefits, and the factors that determine who is a good candidate for this integrative health treatment.

What Are Tendons and Ligaments?

Tendons anchor muscles to bones, enabling many everyday physical activities. Overuse or long-term damage to tendons can cause collagen fibers to form small tears, a condition called tendinosis. Tendon damage most often occurs in the knee, ankle, shoulder, wrist, biceps, calf, and Achilles tendons.

Ligaments are composed of collagen fibers that hold one bone to another, stabilizing the joint and controlling the range of motion. When a ligament is damaged, it can no longer provide support, weakening the joint. Combined with the stress of day-to-day activities, tendons and ligaments do not heal readily from damage, partly because of their poor blood supply. As a result, the tendons and ligaments become inefficient, causing chronic pain and weakness.

Traditional remedies for tendon or ligament damage typically include non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), corticosteroid injections, and, in some cases, surgery. Fortunately, a more natural medical intervention is now possible thanks to PRP.

What is Platelet-Rich Plasma?

PRP is blood plasma with concentrated platelets, which are tiny cell fragments that help the blood clot and repair damaged tissue. The platelets in PRP contain large reservoirs of bioactive proteins, including growth factors that initiate connective tissue healing, regeneration, and bone repair. They also promote the development of new blood vessels and stimulate the wound-healing process.

How does an integrative provider deliver PRP therapy? They must first prepare the PRP. They take a small blood sample from the patient and place it in a centrifuge. The centrifuge spins and automatically produces the PRP. The entire preparation process takes less than 15 minutes and increases platelet and growth factor concentrations at the injury site by up to 500%.

The PRP is then injected directly into the center of the patient’s injury. Ultrasound guidance may be used to monitor the instrument’s position and target the injury with precision.

PRP injections can be helpful for treating

• Spine
• Shoulders
• Elbows
• Wrist and hand
• Hip, pelvis, and joints at the base of the spine
• Knee
• Lower leg
• Ankle and foot
• Arthritic joints

Some patients rely on PRP therapy to treat painful chronic conditions, such as Osgood-Schlatter’s disease, a knee injury often resulting from overuse. Thanks to PRP and other integrative therapies for treating pain, our patients in Cincinnati and New York don’t have to resort to potentially addictive painkillers or invasive surgery.

It’s important to follow your doctor’s instructions prior to each PRP session. For instance, you’ll likely need to stay off NSAIDs at least one week prior to each appointment.

Post-Procedure Care after PRP Therapy

Your doctor at The Blatman Health and Wellness Center will provide instructions after your PRP injections to facilitate recovery and help you maximize your results. One thing you’ll need to do is continue avoiding NSAIDs throughout the course of treatments.

Initially, the procedure may cause some localized soreness and discomfort. Most patients only require some extra-strength Tylenol to help with the pain. Heat will assist and speed healing, and may be applied to the area as needed.

This therapy stimulates the growth and repair of tendons, ligaments, and joint cartilage, which requires time and rehabilitation. The first week after the procedure, you’ll likely continue your home or physical therapy program, but you should avoid aggressive physical activity until your doctor says otherwise. Through regular visits, Dr. Blatman will determine when you are able to resume regular physical activities.

Are PRP Injections the Same as Cortisone Shots?

While cortisone shots may provide quick relief and reduce inflammation, a doctor can only give them a few times in any area because they are known to weaken this tissue. Research suggests that cortisone injections may have serious side effects, such as cutaneous atrophy, which is the thinning and weakening of skin tissue. They can also cause more long-term damage, accelerating the need for hip or knee replacements. Furthermore, cortisone shots generally don’t provide long-term healing.

In contrast, PRP therapy helps heal and strengthen these tendons and ligaments, without serious complications. Treatment with PRP can also provide more long-term strength and stability.

What Are the Benefits of PRP Treatment?

Patients receiving PRP treatment from a local regenerative medical provider can experience significant symptom improvement in pain and function. PRP injections heal tissue with minimal or no scarring and help prevent further tissue degeneration. Not only can PRP injections lead to a shorter recovery, but they also don’t pose the risk of severe side effects or allergic reactions.

PRP therapy may eliminate the need for more aggressive treatments, such as long-term pain medication and cortisone shots. You can also rule out the need for surgery, which is typically more expensive than PRP.

How Many Treatments Will I Need?

While responses to treatment vary, some people will require 2-3 treatment procedure appointments. Based on your medical history and the nature of your injury, Dr. Blatman will recommend the number of sessions you’ll need to achieve full recovery.

Treatment sessions can be scheduled approximately four weeks apart, and competitive athletes may do a second treatment in a week. However, there is no limit to the number of treatments you can have. The low risks and side effects remain the same, regardless of the number of injections.

Is PRP Right for Me?

If you have a tendon or ligament injury and traditional methods have not provided relief, then PRP therapy may be your solution for recovery. However, only a consultation with a qualified functional medical provider can determine if PRP therapy is right for you.

Like many patients, you may be concerned about cost. Medicare generally doesn’t cover PRP treatments. If you have private insurance, you should check their policy, as some carriers may provide partial reimbursement. If your policy offers partial reimbursement, be sure to obtain pre-authorization, especially because some insurance companies still consider this treatment experimental.

At The Blatman Health and Wellness Center, we strongly recommend PRP therapy for the treatment of tendon and ligament injuries. PRP is also highly effective at treating other types of injuries and chronic pain. For questions about this natural regenerative solution, contact us at our Cincinnati or New York City office. We can also set you up with your initial consultation.