Once the PRP is prepared, it is injected into the injured area (such as a tendon, muscle, cartilage, joint, or bone.) Depending on the area of injury, imaging or ultrasound may be used to place the needle directly into the joint or area of injury. During the process, the patient is not asleep or anesthetized. Pre-procedural medication may be prescribed on an individual basis.

Following the injection, patients may experience slight discomfort in the area of the injection that can last for a few days or up to a week. Although it can seem like the injury actually feels worse than it did before the treatment, it is important to remember that there is a good reason for that— the injection triggered an inflammatory response that is quite normal and is essential for the healing process.

Once the patient returns home, it is typical to ice the injected area for pain relief or to limit activities as much as needed. Beyond Biologics™ generally suggests using Tylenol or a prescription pain reliever. Ibuprofen or other NSAIDs including Motrin or Advil are not advised, as these are “anti-inflammatory” and may interfere with the healing response. Some providers will recommend avoiding heavy or repetitive physical activity with the treated body part for up to a week to allow the healing to occur.

Patients are often surprised by the speed of recovery they experience after PRP injections. Many patients report being pain free following the procedure, and patients have also reported using less pain medication and gaining greater joint motion. Overall, patients get back to regular daily activities with greater speed and ease than they otherwise would with surgery or other treatments.

Beyond Biologics™ often recommends stretching and strengthening exercises for the patient to perform after the injections as part of a home exercise program. Gentle stretching for the muscles around the injected area can usually be started nearly immediately after the injection; however, strengthening exercises and other forms of exercise involving the area will not begin immediately as the tissue requires healing time after the injection before being heavily stressed.

For athletes, sport-specific exercises, such as throwing or simulated sport drills will be gradually encouraged as soon as possible to prepare you to return to your desired sport. Others may require a home exercise plan before returning to a full occupational workload or duties of the home such as gardening or housecleaning. For athletes and non-athletes alike, your provider will discuss the most appropriate return-to-sport or activity plan for you after a PRP injection and will advise you on the acceptable level of activity at each stage of your rehabilitation process.

PRP therapy is effective in treating chronic tendon injuries such as tennis elbow and ligament and muscle injuries such as plantar fasciitis. It can also slow or halt the progression of chronic degenerative diseases like osteoarthritis. In fact, a recent study showed PRP to be more effective at treating thumb arthritis than more traditional cortisone injections. To know if PRP therapy is the right treatment for you, contact Beyond Biologics™ and arrange a consultation.

The best way to know if you are a candidate for PRP therapy is to contact Beyond Biologics™ and arrange a consultation. Generally, there are no age or activity-level restrictions on patients seeking PRP injections. Beyond Biologics™ regularly consults patients about their options to treat pain and injuries with regenerative medicine. Patients often come to Beyond Biologics™ after having been recommended surgery or joint replacements by other doctors.

Most Beyond Biologics™ patients are able to return to work or continue on with their day following the procedure. Some patients notice improvement by 2 to 6 weeks after the PRP treatment. However, there are factors that can affect the treatment’s efficacy such as the type and site of injury or pain. Most chronic tendon injuries that have failed to respond to any other type of traditional treatment may take a number of weeks to heal, while PRP injections into joints and acute muscle injuries may show improvement sooner.

Many insurance plans do not cover regenerative therapies such as PRP therapy. Unfortunately, this means that patients often pay for treatment out-of-pocket. Though the out-of-pocket expenses are not ideal, injection therapies cost vastly less than the surgical alternative. To get an idea of what your treatment would cost, it is best to contact Beyond Biologics™ directly.