Answers to Questions About PRP Stem Cell Therapy
Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) stem cell therapy has resulted in several medical breakthroughs that have changed many people's lives for the better. PRP stem cell therapy can even be used as a replacement treatment for surgery in some cases. Here are some common questions about PRP stem cell therapy that many people have and some detailed answers.
How does PRP stem cell therapy work?
The platelet-rich plasma is made with your body's platelets from your blood. After a blood sample has been taken from you, the platelets are separated from the blood and mixed with a serum to create the platelet-rich plasma that will be injected back into the area or areas of your body that need treatment. This therapy enables your body to heal naturally using your own platelets, which lessens the chances of complications that are sometimes associated with synthetic substances that are given intravenously as treatment.
What medical problems can this therapy treat?
PRP stem cell therapy has been proven to be effective in treating muscle, tendon, and ligament injuries that once could only be treated with surgery. Osteoarthritis, which often causes chronic knee, hip, and other joint pain, can also be alleviated with PRP therapy. If you have spine issues that cause frequent back pain, PRP injections may offer you relief. PRP therapy can often speed up recovery time after surgery. This treatment has even been effective in reversing hair loss in some patients.
Is there a risk of disease transmission with PRP stem cell therapy?
Since the platelet-rich plasma is made with your plasma, you won't have to worry about getting a bloodborne disease. No donor blood or platelets from other patients will be used for your treatment, which eliminates the risks of contracting HIV, hepatitis, and other diseases that can be transmitted through blood. Doctors also use sterile needles that haven't been used previously when drawing blood and injecting the plate-rich plasma into the body.
How many injections of platelet-rich plasma are given?
The exact number of PRP injections depends on the treatment site and severity of the condition, but most patients receive one to three injections per treatment site. If your condition is more severe or complex, your doctor may ask you to return at a future time to receive more injections so that you will get the best results.
What can a doctor do to minimize the pain of receiving the injections?
To make your PRP treatment session as comfortable and relaxing as possible, the doctor will likely apply lidocaine or another topical numbing cream to the injection site before giving you your injections so that you will feel little to no pain during treatment. After the numbing medication has worn off after your treatment, you may experience some soreness from the injections, but the pain is minimal and easy to manage in most cases.
When will the results be noticeable?
You may not notice results until two to six weeks after your treatment, which means that you should not expect to see results right away. However, you may notice some minor improvements in your condition sooner. If more than six weeks have passed after your treatment and you still have not experienced results, you may need to return to the doctor for additional PRP injections or to receive another type of treatment.
If a physical condition is holding you back in life, PRP stem cell therapy may help you move forward. A doctor who offers this treatment can let you know if PRP injections will likely work for you and offer you more information about this treatment.
Share
