The Many Benefits of Turning to PRP for Your Joint Pain

Dealing with joint pain can be frustrating and debilitating. Whether it's due to arthritis, injury, or something else, chronic joint pain can significantly impact your quality of life.

The good news? You have treatment options. Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) therapy is a modern approach to managing chronic joint pain, and it could be the answer you’ve been seeking.

Adam Redlich, MD, Adam Thompson, DO, and our team at A+ Athlete Sports Medicine offer PRP therapy for people living with joint pain, and we’re here to help you decide if it’s right for you.

Platelet-rich plasma therapy is a regenerative treatment that stimulates your body’s natural healing ability, and here’s what you need to know about how it works and the benefits it can offer.

How PRP therapy works

Platelet-rich plasma therapy is a nonsurgical medical procedure that uses your body's natural healing properties to alleviate joint pain.

First we draw a small amount of your blood. Then, we put it in a centrifuge, which spins your blood at high speeds to separate the platelets from the rest of the components in your blood.

Then, we inject the resulting PRP solution into the affected joint or area. The growth factors in the PRP then get to work engaging your body’s healing mechanisms. And, as your body heals, this results in pain relief.

The benefits of PRP therapy for joint pain

Platelet-rich plasma therapy takes a regenerative approach to pain management, offering a host of potential benefits for people living with chronic joint pain.

1. Nonsurgical and minimally invasive

One of the best advantages of PRP therapy is that it's a nonsurgical and minimally invasive procedure. Joint surgery and other traditional treatments often come with long recovery times and long lists of risks and potential complications.

We perform PRP injections as an outpatient procedure in our office. This means less downtime and a lower risk for complications. In fact, many people can return to their regular activities shortly afterward, and they can experience a reduction in their pain within a few weeks.

2. Personalized treatment

Platelet-rich plasma therapy is fully customizable to suit your needs. Before recommending therapy, we review your medical history, your symptoms, and your goals for treatment to develop a plan that’s right for you.

During PRP therapy, we can adjust the concentration of platelets, the location of your injections, and the number of injections you receive based on the severity of your joint condition and your response to treatment.

3. Natural healing

Platelet-rich plasma therapy is a type of regenerative medicine, which means it puts your body’s natural healing mechanisms to work. Platelets in your blood contain growth factors and proteins that play a crucial role in tissue repair and regeneration.

By concentrating these platelets in your PRP injections and administering them in precise locations, this therapy can promote natural healing and stimulate tissue regeneration in the affected joint to reduce pain over time.

4. Reduced pain and inflammation

Joint pain is often accompanied by inflammation, which can exacerbate discomfort and stiffness. Platelet-rich plasma therapy has the power to reduce inflammation in your joint, essentially treating your joint pain right at the source. After PRP therapy, many people report both reduced pain and improved joint function.

5. Minimal side effects

Since PRP is derived from your blood, there's very little risk for allergic reactions or adverse side effects compared to other treatments, especially those that involve synthetic medications or foreign substances. That means it can be a safer and more natural approach to managing your joint pain.

6. Potential to delay or avoid surgery

If you’re facing the prospect of joint surgery, PRP therapy can be a game-changer. It targets joint pain and inflammation at the source. The healing you achieve with PRP therapy could help delay or even eliminate the need for surgical intervention.

7. Long-lasting results

While the exact duration of pain relief can vary, many of our patients experience long-lasting benefits from PRP therapy. Treatment stimulates healing within your body, leading to effects that can last for months to years.

Are you struggling with joint pain? It’s time to find out if PRP therapy is right for you. To learn more, book an appointment online or over the phone with A+ Athlete Sports Medicine today. We have offices in Neptune and Robbinsville, New Jersey.