Osteoarthritis Treatment With PRP
For many people, Osteoarthritis can make simple, daily tasks very painful, and prove debilitating, impacting the overall quality of life. Osteoarthritis is one of the most common causes of physical disability amongst older people, but it can also impact younger people. Before the age of 45, osteoarthritis is generally more common in men, however, after the age of 45, women may be affected more.
What Causes Osteoarthritis?
Osteoarthritis occurs when tissue on the joints breaks down and wears away, causing the bones to rub against each other. As with any condition, Osteoarthritis will affect everyone differently. Some people may not feel pain, others will experience stiffness, joint pain, swelling, or tenderness in the joints throughout the day.
Osteoarthritis most commonly affects weight-bearing joints such as the knees, hips, and feet, however, for some people, it may affect the hands, lower back, and neck. The most common cause of Osteoarthritis is placing too much stress on a previously injured joint, and improper skeletal alignment and weight distribution.
Osteoarthritis Treatment
Treatment plans for Osteoarthritis often include structured exercise, joint care, and weight control, however, PRP has been proven to help alleviate pain associated with the condition, making it more manageable day to day.
PRP Treatment For Osteoarthritis
PRP also known as Platelet Rich Plasma Therapy works by extracting, and injecting key nutrients found within your blood into the affected area to encourage the body to begin its natural healing process, which includes producing collagen to help repair and restore tissue.
Within the blood, there are several key nutrients each playing a vital role in body functionality. These nutrients include:
- Plasma – a yellowish-colored liquid that carries salt, enzymes, and water around the body.
- Platelets – which play a key part in blood coagulation
- Growth proteins – also known as growth factors to support overall health
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How Does PRP Treatment Work?
The first stage of PRP treatment is to extract the blood, this is done similarly to a regular blood test. The blood is then placed in a centrifuge which spins the blood to separate it from its three main components. These components are then injected into the affected joint.
Following the injection, the body will begin its natural healing process and produce collagen to send to the affected area. In turn, this additional collagen will target the broken tissue, and help restore it to alleviate pain. Treatment takes around 40 minutes and should always be carried out by a trained professional, in a clinical setting.
For best results, you may require more than one PRP treatment. Your clinician will be able to advise on the frequency of your visits, but they will be spaced out adequately to accommodate natural tissue healing.
Is PRP Treatment Safe?
As PRP uses nothing more than your own blood, it is said to have the lowest complication and infection risk of any aesthetic treatment. There is no real downtime required after treatment, but it is natural to have slight discomfort, swelling, and bruising around the area for a couple of days.
Whilst PRP is generally safe for everybody and has several key uses and benefits, there are some medical conditions that will impact your suitability for the treatment. These conditions include:
- Pregnancy
- Hepatitis C
- HIV/ AIDS
- Cancer – including blood and skin cancers
- Cardiovascular disease, which requires blood thinning medication
PRP is a fantastic treatment and one that we have been offering for many years now at our clinic. We both do believe that regenerative medicine is the future of aesthetics and PRP is just that – we wish more people knew about its many benefits. The product we use is Regen PRP produced by Regen Lab which we couldn’t recommend enough. Not only is this product safe and easy to use, but it has also benefited patient goals and outcomes. Five stars!