At your first appointment, you will meet with your NJPR therapist will evaluate your condition or injury and determine whether you could benefit from PRP injections. If you are a good candidate for PRP therapy, you will receive a comprehensive plan to address your specific needs.

PRP therapy is an office procedure. It involves a blood draw, preparation of the PRP, preparation of the area to be treated, and the injections. The entire procedure usually takes about an hour or two from start to finish.

In preparation for the procedure, you will be advised to restrict the use of anti-inflammatory medications before, during and after the therapy, as they can interfere with healing. You will receive specific instructions on preparing for your procedure.

First, a small amount of your blood is drawn to obtain a blood sample.

Next, the blood is put into a centrifuge, a machine that spins the blood to separate the blood components. The blood will be spun for about 5-10 minutes to separate and concentrate the platelets containing the biologically active proteins.

In preparation for the injections, PRP may be mixed with local anesthesia to reduce any discomfort; and the area to be treated will be antiseptically cleaned and marked.

Your Physician Rehabilitation therapist will use ultrasound or fluoroscopic guidance to visualize the injured or damaged tissues, and to assist them in pinpointing the specific areas for injection. Then, they will carefully inject the PRP solution into the diseased or damaged tissues.

After the injection, you may experience mild pain and irritation at the site of the injection, which usually resolves within a few hours. You can expect some swelling and post-injection pain in the affected area, that usually lasts just a few days. If you are uncomfortable, you can take Tylenol to help. Ice and heat applications can be useful.

You will be advised to avoid exercise for a short period of time before gradually returning to your normal activities. When to return to your normal activities will be determined by your response to the treatment and therapist’s recommendations.

At NJPR each individual patient’s injury and condition is evaluated and a comprehensive treatment plan is created including the the number of treatments needed to provide optimal recovery.

PRP therapy provides a solution to soft tissue injury by ramping up the body’s natural ability to heal. Symptom relief is not instant, rather it takes a few weeks to see improvement, and continues to improve as you heal. 

Musculoskeletal injuries are difficult to treat satisfactorily. Conservative treatments are often recommended before more invasive procedures. Conservative treatment is focused on treating the symptoms.

Platelet – rich Plasma (PRP) is nonsurgical treatment that accelerates healing. Importantly, PRP provides a higher quality of healing. When your body heals an injury, scar tissue often forms during healing, which can affect your function. PRP therapy can halt the progression of damage and scarring so you can recover and return to your life more quickly. And, in some cases, you can avoid more invasive procedures including surgery.

Healing is a coordinated series of processes all of which are directly or indirectly controlled by growth factors. PRP catalyzes the healing process, and accelerates tissue healing. MRI studies show definitive tissue repair. Other studies and clinical experience have shown that PRP therapy provides effective pain relief and reduces the need for surgery by treating injury before damage progresses.

For instance, tendon injuries are common and healing is characterized by the formation of scar tissue, because tendons have only very little ability to regenerate. PRP therapy has the ability to relieve pain and regenerate healthy structure.

PRP therapy is more effective and durable than cortisone injections. It doesn’t wear off like a pain injection, and doesn’t create any risk. Cortisone injections inhibit the body’s natural healing ability, and can actually cause degeneration of soft tissue and bone loss.

An injection of Hyaluronic Acid (HA) is often recommended for knee arthritis pain and mobility. Studies show that PRP therapy is longer lasting and more effective than HA injections in improving mild to moderate pain and joint function.

Everyone is different. Most patients will see a significant improvement in symptoms, including pain relief, and reduced inflammation, without the risks of cortisone injections, surgery, anesthesia, and a long recovery. In fact, PRP treatments can eliminate or reduce the need for more invasive or aggressive treatments.

The results are improved function and repair of damaged tissues, including relieving the pain and disability of osteoarthritis of the spine, hip and shoulder.

Patients experience pain relief, improved mobility and faster recovery. Results are long- lasting and durable. When you desire to restore your quality of life and are anxious to get back to the things that make your life enjoyable, PRP can offer a safe and effective approach.

At NJPR each patient is evaluated to determine whether PRP therapy will offer a benefit and be effective. You don’t have to live with your pain. Contact us to learn how PRP therapy can help alleviate your pain and dysfunction.