/assets/images/provider/photos/2812418.jpeg)
PRP: A Game-Changer for Arthritic Joints
Do you find springing out of bed in the morning harder these days, thanks to stiff, achy arthritic joints? If so, you’re not alone. Of the millions who suffer from some form of arthritis, more than 43% report physical limitations due to the joint pain and inflammation.
Once, we only treated the symptoms of arthritis. But thanks to new regenerative therapies, such as platelet-rich plasma (PRP), we can help your joints heal and rebuild themselves using your body’s powerful resources.
At Hudson Specialty Care, with locations in Cliffside Park, Elizabeth, Edison, New Jersey, and Manhattan, New York, our team specializes in state-of-the-art regenerative treatments, including PRP.
In this blog, we break down how it works.
Arthritis 101
Arthritis is a catch-all term for more than 100 different diseases that can cause pain and inflammation in your joints. The most common type of arthritis is osteoarthritis, a degenerative and progressive condition in which the cartilage in your joints begins to break down.
Cartilage is a slippery substance that allows the bones inside your joint to glide together easily. However, when the cartilage begins to deteriorate, your bones are left unprotected, and they can rub together, causing pain and inflammation.
Historically, osteoarthritis has been treated with anti-inflammatory medications. Although these medications can offer short-term relief, they do little for the long-term health of your joints, which is where PRP therapy comes in.
PRP: Healing from within
Platelet-rich plasma therapy is a technique in which we harness the power of your own platelets and redirect them into your damaged connective tissues to encourage healing and repair.
Your blood contains four primary ingredients:
- Red blood cells
- White blood cells
- Platelets
- Plasma
The primary role of your platelets is to clot your blood. Once accomplished, however, their role in healing is far from over, as they release growth factors that call upon other healing resources to come in and help make the necessary repairs.
When it comes to arthritic joints, these growth factors are believed to:
- Help reduce pain and inflammation
- Stimulate new cartilage growth
- Increase lubrication within the joint
Ultimately, our goal is to slow the progression of your arthritis, restoring your active life.
Harvesting your platelets
For your PRP therapy, we draw some of your own blood and then separate out the platelets in a special centrifuge. Once isolated, we mix this platelet concentrate back in with your plasma and inject the mixture directly into your arthritic joints.
We typically recommend a series of PRP treatments, which we space apart to allow time for your body to go to work to rebuild and regenerate from within. Over the course of your treatments, you should realize gradual results.
To learn more about PRP, call to book a consultation at one of our offices. You can also request an appointment online. We have locations in Cliffside Park, Elizabeth, Edison, New Jersey, and Manhattan, New York.