Platelet rich plasma INJECTIONS

Platelet-rich plasma injection, sometimes called PRP or autologous conditioned plasma (ACP), attempts to take advantage of the blood’s natural healing properties to repair damaged cartilage, tendons, ligaments, or muscles. It is most commonly used for knee osteoarthritis. When treating osteoarthritis with platelet-rich plasma, PRP is directly injected into the affected joint. The goal is to reduce pain, improve joint function and possibly slow down damage to cartilage. For joint injections, it usually involves three injections, one week apart.

Platelet-rich plasma is derived from a sample of the patient’s own blood. These therapeutic injections contain plasma with a higher concentration of platelets than is found in normal blood. The active agents are separated and concentrated with a double-barrelled syringe system and injected into the area to promote healing. 

Prior to a PRP injection, you should avoid steroid medications for 2 to 3 weeks, stop taking non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), such as aspirin or ibuprofen, or arthritis medications such as diclofenac, for a week prior to the procedure. Drink plenty of fluids the day before the procedure.