For patients dealing with ongoing joint pain, tendon problems, or other musculoskeletal conditions, surgery isn’t always the first or only option. Platelet-Rich Plasma (PRP) therapy is a nonsurgical treatment that uses components of your own blood to support the body’s natural healing response.
At Idaho Shoulder to Hand in Boise, PRP injections may be considered for certain orthopedic conditions involving tendons, ligaments, muscles, joints, and other soft tissues.
What Is Platelet-Rich Plasma?
Platelet-Rich Plasma, commonly called PRP, is prepared from a small sample of the patient’s own blood.
Blood contains several components, including red blood cells, white blood cells, plasma, and platelets. Platelets are best known for their role in clotting, but they also contain proteins and growth factors involved in the body’s response to tissue injury.
To prepare PRP, a blood sample is placed into a centrifuge, which spins at high speed to separate and concentrate specific components of the blood. The resulting platelet-rich portion can then be injected into the area being treated.
Because PRP comes from the patient’s own blood, it provides physicians with a way to concentrate these naturally occurring components and deliver them directly to a targeted orthopedic area.
How Are PRP Injections Performed?
PRP treatment generally begins with an orthopedic evaluation to determine the cause of your symptoms and whether PRP may be appropriate for your particular condition.
If PRP is recommended, blood is drawn and processed using a centrifuge. Once the platelet-rich portion has been prepared, it is injected into the targeted joint, tendon, ligament, muscle, or surrounding tissue.
Depending on the location and condition being treated, ultrasound guidance may be used to help accurately place the injection.
The goal isn’t simply to inject the location where you feel pain. Understanding which structure is actually responsible for the symptoms is an important part of determining where and whether PRP should be used.
What Orthopedic Conditions May Be Treated With PRP?
PRP has been used in orthopedic medicine for a variety of musculoskeletal conditions. Whether it is appropriate depends on the specific diagnosis, severity of the problem, overall health of the patient, and other factors.
Conditions for which PRP may be considered include:
PRP isn’t appropriate for every orthopedic problem, and results can vary considerably depending on the condition being treated. A proper diagnosis is necessary before determining whether PRP should be part of a treatment plan.
Why Can Tendon Problems Be Difficult to Treat?
Tendon injuries are one area where PRP has received considerable attention.
Unlike muscles, many portions of tendons have a relatively limited blood supply. Tendon problems can also develop gradually through repetitive loading rather than from a single traumatic injury.
Someone may experience symptoms for months without remembering a specific moment when the injury occurred.
Over time, repeated stress can contribute to changes within tendon tissue and lead to persistent pain, stiffness, weakness, or reduced function. Conditions such as tennis elbow, Achilles tendinopathy, and other chronic tendon disorders are examples of problems that may develop this way.
For selected patients, PRP may be considered as part of a nonsurgical treatment approach.
Can PRP Be Used for Arthritis?
PRP may also be considered for certain patients with osteoarthritis, particularly when joint pain is interfering with activity and quality of life.
Osteoarthritis develops as cartilage and other structures within a joint change over time. Symptoms can include pain, stiffness, swelling, reduced range of motion, and difficulty performing everyday activities.
PRP does not reverse advanced arthritis or recreate a normal joint. However, some patients with certain stages of osteoarthritis may be candidates for PRP as part of a broader nonsurgical treatment strategy.
Determining whether PRP makes sense begins with evaluating the joint and understanding the severity and source of the patient’s symptoms.
A Nonsurgical Approach to Orthopedic Care
Many orthopedic conditions can initially be evaluated and managed without surgery.
The appropriate treatment depends on the diagnosis and may involve activity modification, rehabilitation, medications, injections, bracing, or other nonsurgical approaches. PRP is another option that may be considered when appropriate.
Rather than focusing solely on temporarily reducing pain, the goal is to identify the underlying orthopedic problem and determine which treatment options make the most sense for the individual patient.
Idaho Shoulder to Hand Treats More Than Shoulders, Elbows, Wrists and Hands
The name Idaho Shoulder to Hand reflects our longstanding expertise in upper-extremity orthopedic care, but our services aren’t limited to the upper body.
We evaluate and treat orthopedic conditions throughout the entire body.
Whether you’re experiencing knee pain while walking, a chronic Achilles tendon problem, persistent shoulder pain, tennis elbow, or another musculoskeletal condition, our team can evaluate your symptoms and discuss appropriate nonsurgical treatment options.
Is PRP Right for You?
There is no single treatment that’s appropriate for every orthopedic injury or condition.
PRP may be worth discussing when pain or loss of function continues despite conservative treatment, when a chronic tendon or soft-tissue condition isn’t improving as expected, or when a patient wants to explore nonsurgical options before considering more invasive treatment.
The first step is determining exactly what’s causing your symptoms.
At Idaho Shoulder to Hand, we evaluate the underlying orthopedic condition first and then discuss treatment options based on your diagnosis, activity level, goals, and overall health.
PRP Injections in Boise, Idaho
If persistent joint, tendon, ligament, or muscle pain is keeping you from doing the things you enjoy, PRP may be one of the nonsurgical orthopedic treatment options worth considering.
Idaho Shoulder to Hand provides orthopedic evaluation and nonsurgical treatment for patients in Boise and throughout the Treasure Valley.
Although our name may be known for shoulder, elbow, wrist, and hand care, our orthopedic services extend throughout the body.
Schedule an evaluation to learn what’s causing your symptoms and whether Platelet-Rich Plasma therapy may be appropriate for you.
