Can PRP Injections Help Heal Your Joints?

When you have joint problems, every movement can be excruciating — sometimes rest doesn't even help to quell the pain. You can try to manage your symptoms with painkillers and creams, but the only way to truly escape joint pain is to address it from within. 

And you can with platelet-rich plasma (PRP) injections. 

In this blog, board-certified orthopaedic surgeon and joint pain specialist Dr. Nikhil Pandhi explores how these powerful injections work to heal your achy joints. 

Understanding your joint pain

Joint pain is a complicated condition that can stem from a variety of problems and cause a wide range of symptoms. 

The most common cause of joint pain is arthritis, and osteoarthritis is one of the most common types. Osteoarthritis happens when the cartilage (a slippery cushioning substance between your joints) wears down and leaves your bones to rub against each other. 

In addition to unbearable pain, it can also cause:

• Tenderness
• Stiffness
• A grating sensation
• Clicking sounds
• Lack of mobility
• Bone spurs
• Swelling
• Redness

Plenty of conservative and at-home remedies promise relief, but most of the time, they're temporary at best. And, if you let your joint pain go on too long, you could wind up with permanent joint damage.

Enter PRP injections. 

How PRP injections can help

PPR injections are a type of regenerative medicine that involves injecting PRP into your damaged joints to reduce pain, improve function, and rebuild the cartilage you lost.

PRP comes from a sample of your own blood, which contains plasma and platelets — some of the most potent healing factors around. 

Plasma is the liquid part of your blood responsible for transporting red and white blood cells through your bloodstream. Plasma also contains proteins, glucose, antibodies, and other essential nutrients.

Platelets aren't healers per se, but they do show up at the scene of injury or damage and work to stimulate the production of growth factors and other elements that encourage cell and tissue renewal as well as healing. 

Once we inject PRP, it works quickly, repairing damage in your joints, forming new cartilage, and even toning down inflammation. The best part? Your pain relief and improved mobility don't come from simply masking symptoms but from genuine healing.

Other things you can do

PRP is one of the leading joint pain treatments for good reason, but it isn’t the only thing you can do. You can maximize the effects of the injections and foster joint health by making the following lifestyle adjustments:

• Eating a healthy, balanced diet
• Doing exercises focused on strength-building
• Getting enough vitamins, particularly vitamins C and D
• Maintaining a healthy weight
• Quitting smoking
• Limiting your alcohol consumption
• Managing stress

It is also a good idea to modify your regular activities and use assistive devices, such as teachers, door handles, and handrails. 

Want to see if you're a candidate for this revolutionary treatment? Don't hesitate to call our friendly staff at 219-301-8597 or use our online booking tool to schedule an appointment at our Munster, Indiana, office.