If you’re one of the millions of adults in the United States suffering from some form of arthritis, you take care to manage your symptoms of joint pain, stiffness, and discomfort. You may avoid dietary triggers, take medications, or use periodic injections to control your symptoms, or receive regular physical therapy or massage. According to the CDC, almost a quarter of adults in the US have arthritis, and for more than one in four, joint pain is severe.
Thanks to revolutionary new developments in regenerative medicine, we’re learning more about potential treatments for arthritis. Treatment with platelet-rich plasma (PRP) shows promise to resolve arthritis symptoms, and even to eradicate arthritis completely.
At BCS Medical of Bryan, Texas, our experienced and knowledgeable care team provides treatment and support for patients living with multiple types of arthritis, including osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis. Here’s what we want you to know about the potential of regenerative medicine and PRP therapy to treat your arthritis symptoms with minimal invasiveness.
What is PRP?
When your body is injured, natural healing factors in your blood initiate regeneration and repair processes, speeding the growth of new tissue. The platelets in your blood cause clotting after an injury, and work to speed up your body’s production of reparative cells. By isolating the PRP elements of your blood, we can provide an injection capable of kick-starting your natural healing response that will lead to new tissue growth.
When you come in for a PRP treatment, we begin by taking a sample of your blood, similar to the way we would in any other blood draw for testing. We run your blood through a high-powered centrifuge, separating it into its components. We prepare an injection of your own PRP, potentially supplemented with other nutrients or medications, to apply to the area where you’re suffering from arthritis-related damage.
How can PRP injections help with arthritis?
Arthritis is a chronic condition that can often become degenerative, worsening over time as your joints endure flare ups of swelling and inflammation. PRP treatments can help reverse the damage caused by chronic arthritis, tapping your natural healing abilities to support your body.
An appointment only takes about 30 minutes, and you won’t need to plan on any recovery time afterward. We use an X-ray, guided by an ultrasound, to precisely target your injection, delivering it immediately over your affected joint or joints. Depending on the location of your arthritis, you may benefit from several simultaneous injections in an area around your treatment site.
After PRP treatment, you may see reduced pain and swelling. PRP can also slow or even repair damage to your joints caused by arthritis. PRP treatments have been shown to be most effective for patients at an earlier stage of arthritic progression.
To learn more about how PRP could help to eradicate your arthritis, get in touch with the team at BCS Medical today. You can schedule your initial consultation appointment by giving us a call at 979-731-1676, or book your first appointment online.