Do you suffer from joint pain?
Issues of joint pain, stiffness, and immobility are all becoming of increasing concern for millions of aging Americans.
In fact, according to U.S. Centers for Disease Control, in 2002, around 10.5 million people in the United States said they experienced considerable joint pain, but by 2014 that number had increased to 14.6 million.
Many of these millions of people suffer from joint pain caused by osteoarthritis.
Osteoarthritis
Often referred to as degenerative joint disease, osteoarthritis is the most common chronic joint disease. Osteoarthritis is characterized by a degeneration of the cartilage and bone around the joints. Osteoarthritis can affect any joint, but one of the most commonly affected areas are the knees, hips, neck, fingers, and toes.
Conventional methods of osteoarthritis related joint pain treatment include anti-inflammatories, physical therapy, cortisone injections, and surgery. However, in the past few years, many researchers and practitioners have begun to recognize the efficacy of a new cutting-edge treatment for osteoarthritis. The treatment is called platelet-rich plasma (PRP) therapy. It is delivered through injections directly into the joint. These injections have been shown to be highly effective in the management of osteoarthritis symptoms.
Platelet-Rich Plasma Therapy
Platelets are small disk-shaped cell fragments found in abundance in the blood. They serve as the body’s initial response to injury of the soft tissue. Platelets carry cells, proteins, and growth factors to the site of injury in order to initiate healing.
Platelets are rich in growth factors, which are nutrients that interact with cells to promote tissue formation by triggering cell division and migration. PRP therapy utilizes this property of platelets to support the healing and regeneration of joints affected by osteoarthritis
During PRP therapy, the practitioner draws a small sample of the patient’s blood. The sample is placed into a centrifuge which spins the blood at very high speeds. This separates the platelets from the other components of the blood . The result is concentrated “platelet rich plasma” (PRP). The extracted nutrients are then injected directly into the site of concern.
Safe and Easy
Since PRP therapy uses the patient’s own blood so there is no risk of a transmissible infection and a very low risk of any sort of allergic reaction.
The treatment can help relieve pain and other symptoms without the risks associated with surgery or general anesthesia.
The PRP procedure requires no hospital stay and is performed in the safety of a medical office. The entire process only takes approximately one to two hours. This includes both preparation and recovery time. Most patients are able to return to their jobs and daily activities immediately following the procedure.
The mechanism through which PRP treats pain is by stimulating the body’s natural healing response. This means that PRP therapy has the potential for lasting results. Initial improvement can be seen within a few weeks, and is likely to continue with additional treatments.
Highly Effective
PRP has proven effective in both research studies and clinical practice. Patients report considerable pain relief and the ability to return to daily activities. These anecdotal accounts have been validated by scientific evidence as well.
Physical regeneration and tissue repair has been shown through both ultrasound and MRI images of tissues that have received PRP therapy. The therapy has the potential to dramatically reduce the need for surgery in many cases. This is because it allows the tissues to heal before the damage progresses to the point of irreversibility.
Dr. Don Colbert, M.D., provides this cutting edge therapy at his clinics in Longwood, FL and Southlake, TX. You can visit divinehealthwellness.com to learn more and call (407) 331-7007 to schedule your appointment.
References
https://www.arthritis-health.com/treatment/injections/efficacy-platelet-rich-plasma-injections
http://www.drmagaziner.com/regrowing-cartilage-in-the-knee/
http://www.arthritis.org/about-arthritis/types/osteoarthritis/what-is-osteoarthritis.php
