What is it?  

Platelet-rich plasma, or PRP, is blood plasma that has been enriched with platelets. In of itself, blood (plasma) contains small, solid components—mainly red cells, white cells and platelets. Very important in the healing of injuries, hundreds of proteins called “growth factors” make up a person’s platelets. PRP is plasma with platelets added to it, so it has more platelets than blood alone. The concentration of platelets—and, thereby, the concentration of growth factors—are five to 10 times greater (or richer) in PRP than in blood. 

PRP is developed for a patient from his or her own blood.  The blood is drawn, the platelets are separated from other blood cells, and their concentration is increased during a spinning process; then the increased concentration of platelets is combined with the remaining blood to create a solution of platelet-rich plasma. 

Why is it useful?  

PRP promotes tissue healing and regeneration. The increased concentration of growth factors in PRP can speed up the healing process of a damaged part of the body such as a torn ligament, tendon or meniscus. Dr. Michele Raithel, ND, at Revolutions Naturopathic explains that PRP works in the opposite way of a cortisone injection, an anti-inflammatory steroid that is administered for pain relief. Unlike cortisone, PRP not only helps to relieve pain, but it also stimulates the inflammatory response that triggers healing.

“With PRP-injection therapy, I use ultrasound guidance for the placement,” Dr. Raithel says. “This allows me to fill the damaged area very specifically with exactly the right amount of PRP, which creates a sweet spot of healthy inflammation. PRP therapy is excellent for chronic pain and injuries that are not healing.”  

What conditions does it treat?

Dr. Raithel has successfully treated many patients—including athletes of all ages—with PRP injections. “Patients suffering from sports-induced, painful conditions such as tennis elbow, torn ligaments, meniscus tears and rotator cuff injuries can benefit greatly,” she says. “The PRP injections deliver high concentrations of the nutrients and cells used in the repair process of the injured site directly. It’s simple, effective and inexpensive when compared to surgery.”   

While PRP has been used for a number of years in sports medicine, it also holds great promise for treating people with many types of spine and joint disorders. Gary Dunaye, PA, a pain management specialist at Cascade Medical Wellness Center, believes PRP will be used more extensively for reversal of chronic pain. “One of the most innovative and exciting ways that PRP is being utilized today is in the treatment of spinal arthritis and associated degenerative disc or joint disease,” says Dunaye. “PRP is a non-surgical treatment that is a relatively new option for relieving and even reversing pain for sufferers of these conditions.” 

Overall, the success of PRP therapy is still being measured; those considering treatment with PRP should check its eligibility with their health insurance carriers as well as their personal viability with their doctor.

By Janet Scherr