Why You Should Consider PRP Therapy for Your Arthritis Pain

You used to cut across the dance floor like Madonna, but now your knees and hips hurt just getting out of bed in the morning. 

Welcome to middle age. Like other parts of your body, the cartilage that cushions your joints wears down with age. This condition is called osteoarthritis, and it affects 32 million Americans, primarily those over 55.

But just because joint pain and stiffness are common doesn’t mean you have to take it sitting down.

Enter platelet-rich plasma (PRP) therapy. This regenerative therapy uses growth factors and proteins from your blood to reduce inflammation and enhance joint function.

At Gorman Medical, PC in Colorado Springs and Cripple Creek, Colorado, our expert team of pain management specialists provides comprehensive joint care, including drug-free, minimally invasive PRP therapy.

In this blog, they explain how PRP works and what it can do for you. 

Your aging joints

Joints comprise bone, cartilage, and fluid working together. When you’re young, your joints have sufficient cartilage and fluid to lubricate your bones, enabling smooth and painless movement. 

But pain and stiffness set in as your cartilage wears down and your joints produce less fluid. Arthritis can affect any joint, from elbows to hips. 

Conservative treatments include balancing activity and rest, icing painful joints, and taking anti-inflammatory medications. But if these first-line approaches don’t provide relief, it’s time to consider PRP therapy. 

What PRP treatment entails

Your Gorman Medical provider draws a small vial of blood from your arm. The blood is spun in a centrifuge to separate blood cells and plasma into layers. The platelets, which contain growth factors, are combined with a small amount of plasma to create your healing PRP formula.

This concentrated solution is injected into specific points around the painful joints. 

PRP therapy for arthritis and joint pain can:

• Reduce pain
• Increase joint function
• Improve mobility
• Enhance cartilage quality

Growth factors in PRP promote your body's natural healing abilities. It can stimulate healthy cell regeneration for aging joints and increase fluid in stiff joints. It may slow down or even repair damaged cartilage and reduce inflammation and swelling.

When can you expect results?

Because PRP works at the cellular level, the benefits of PRP injections may take 4-6 weeks to notice. Even beyond this window, the PRP aids in further healing for 6-9 months.

Many patients need several sessions for optimal improvement. Your Gorman Medical provider creates a treatment program just for you.

To learn more about the healing benefits of PRP therapy, book a consultation with Gorman Medical today. Call the office nearest you or request an appointment online.