Important Information On Prp Therapy Portland Residents Need To Know

By Joshua Campbell


Platelet rich plasma (or simply, PRP) is a product that is obtained from blood and used in the management of various conditions. Its main property is that it hastens the process of tissue healing when injected into a given site. If they intend on making use of prp therapy Portland patients should ensure they learn some important facts first.

Plasma is the liquid part of blood that is rich in proteins. Some of these proteins are integral to the process of wound healing. Platelets, on the other hand, are blood components that help in clot formation following injury to a blood vessel. This makes them also important in healing following injury. Prp treatment uses your own platelets and plasma.

The procedure itself is quite simple and takes less than one hour on average. The first thing that is done is collection of blood from a vein into a small tube. This is whole blood that contains cells as well as the plasma. It has to undergo gentrification so as to separate the various components. The cells settle at the bottom and the plasma and platelets float. These can be drawn by a needle and injected directly into the disease area.

The management of osteoarthritis is an area in which a lot of clinical trials with prp therapies are being undertaken. Osteoarthritis is a chronic degenerative condition of the joints that is associated with pain, stiffness and deformities. It is a challenging condition to manage and in many instances, the medication prescribed fail to provide relief. Preliminary results show that prp is superior to traditional injections used for this condition.

Tendon injuries can be sustained in many ways. Commonly, they are the result of sporting activities such as playing tennis or golf. Any other strenuous physical activity has the potential to cause tendon injuries. Examples include Achilles tendonitis, tennis elbow and patellar tendon injury among others. Prp has provided some hope for these stubborn injuries.

Some researchers claim that prp is effective in reversing hair loss. One of the groups that have been studied is that of persons with male pattern baldness. The main concern is that the numbers that have been studied are quite small. Other conditions that may be treated similarly include rotator cuff injuries, chronic plantar fasciitis and hamstring tears.

Any treatment has a potential for side effects. This treatment is no exception. Possible complications that may be encountered albeit rarely are tissue injuries, infections, pain and damage to nerves. There is a need to have a discussion on the likelihood of having these complications before the treatment is given. The doctor should explain the precautions that will be undertaken to avoid them.

The quality of scientific evidence to support the routine use of prp in medical practice is still weak. There is a tremendous amount of research work that is still on going in this area and the future looks quite promising. There are a number of world famous athletes who have given this form of treatment a try already. Because of the controversies still surrounding the treatment many insurance companies do not include it in their medical covers.




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