Platelet Rich Plasma (PRP) Injections in Calgary AB

Platelet Rich Plasma (PRP) injections in Calgary AB are a type of regenerative injection therapy. Read on for more information

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WHAT ARE PLATELETS in Calgary AB?

Platelets are components of your blood that play many functions. They are responsible for clotting when a vessel is cut, and also contain growth factors (PDGF) that contribute to healing the tissue around them. For this reason, platelets can be harvested from whole blood and used to heal damaged tissues.

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WHAT IS PRP?

PRP stands for Platelet Rich Plasma, and is one of a group of regenerative joint injections, meaning it heals damaged tissues. PRP is extracted by spinning blood to separate the red blood cells (RBCs) from the platelets, plasma and white blood cells (leukocytes). PRP is the portion of plasma that is highly concentrated with platelets, which includes growth factors. PRP can then be injected into a joint in the case of osteoarthritis, or to supporting joint structures such as ligament and tendons in cases of tears, strains, sprains, and joint laxity.

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PRP VS CORTICOSTEROID INJECTIONS

A corticosteroid injection is commonly used by medical doctors and radiologists in Alberta to manage joint pain. In some this can be and effective treatment, and does so by decreasing inflammation. However when injected with corticosteroids multiple times, it has the potential to further break down tissue. On the other hand, PRP stimulates healing of damaged tissue effectively treating the injury, and preventing the reliance on injections in the long term.

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PRP VS PROLOTHERAPY INJECTIONS

Both PRP and Prolotherapy are regenerative therapies. Both of these can be used to treat the same type of injuries, but the difference lies in the strength of each treatment. PRP has a stronger healing effect that generally lasts longer, making it a more appropriate treatment option for moderate to severe injuries such as grade 2 and 3 ligament and tendon tears and moderate to severe osteoarthritis. A further benefit of PRP is that we generally don't need as many treatments than you would with prolotherapy injections.

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HOW MANY PRP TREATMENTS ARE NEEDED?

To an extent, the response to each treatment will dictate the number of treatments needed to get the best results. A typical treatment protocol ranges from 2-6 treatments, at about 6 week intervals to start.

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ALL PRP IS NOT CREATED EQUALLY

Depending on the PRP kits and system that a clinic uses, you get different quality PRP. The system that Dr. Scott uses, Arthrex Angel, allows him to change parameters of the extraction to offer higher concentrations of PRP, and differing amounts of leukocyte (white blood cell) content. Depending on the tissues we are targeting, these are variables we need to adjust to get an optimal PRP product for the best possible outcome. When looking into PRP, it is important to ask the clinic what system they use to determine if you are getting high quality PRP. With Dr. Scott you are guaranteed to get a superior PRP product compared to some other systems in use. This translates into better patient outcomes.

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WHAT CONDITIONS ARE COMMONLY TREATED WITH PRP?

PRP is used to treat many of the same injuries and joint damage that prolotherapy treats. It has further benefit in conditions that exhibit a higher degree of tissue damage, chronic joint pain or recurrent injuries. Contact our naturopathic doctor if you are unsure about whether PRP is the right treatment for your injuries.

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WHEN CAN I EXPECT RESULTS?

PRP injection response time depends on a number of factors. However, in terms of significant tissue production, individuals tend to show improvement in about 3-4 months after the first injection. Pain reduction is generally a quicker response and can be noticed within the first 6-12 weeks.

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FACTORS THAT AFFECT SUCCESS OF PRP

NSAID or corticosteroid use can decrease the effectiveness of PRP treatment, it is therefore advised to stop corticosteroid use 1 month prior to treatments, and refrain from NSAID (ibuprofen/Advil, Aspirin, diclofenac, naproxen, etc.) at least 1 week before PRP injections. Advanced age, use of anticoagulants, and blood clotting conditions may diminish the amount of platelets in your blood, and therefore decrease the quality of PRP on extraction. Contact us to determine if you would be a good candidate for PRP.