What PRP Can Do for Your Injury

Medical experts have long marveled at our bodies’ innate healing power. And while many researchers have looked for ways to replicate that with exterior processes or synthetic ingredients, science has shown that one of the best ways to heal an injury already lies within us.

By using platelet-rich plasma (PRP), Dr. Jonathan D. Carlson can amplify your body’s healing power and target it wherever you need it most. To help injuries heal faster and better, he offers this treatment right here at Hawai’i Pain and Spine, on the Windward side of Oʻahu in Kailua, Hawai’i. 

Let’s take a look at what PRP can do for you. 

PRP 101

PRP is a type of regenerative medicine that uses two components of your blood: platelets and plasma. The platelets are rich in growth factors, which support cell development and facilitate healing. 

Your body already sends platelets to injury sites. In fact, it’s your platelets that help your blood to clot after you’ve sustained a wound. Then, the growth factors go to work, supporting your body’s healing processes at the injury site.

This all happens naturally. But PRP gives Dr. Carlson a way to boost that process so you get even better results than you would if you let your body heal the injury on its own. That makes PRP effective for treating a broad variety of injuries including:

• Muscle strains
• Tendon and ligament tears
• Tendonitis
• Joint degeneration 

What’s more, because the PRP uses your body’s own healing power without any outside ingredients, the risk of any adverse reactions is extremely small. 

What happens during PRP treatment

To deliver PRP to your injury site, Dr. Carlson takes a small sample of your blood. He places it into a centrifuge to separate out the platelets and plasma. The resulting PRP is much richer in platelets than your normal blood. 

Dr. Carlson then injects the PRP at your injury site. He may use a local anesthetic to ease any discomfort or ultrasound guidance to ensure the PRP reaches the right location.

Over the coming weeks and months, the growth factors in the platelets go to work, providing your body with the resources it needs to heal the area. In short, your PRP treatment can help the injury heal properly and shorten your recovery time. 

Some people get their desired results with one PRP injection, while others may need multiple injections. Dr. Carlson can tailor a treatment plan based on your specific injury and your healing goals. 

If you’d like to learn more about PRP and what it can do for your injury, don’t hesitate to call our office to schedule your appointment.