Providing injections of platelet-rich plasma is one of the most natural treatments for relieving pain from osteoarthritis, tendinitis, injuries such as whiplash and many other problems. For Pain Management OKC residents may be interested in this relatively new procedure, which uses their own blood and does not involve any blood transmission from other people. It also does not involve administering medications, such as steroids, through an injection.
To convert the patient’s blood into platelet-rich plasma, a member of the health care staff draws a small tube of blood and then a lab technician spins it in a centrifuge to separate out the platelets. The platelet substance then is injected into the painful area, delivering a large amount of those substances directly where they are needed. Platelets speed healing and help the body restore tissue in damaged areas. Platelets also attract stem cells in the body that assist in the healing and repair process. In fact, when the body experiences an injury, one of its natural responses is to send extra platelets there. This particular therapy essentially boosts that natural action by the body.
For Pain Management OKC residents will want to know how long the procedure takes, how long recovery time is and how long results will last. They’ll probably need to spend at least two hours at a pain management center such as Longevity Joint Spine Pain when getting this treatment. Usually, no recovery time is necessary, so they can go back to work or to other activities immediately afterward. Some patients do experience a certain level of increased pain or stiffness for a few days, but that quickly dissipates.
Many patients experience a remarkable decrease in pain after one injection, although some come back for one or two more injections. Doctors typically provide those follow-up treatments over the next six months, if necessary. The therapy is intended to have permanent results since the platelets are used for healing, not only for anti-inflammation activity or numbing of the area. That is a different result than the one experienced with steroid injections, the effects of which can last a long time but eventually wear off. Anyone interested in this treatment may Click here for more information.