Platelet-Rich Plasma: Could Your Own Blood Help You Heal Without Surgery?
In this article:
Picture a young pitcher with a partially torn elbow ligament. In the past, the usual fix might have been surgery and a long year on the bench. Today, some athletes have another option to try first.
It’s called platelet-rich plasma, or PRP. This treatment uses your body’s own healing power to help repair injured tissue. Dr. Iridi Pavliqoti, a sports medicine physician with CMC Orthopaedics, explains how it works and who it may help.
Is an injury keeping you off the field or out of your favorite activities? Dr. Pavliqoti offers non-surgical sports medicine care in Conway and Aynor. Call 843-347-8041 to schedule an appointment.
What Is Platelet-Rich Plasma?
Platelet-rich plasma is a type of regenerative medicine. Plasma is the liquid part of your blood. Platelets are tiny cells in your blood that help your body heal.
First, your provider draws a small amount of your blood. Next, a machine spins it to separate and concentrate the platelets. Then, that platelet-rich plasma is injected into the injured area.
“It’s your own body’s healing potential,” said Dr. Pavliqoti. “You’re taking your own blood, spinning it down, and then using the platelet-rich plasma to inject it back in.”
Who Can PRP Help?
PRP may help people with certain sports injuries, tendon problems, and arthritis. For some patients, it can even delay or prevent surgery.
“It can sometimes prevent you from having surgery,” Dr. Pavliqoti said. “And it can get you back a little bit faster in the sense that you’re not out for the year.”
That matters for athletes of all ages. Recovery time depends on how serious the injury is. Even so, PRP may help some athletes get back in the game in months instead of a full season.
PRP vs. Cortisone Shots
Many people are familiar with cortisone shots for joint pain. Cortisone is a strong anti-inflammatory that can bring quick relief. However, repeated shots over many years may cause problems.
“In the long term, cortisone is such a potent anti-inflammatory that it can actually break down a joint if we were to continuously do it every three months for years and years,” Dr. Pavliqoti said. “PRP has not been shown to break down the joint because it’s your own body’s healing potential.”
At CMC, ultrasound guides each PRP injection. This lets the provider place the injection exactly where it’s needed, even directly into a tendon.
What to Know Before You Try PRP
PRP isn’t right for every injury. Some conditions will still need surgery.
“PRP is never going to be able to replace surgery,” Dr. Pavliqoti said. “But this can potentially be an alternative to it.”
Here are a few other things to keep in mind:
- Cost: PRP is often not covered by insurance. Ask about pricing when you schedule.
- Number of treatments: Some patients need more than one injection.
- Results take time: Because PRP helps your body heal itself, improvement usually builds over several weeks to months.
Sports Medicine Care Close to Home
Dr. Pavliqoti is a dual board-certified primary care sports medicine physician. He has extensive training in ultrasound-guided procedures and regenerative orthobiologic treatments like PRP. He has also served as a team physician for hundreds of Division I athletes.
CMC’s sports medicine services focus on non-surgical care for activity-related injuries at any age. Whether you’re a weekend golfer, a high school athlete, or have a physically demanding job, the goal is the same: to keep you moving.
Dr. Pavliqoti and our CMC Orthopaedics sports medicine providers offer PRP. The team sees patients at three convenient locations:
- CMC Orthopaedics – Conway, 2376 Cypress Circle, Suite 300, Conway
- CMC Orthopaedics – Aynor, 1213 Elm Street, Aynor
- CMC Orthopaedics – Socastee, 6010 Highway 707, Myrtle Beach, with walk-in hours available
Wondering if PRP could work for you? Schedule a visit with CMC Orthopaedics in Conway, Aynor, or Socastee, or walk in to our Socastee office. Call 843-347-8041 today.
An injury doesn’t always have to mean surgery or a long time on the sidelines. For the right patient, platelet-rich plasma offers a way to heal using your body’s own resources. If pain is holding you back, Dr. Pavliqoti and the team at CMC Orthopaedics can help you explore your options and get back to the activities you love.
All content of this article is intended for general information purposes only and is not intended or implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Please consult a medical professional before adopting any of the suggestions on this page. You must never disregard professional medical advice or delay seeking medical treatment based on any content of this article.
Sources
-
Cleveland Clinic, “Platelet-Rich Plasma (PRP Injection),” https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/treatments/platelet-rich-plasma-prp-injection
