Platelet Rich Plasma – Can It Help Get Rid of Pain??

When I was young, I dreamed of being an NFL star just like a lot of my friends. Now, I am glad I never made it that far in football. Why? Easy to answer – look at all those injuries. After just watching my home team the Houston Texans, those injuries seem to be even more prevalent this year. A recently developed treatment has been used on these injured football players and other athletes with very good results. Texans Mario Williams has used this treatment for foot pain with great results.

Platelet Rich Plasma, or PRP, is used more and more often not just for professional athletes, but for everyday people like you and me. PRP is performed in the office. The doctor draws blood from the patients arm and spins the blood down to separate the platelets. Next, the patients own platelets are injected into the painful or injured area under a local anesthetic. The growth factors in the platelets have been shown to have strong anti-inflammatory effects and help in the healing process of both acute and chronic injuries by signaling the body to initiate a healing response. Most patients feel relief within a few days to a few months.

This procedure is being used to treat chronic and acute plantar fasciitis, arthritis, ankle injuries, tendonitis, cartilage damage, and many more conditions. Research is currently showing PRP mixed with stem cells may work even better.

Is this procedure for everyone? No. It doesnt help every condition and doesnt take the place of surgery when needed. Also, even though research shows it is effective, most insurance companies will not cover the procedure. The cost per treatment is approximately $1,000. For those wanting to avoid surgery and for those whose foot pain can be treated without surgery (such as with tendonitis), this may be a viable option.

Discuss the PRP procedure with your foot and ankle pain specialist and see if it is an option for you.

Dr. Jeffrey Bowman of Houston Foot Specialists is trained in the PRP procedure and has used it with good results. To get more information, contact us at www.houstonfootspecialists.com or call 713-467-8886. One of our friendly staff members will schedule a consultation for you to learn more.

Category: Foot Problems

Tags: ankle injuries, Arthritis, Foot Injuries, Plantar Fasciitis, Sports, Tendonitis