What is Platelet Rich Plasma (PRP)?

Platelet rich plasma (PRP) therapy is a revolutionary new treatment that relieves pain by promoting long lasting healing of musculoskeletal conditions. This rapidly emerging technique is showing exciting potential with osteoarthritis of the knee, shoulder, hip and spine, rotator cuff tears, chronic plantar fasciitis, interior cruciate ligament (ACL) injuries, pelvic pain and instability, back and neck injuries, tennis elbow, ankle sprains, tendonitis, and ligament sprains. Dr. Kulic has been trained in Platelet Rich Plasma injection therapy (PRP) and has performed the procedure on many patients and can determine if this advanced, non-surgical treatment is right for you.

How does PRP therapy help?
The body’s first response to soft tissue injury is to deliver platelet cells in the blood to the injured site. Packed with growth factors and healing factors, platelets initiate repair and attract the critical assistance of stem cells. PRP therapy’s natural healing process intensifies the body’s efforts by delivering a higher concentration of platelets to the site. To create PRP therapy, a small amount of your blood is drawn (similar to a lab test sample) and placed in a special machine called a centrifuge that spins the blood at high speeds, separating the platelets from the other components. The concentrated platelet rich plasma (PRP) is then injected into and around the point of injury, jump-starting and significantly strengthening the body’s natural healing signal. Because your own blood is used, there is no risk of a transmissible infection and a very low risk of allergic reaction.

How long does it take?
The procedure takes approximately one hour, including preparation and recovery time. Performed safely in our office, PRP therapy relieves pain without the risks of surgery, general anesthesia, or hospital stays and without a prolonged recovery. In fact, most people return to their jobs or usual activities soon after the procedure.

How often should this procedure be done?
The majority of patients only required one treatment to reach their goal of 85% to 100% pain relief.   The remainder required one or two more treatments spaced six to eight weeks later. You may, however, gain considerable to complete relief after the first or second injection.

What are the expected results?
Because the goal of PRP therapy is to resolve pain through healing, it could prove to have lasting results. Initial improvement may be seen within a few weeks, gradually increasing as the healing progresses. Research studies and clinical practice have shown PRP therapy to be very effective at relieving pain and returning patients to their normal lives. Both ultrasound and MRI images have shown definitive tissue repair after PRP therapy, confirming the healing process. The need for surgery can also be greatly reduced by treating injured tissues before the damage progresses and the condition is irreversible.

Make your appointment to see if you are a candidate for this exciting new procedure!  Take the next step to stop your pain and start living again.