Treating Lumbar Pain with Platelet-Rich Plasma (PRP)
The lumbar area of the spine, also known as the lower back, can be a common area of pain for many adults. This pain may be caused by a variety of factors such as injury, overuse, strain, muscular problems, misalignment, and arthritis just to name a few causes. Symptoms of lumbar pain may be a dull ache or sharp and shooting for some.
At Precision Spine & Orthopedics, we are proud to offer Platelet-Rich Plasma (PRP) Therapy as a minimally invasive treatment option.
During the past several years, Platelet-Rich Plasma Therapy (PRP) has gained significant praise for its effectiveness in the treatment of injuries or conditions that typically require strong medication, physical therapy, and even surgery. PRP therapy is an effective non-operative solution to spinal conditions, ligament/tendon sprains and tears, joint problems, and much more.
What is Platelet-Rich Plasma (PRP)?
Inside your body’s blood, or plasma, are platelets, which contain healing growth factors. These factors help to treat inflammation and stimulate tissue repair and regeneration within your body. If you injure yourself, your body sends out a signal for help attracting platelets to the site of injury. Once the platelets arrive, they release growth factors so that your body can begin its natural healing process.
Platelet-Rich Plasma therapy uses your own blood platelets to improve musculoskeletal problems and relieve pain from disc bulges, degenerative disc disease, ligament/tendon tears, arthritis, joint pain, and more. This is a treatment that harnesses the body’s ability to heal itself and significantly enhances the process.
Platelet-Rich Plasma contains many more platelets than what is typically found in your blood, thus speeding up the healing process.
What is the Procedure?
The creation of Platelet-Rich Plasma is a relatively painless and straightforward process. Similar to a routine blood exam, blood is drawn from the patient’s arm for treatment. The blood is then placed into a centrifuge – a machine spins the blood at high speeds to separate its qualities. After the blood is separated, the concentrated Platelet-Rich Plasma is collected and prepared to be used for treatment.
The procedure involves injecting the Platelet-Rich Plasma directly into the affected area to stimulate reparative cells.
At the start of the treatment, a topical and local anesthetic will be applied to the area. The Platelet-Rich Plasma is then injected into the determined area. Fluoroscopy, or X-Ray, imaging guidance is used to ensure a safe and proper placement to the symptomatic area. The number of injections varies based on the patient’s condition and the area being treated but typically ranges between 2 to 6 injections over time.
The injection itself is not painful, but discomfort may occur near or around the injection site after the procedure.
Aftercare includes the use of ice and rest for up to 72 hours following the procedure. Limiting strenuous activity for several days is strongly recommended, as is avoiding the use of anti-inflammatory drugs as they can impede the healing process.
Results
Most patients begin to feel significant symptom relief after several treatment sessions.
For many, oral medication or injectable steroids may be a conventional treatment for pain management, but some patients may not respond to treatment or have adverse effects. Surgery can be costly, and invasive procedures may not be the best treatment depending on the patient’s condition. Platelet-Rich Plasma therapy offers a more natural alternative as it uses the growth healing factors of your own body. For more information, contact us today at (818) 579-2929.