Orthopedic Institute of Pennsylvania

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OIP Offers Platelet Rich Plasma Therapy in Central PA

What if your body could produce injury-healing cells to assist in more rapid recovery from trauma? It can, and the process to harness these cells is called platelet rich plasma therapy, or PRP therapy. At OIP in central PA, we offer platelet rich plasma therapy in warranted situations to benefit people like you who want to make use of the natural properties of their own bodies.

To talk to one of the specialists on our team about platelet rich plasma injections, please contact OIP today at 717-761-5530 to make an appointment at one of our locations in the Harrisburg/Camp Hill area.

Physicians who perform PRP:

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Could You Be a Candidate for Platelet Rich Plasma Therapy?

Like all medically-approved procedures, platelet rich plasma therapy is best for certain candidates. While there is no way to tell if you are a candidate without a thorough examination, you can use the following checklist to determine if you fit the general profile of platelet rich plasma injection candidates:

  • You have tried other treatments to improve your site of injury or medical condition, such as arthritis, but those treatments have not been effective.
  • You want to avoid surgery at the site of your injury or the body part where you are having problems.
  • The pain you experience day-to-day is affecting your ability to fully live your life. For example, you may have stopped engaging in activities you used to do because your body hurts.
  • You feel like over-the-counter medications are no longer strong enough to provide you with relief from your injury or medical problem. Yet you do not want to take stronger prescription painkillers if at all possible.
  • Joint and/or steroid injections have not worked for you, so you’re looking for an alternative.

What Is Platelet Rich Plasma Therapy?

Your blood is comprised of white blood cells, red blood cells, platelets and plasma. Together, all of these blood components help your body heal and regenerate tissue after injuries. They are the reason a paper cut heals without a scar, and your scrapes seem to vanish.

We can extract from a blood sample taken from you the platelets and the plasma by removing the red and white blood cells. What is left is called “Platelet Rich Plasma.” This platelet rich plasma can be injected into joints, tendons, and ligaments to foster faster healing after trauma, to reduce inflammation, or to reduce pain and swelling. Because all the platelets come from you, your body will not reject them. PRP is a type of “autologous” injection, meaning that the material in the injection comes from you!

Benefits of Platelet Rich Plasma Therapy

The exciting, proven advantages of platelet rich plasma therapy include the following:

  • The procedure uses your own platelets under sterilized conditions to promote healing. This reduces risks associated with introducing foreign bodies into your injured site.
  • The procedure takes very little time. It’s fast and reliable, under the right circumstances. You can get right back to your normal activities of daily living.
  • Patients may be able to avoid surgery, stop using pharmaceutical painkillers and get back to the recreational activities they enjoy thanks to reduction of pain and stiffness.
  • Unlike steroid injections, platelet rich plasma is not ever associated with any weakening of tissues.
  • Constant use of painkillers can have a negative effect on the body, causing discomfort or more serious concerns. This procedure often helps patients avoid painkillers altogether.

Recovery Expectations for Platelet Rich Plasma Therapy Patients

Platelet rich plasma therapy recovery has been exceptional for many patients of all ages. Some are able to quit using their medications, and others are able to avoid surgery. Because every individual is different, how you respond to PRP therapy will also be unique. Your situation will be monitored after platelet rich plasma injections as needed. Feel free to ask questions along the way.

How Does the Platelet Rich Plasma Therapy Procedure Work?

PRP therapy starts with the professionals at OIP taking a small amount of your blood and then placing it into a centrifuge. In the sterilized centrifuge, the platelets are separated from the red and white blood cells, and the concentration of those platelets increases.

Then, the higher concentration of platelets is injected directly into the site of your injury or inflammation to speed up the healing process. In general, this process takes about half an hour. Your OIP team will let you know how much time to set aside when you make your appointment for platelet rich plasma injections. A local anesthetic may be injected to help numb the site of the PRP injection before it is given.

Most patients return to their normal daily activities immediately after injections of platelet rich plasma therapy. However, you will still need to take precautions not to overuse the area where you received the injections. Your physician and team members will give you complete instructions to follow.

What to Expect After Undergoing Platelet Rich Plasma Therapy

After the injections, your body will go into a phase commonly referred to as the “healing cascade.” Over the course of several weeks, the re-injected platelets will promote regeneration and healing at a cellular level. You can monitor your recovery by keeping a notebook of changes in your symptoms. Many patients begin to see improvements in their injured areas relatively soon after platelet rich plasma therapy injections, although the biggest improvements will generally take anywhere from a few weeks to a couple of months to notice.

Some patients report soreness for a few days where the injections were made. If this is the case, you can take over-the-counter painkillers if needed. Movement is very critical to help stimulate platelet-fostered healing, so plan on light to moderate activity to encourage stimulation and circulation. However, be careful not to re-injure the spot where platelet rich plasma injections were made, as this can halt progress and cause complications.

You may also require up to three platelet rich plasma injections depending upon your condition. Physical therapy will usually be prescribed post-injection. Serious side effects associated with platelet rich plasma therapy are very rare, although any concerns should be immediately shared with your central PA OIP specialist.

 

Why Is Physical Therapy Necessary After Platelet Rich Plasma Injections?

Physical therapy can be an important component post-platelet rich plasma injections. Under the direction of a trained physical therapist, you will learn how to stimulate your body to promote faster, more efficient healing. Without physical therapy, patients who undergo platelet rich plasma therapy may not see the results they could otherwise. Plus, if movement is not properly encouraged and guided after platelet rich plasma injections, the body may heal in a stiff position.

At OIP, we are the leading provider of physical therapy in the central PA region, serving people throughout the east and west shores in places like Harrisburg, Camp Hill, Hershey, Newport, Carlisle and Mechanicsburg. Our team members will assist you and work with you to give you the tools you need for the best outcomes after your platelet rich plasma injections. By working hand-in-hand with OIP, you build a better foundation for long-term recovery.

Is Platelet Rich Plasma Therapy Covered by Insurance?

Because every insurance carrier and policy differs, it’s important for you to share your insurance information with your OIP team members when you come for your first consultation. Our financial counselors will help determine if platelet rich plasma injections may be covered entirely or in part. We will also help you with any insurance carrier-related paperwork to make the process as convenient as we can. Please note that it is up to you to provide any co-pays at the time of service as agreed-upon by you and your insurance provider. 

If you insurance doesn’t pay, how much does it cost?

OIP charges the minimal amount necessary to cover our costs.  We charge $485 per injection.

Brochures

A Patient’s Guide to Platelet Rich Plasma Therapy 

Pure PRP®

Find out If Platelet Rich Plasma Therapy Is Right for You!

Request an appointment with an OIP specialist right now to talk about platelet rich plasma therapy. Call us at 717-761-5530

to get started!

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