PRP is ‘platelet rich plasma’. It is exactly that. PRP is a natural remedy for a variety of problems with muscles, tendons, ligaments and bones. At Warner Orthopedics and Wellness, PRP is often used as a non-operative treatment for injury and also as a way to augment healing after surgery. After drawing your own blood, we use a centrifuge and spin the blood at a very fast speed. The red blood cell layer separates from the white blood cell layer. We then use an FDA-approved device from a reputable corporation to separate the white cell layer into a layer with platelets and a layer without.
Some providers perform this procedure with equipment they already have at the office without ensuring that it is an FDA assured process. We do not do that, but pay for state-of-the-art equipment for our patients. Although the FDA has not approved PRP for the treatment of many injuries, we inform you as to which procedures have been regulated and which ones have not.
It is estimated that 30-50% of all sports injuries are tendon overuse injuries. PRP is used to treat these tendon disorders. Common afflicted tendons are the heel cord (Achilles) and knee-cap tendon (patellar). PRP provides a release of growth-factors that participate in tissue repair. By injecting your own PRP, made from your own blood, we believe that we can assist your body to heal quicker and stronger. In addition, there is no risk of disease transmission, because it is your own body’s materials that are used in PRP. If PRP is used in conjunction with a special exercise program that we teach our patients, results can be very good. A lot of patients treated with the exercise program and the PRP return to sports and work very quickly.
The PRP allows the tendon to receive substances like endothelial growth factor, platelet derived growth factor and transforming growth factor-Beta. These substances are microscopic and act as fuel for a tendon to heal with. Some patients require immobilization with a boot or brace after PRP and some can get straight to work at physical therapy. All patients will use some type of therapy after the treatment. We will devise a personalized rehabilitation program for you at Warner Orthopedics and Wellness.
In our office, if we think you would benefit from PRP, we provide a very thorough work-up, including an exam and X-ray and sometimes an ultrasound or an MRI. Once we confirm that PRP is needed, we schedule an appointment to perform the procedure. We usually recommend that the patient have a driver or companion that day. We prepare the foot or knee or elbow or shoulder in a sterile, surgical fashion. We numb the skin so the injection is not felt. We then draw the blood and prepare the PRP. Next we inject the PRP into the tendon or muscle that is causing all the problems. Usually, it takes about a month or 6 weeks to get most of the healing done. The first 2 weeks are somewhat uncomfortable and we ask that you limit your activity. Physical therapy begins around the 2nd week after treatment.
Patients typically know if the PRP worked for them or not at the 4-week point. Some know a little bit later. Patients know by how much their pain and function improved. Most insurance companies do not cover this procedure. Some physicians charge $1500.00 for this! We only charge $200.00 to $400.00, depending on the area to be injected. We will work with you on the payment plan. The money we charge goes to the cost of the centrifuge, specialized syringe, our experienced nursing staff, our excellent medical assistant staff and to pay for the technology of the device that we use.
There are no side effects to PRP that we know of. This is a treatment derived, or made, from your own body. There is no risk of disease transmission. We perform this with a surgical technique and that reduces any risk of infection. PRP is a natural substance and is not made from chemicals. At Warner Orthopedics and Wellness we strive to use the most natural and conservative treatments to get you back in the game, back to work or just back to doing whatever you want to do!
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Dr. Meredith Warner is a board certified, Fellowship Trained Foot and Ankle, Orthopedic surgeon practicing in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. Dr. Warner is committed to offering her patients an accurate diagnosis along with a comprehensive treatment plan in order to get them back to a pain free life. Dr. Meredith Warner specializes in the treatment of orthopedic issues, providing operative and non-operative treatment plans of orthopedic problems, including musculoskeletal pain such as chronic back, neck and foot pain, reconstructive surgery of the foot and ankle, arthritis, diabetic, hammer toe, bunion, wound care, work injuries, fitness and nutrition and osteoporosis issues.
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