Are you feeling a catching or popping sensation in your wrist? The wrist becomes so stiff you cannot open a jar or turn doorknobs. Wrist tendonitis is an inflammatory condition of the wrist. During repetitive wrist movement, the wrist tendon rubs against the bone.
Are you finding a way to get rid of this agony? Then platelet-rich plasma treatment is what you are looking for. Now, you are probably thinking about how PRP for wrist tendonitis works.
This treatment refers to a process where a patient’s blood Plasma enriched with concentrated platelets is injected into the injured wrist. Generally, wrist tendonitis needs 4-6 weeks to go away completely. But with PRP, you can heal faster without any significant side effects.
But, Is PRP safe? How much money do you have to pay? Does PRP produce adverse effects? Don’t worry. Just stay with us to get all the valuable information.
Role of PRP for wrist tendonitis
PRP injection is given in a specific body area, such as the wrist. After creating the solution of PRP from the patient’s blood with a centrifuge, it will be ready to be injected. This will increase the growth factor of that area to speed up the healing of an injury.
Typically wrist tendonitis needs some weeks to heal. The PRP will increase the growth factor of the tendon sheath. This will eliminate the inflammation faster than normal time. So, why will you feel the pain for a long time when you can fully heal in just a few days?
How does PRP help with wrist pain?
PRP works as a healing agent. When PRP is injected into the injured site, it augments some healing cells. These cells repair functions in a way that is the reverse procedure of feeling pain.
That means A cascade of cells can repair the damaged nerves and heal the pain. Another type of pain may arise by tearing cartilage. PRP fulfills the needs of blood and heals tissue.
Another type of wrist pain arises from a disease called Kienbock. There is a small bone in the wrist that is crescent-shaped. The fracture of this bone causes excessive pain in the wrist. PRP injection can also help to recover the fracture and thus relieve pain.
What is the procedure for PRP injection for wrist tendonitis?
Here you will get a brief idea of the entire procedure. Let’s move.
Before
A few things should be in consideration before going into treatment. Otherwise, the procedure might not be fruitful for you. Besides, you may also encounter intense side effects after going through the PRP procedure.
Those pre-procedures are:
- Stop using any blood-thinning medicines or herbal supplements a week before your operation.
- You must stop all systemic steroids at least one or two weeks before your pro treatment. And steroid injection before one month.
- Eat healthy foods and drink enough water before you go for the operation.
During
PRP is a cell-free and nonsurgical treatment for accelerating growth function. Here we will discuss the overall procedure:
- In the beginning, a doctor will draw out the patient’s blood.
- Then the doctor will examine the blood sample. After that, if he thinks it is suitable, he will take it to the spinning equipment known as a centrifuge.
- The centrifuge will separate the elements of blood from platelets.
- The doctor will push the anesthetic before the treatment starts so that the treatment can be done entirely pain-free.
- The PRP will inject into your injured wrist through the ultrasound-guided injection.
After
After completing the procedure of the PRP injection, you should maintain these things carefully.
- Immediately after the injection, cover the treated place with the band-aid. Before wrapping up, ensure the site is cleaned well and dried.
- After treatment, don’t use over-the-counter anti-inflammatory medicines such as Naprosyn, Motrin, Voltaren, etc. You can still take Aspirin in an emergency as it is a weak anti-inflammatory.
- For 2-3 days after the treatment, go on complete rest. Don’t do any work with the treated wrist.
- Avoid strenuous activities for 2-3 days.
How long does PRP take to work for tendonitis?
It may take around 4 weeks to get noticeable changes. However, the recovery process depends upon factors like severity, overall health conditions, sources of the injury, etc. Based on these factors, you may get rid of that inflammation sooner or later.
How much does this treatment cost?
The entire shot may cost you around $800 to $1,500. But, the cost also varies depending on the severity of the patient. Some of you now may ask -whether it is covered by insurance. Well, this PRP therapy has not yet got insurance coverage. So, it is entirely a fee-for-service kind of treatment.
Side effects of PRP injection for wrist tendonitis
Platelet Rich Plasma(PRP) is a very low-risk operation or treatment. It has no significant side effects. Some side effects are,
Tissue Damage
It may damage some tissue, but it is not a significant issue. The damages will be recovered pretty soon if you give the treated wrist enough rest.
Bleeding
After injecting the PRP, blood from the injured site can come out. You should adequately cover the injected area to avoid bleeding. However, it rarely happens.
Infection(rare)
Bacteria may enter and spread if there is any fault in the immediate aftercare and the injected site is not properly covered. Then infection may occur.
Nerve injury
This also happens rarely. Sometimes, after injection of PRP, you may encounter nerve injury. It will hamper your daily life to a great extent.
Pain in the injected place
For 2 or 3 days, the inflammation may remain on the site.
Swelling
After the procedure, you may experience swelling in the injected place. This can last for a maximum of 3-7 days. This will be eliminated automatically.
Soreness
Sometimes, you may experience soreness in the injected place. This is not a significant issue. It will take 2-3 days to remove the pain automatically.
Discoloration
Sometimes the procedure may discolor the area of injection. It is normal to be bruised. But if the color is deeper and darker, immediately call a doctor. If any side effects make you nervous, you can consult a doctor.
FAQ
Is platelets-rich plasma safe for wrist tendonitis?
Yes, of course, it is safe. The great advantage of this treatment is that the plasma and the blood sample come from the patient on his own. However, it sometimes carries some side effects, but there is no major issue with PRP injection.
How long does PRP take to work for tendonitis?
The entire procedure takes approximately one hour to complete, from drawing blood samples to injecting PRP. PRP usually takes one to two weeks for full effect on wrist tendonitis. Most of the time, patients improve in just a few days.
How Painful is the PRP injection?
This will vary from person to person. In general, this operation is pain-free. But some people can still feel discomfort and slight pain in the site of the injected area.
Are there any people who can’t take PRP?
Yes, there are. If a person has a history of cancer, he can’t be a candidate for taking PRP. Also, active smokers and leukemia patients can’t take PRP.
Conclusion
Considering the overall view, the PRP for wrist tendonitis is very effective. As it has the minimum side effects, everyone should try this to heal injury at least once in a lifetime. PRP success rate for tendon injury is praise-worthy. Data analysis shows that 70-80% of patients improve fully with this treatment.
So undoubtedly, the PRP procedure is the best treatment for all because it doesn’t need scissors or any other heavy tools. However, you should call the doctor if you feel discomfort after the procedure. We hope the article clears up all of your confusion and is convincing enough.
