Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) injections have gained significant attention due to their remarkable results. This is derived from a person’s own body to use it’s natural healing mechanisms to alleviate joint pain and treat tendon injuries and accelerate recovery. However, despite it’s buzz, you must consider some important health conditions before getting this treatment done, and conclude whether it truly delivers on its promises or is it just an ongoing trend?
Cholestrol
Diets high in saturated fats can negatively impact platelet function. Most PRP preparations result in a clear, golden-yellow plasma; however, if someone’s cholesterol or triglycerides are extremely high, their PRP can become cloudy, yellow, or even milky white, which is significantly different from normal PRP.
High Blood Glucose
High blood glucose levels constantly activate platelets, which is not normal because this activation is typically only useful after injection into the target tissue. So, if you have high blood glucose going into your PRP injection, then many of your platelets could have already been activated, which means that they have already been “used up” and you have fewer overall platelets to work in the target tissue.
Mental and Physical Stress
Stress induces a surge in blood hormone levels such as adrenaline, noradrenaline, and serotonin, all of which increase platelet sensitivity to thrombin aggregation and factor release. This means that the stress hormones affect platelet function, so you must work on reducing physical and mental stress before going for PRP.
Blood Disorder
If you’re suffering from any blood disorder that increases bleeding risk or clots blood, then you might not be a suitable candidate for PRP therapy. These conditions include Hemophilia, where the blood does not clot properly, thus increasing the chances of bleeding, or thrombocytopenia, where the platelet count is low and increased bleeding chances are high. Apart from this, if you have a clotting disorder, the PRP injections can increase the risk of tissue damage or skin infection.
Cardiovascular Conditions
Though PRP shows promising results in cardiovascular conditions, it poses potential risks when the patient has had a recent heart attack, which weakens the heart and though the injection might not directly harm the health, it is likely to introduce further conditions, such as AFib and heart failure. If you’re thinking that is AFib dangerous or not, then do understand that it does increase the chances of blood clotting and strokes.
Another condition is high blood pressure, which causes the platelets to release their factors into the blood plasma and can decrease the overall number of platelets. So, this is something you must address first with your doctor.
What is PRP?
PRP is an innovative treatment that involves the use of patient’s own blood to promote healing and induce recovery. The plasma therapy is a relatively simple and non-surgical treatment for joint injuries and arthritis. It merges technology with body’s natural healing ability. PRP is a concentration of platelets which can jump-start healing. It contains packets of growth hormones and cytokines that increase tissue rebuilding and healing.
The process starts with a simple blood draw. Once collected, the blood is placed in a centrifuge, which spins at high speed to separate the blood components. This separation results in three distinct layers, with red blood cells at the bottom, a thin layer of white blood cells and platelets in the middle (Platelet-Rich Plasma), known as the buffy coat, and the liquid portion of plasma at the top (Platelet-Poor Plasma). The middle layer is one we are interested in as it’s rich in platelets, which play a crucial role in clotting and tissue repair.
When PRP is injected into the damaged area, it stimulates a mild inflammatory response, which triggers the healing cascade. This leads to restored blood flow, new cell growth, and tissue regeneration.
What is The Recovery Time After a PRP Injection?
Post PRP injection sample recovery protocol is divided into the following three phases:
| Time | Restrictions | Goals of Rehabilitation |
| Phase 1 (Days 0 – 3) |
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| Phase 2 (Days 4 – 14) |
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| Phase 3 (Weeks 3 – 6) |
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| Follow up appointment at 4-8 weeks | ||
How Soon to Expect Results After a PRP Injection?
The results of PRP therapy depend on the body’s natural healing cascade. After an injury, a complex series of events occurs to repair damaged tissue and restore normal physiological function. This process is divided into three overlapping phases: (i) inflammation (activates the immune system and initiates an inflammatory response), (ii) proliferation (regenerates and repairs the damaged tissue), and (iii) remodelling (newly formed tissue undergoes restructuring and maturation).
Final Thoughts
PRP therapy is an ongoing practice in various fields of orthopaedics (to increase healing and reduce pain), dermatology (promoting hair growth by stimulating hair follicles and improving skin texture through rejuvenation), and other injuries that require faster wound healing. It’s most effective in conditions like knee osteoarthritis, elbow tendinopathy, gluteal tendinopathy, and plantar fasciitis. While PRP treatments have demonstrated excellent outcomes, some results show some variability, which contributes to health factors and the dosage of PRP employed in clinical trials. So, we recommend planning a doctor trip before planning a PRP therapy.
