Platelet-rich plasma therapy for back pain injects a concentrate of the patient’s own platelets at the injured tissue, where the growth factors platelets carry are intended to reduce inflammation and support repair. Blood is drawn and spun in a centrifuge to separate the platelet-rich fraction, so the injection is made entirely from the patient’s own blood. In the spine it suits pain from tendon, ligament and muscle injury, and it is generally considered when physical therapy and steroid injections have not held and surgery is not indicated. Pain caused by a compressed nerve is treated by decompressing the nerve instead. Spine Institute of North America (Spine INA) in East Brunswick, New Jersey offers spinal PRP.
Platelet Rich Plasma Treatment for Back Pain
With recent advancements in both the field of medicine and technology, there are unique ways to capture the body’s own ability to heal itself and magnify that effect 1000x fold. That is the concept behind platelet rich plasma (PRP) treatments. PRP is harvested from a patient’s blood. Blood is drawn from the patient and is concentrated using sophisticated centrifuges. The goal is to obtain a high yield of one specific component found in blood plasma (the liquid part of blood) called platelets. The main function of platelets is to help form blood clots; however, these microscopic cell fragments play critical role in the inflammatory and thus the healing process. That is due to the various enzymes, chemicals, and factors that are contained within the platelets.
