Is PRP therapy right for me?

Many People Benefit From PRP Therapy, But You’ll Need to Talk to Our Caldwell Podiatrists for a Concrete Answer

Platelet-rich plasma therapy, or PRP, is a cutting-edge procedure sometimes recommended for people with foot, leg, and ankle injuries. Unlike many other types of treatment, platelet-rich plasma therapy doesn’t typically involve surgery or heavy-duty medication. Instead, it stimulates cell growth to accelerate your body’s natural healing process.

Although platelet-rich plasma therapy is safe, efficient, and cost-effective, it isn’t right for everyone. Learn more to find out what PRP therapy does, and what conditions could cause complications. To learn if PRP therapy is right for you, contact Rocky Mountain Foot & Ankle today to schedule an appointment.

An Overview of PRP Therapy

Platelet-rich plasma therapy usually involves a sample of your own blood. Your blood is made up of four separate components:

Plasma, the liquid portion of your blood.

Red blood cells, which help carry oxygen to different parts of the body.

White blood cells, which are part of your immune system and help fight disease and infection.

Platelets, a special type of cell that controls clotting and contains growth-promoting proteins.

PRP therapy works by separating the different parts of your blood, typically by placing it in a centrifuge. Most of your red blood cells are then discarded, with the remaining serum consisting primarily of plasma, platelets, and a small number of white blood cells. This is termed “platelet-rich plasma,” as it contains a much greater concentration of platelets than ordinary blood.

The premise of PRP therapy is simple: By injecting platelet-rich plasma into or near an injury, your body can use the newly introduced platelets to heal faster and more effectively.

PRP Therapy and Your Feet

Platelet-rich plasma therapy appears to be effective in treating a wide range of conditions, from traumatic physical injuries to male pattern baldness. Our skilled podiatrists at Rocky Mountain Foot & Ankle have found that PRP offers many advantages to patients diagnosed with:

PRP therapy can offer relief from many symptoms within a matter of weeks. And, because it uses your body’s own blood, the likelihood of developing serious complications is low, with most patients reporting little discomfort beyond the sting of an initial injection.

Big Benefits of PRP Therapy

Since platelet-rich plasma therapy lets your body assert control over the healing process, it doesn’t always yield fast results. However, even though PRP typically necessitates receiving a small series of injections over the course of several months, it offers clear-cut advantages over more invasive procedures, such as:

Safety. Platelet-rich plasma is considered a form of “autologous substance.” In other words, it isn’t a synthetic compound or a prescription drug—it’s a serum taken from your own body. Consequently, it presents a low risk of side-effect-related complications.
Efficiency. Podiatrists and medical researchers are still working to understand the full extent of PRP therapy’s many applications, but studies suggest that up to 85 percent of patients who receive this treatment report a rapid and near-immediate improvement in their symptoms.
Convenience. If our podiatrists recommend PRP, we’ll create a plan that’s unique to you and your injury. You may have to come back into the office several times to receive additional injections, but you won’t need to take time away from work to recover. Most people leave their appointments and immediately resume their daily routine without any significant activity restrictions.

How to Decide If PRP Therapy Is Right for You

Before recommending PRP, our experienced team conducts a thorough physical examination to confirm your diagnosis and ensure that any prescribed treatment is targeting the source of your symptoms.

Certain health conditions can also present a bigger risk of complications. You may not be a good candidate for PRP if you have:

Cancer
Active infections
Diabetes
Blood disorders like anemia or hypovolemia

Some platelet-related disorders, especially those that cause low platelet counts or make it more difficult for your body to form clots, could also disqualify you from receiving platelet-rich plasma therapy. Trust that our professionals will work with you to find the most appropriate treatment.