Prolotherapy/Platelet Rich Plasma

[John Thomas]

---

[raj rihal]

My ortho did the PRP thing for my pec repair. He said the research at this point is inconclusive, but anything that may help is worth a shot. Plus its your own blood, so is not super invasive. Not sure that helps, but Im healing well! Good luck!

[raj rihal]

[QUOTE As long as there aren't any known down sides I will probably give it a shot. Appreciate the response.[/quote]

that is almost exactly what my doc said. Its your own material, so there are no side effects. I hope it works!

[Garrett Smith]

Originally Posted by John Thomas

This is kind of where I'm at. As long as there aren't any known down sides I will probably give it a shot. Appreciate the response.

The downsides are the same with any intra-articular injection: potential infection.

If proper precautions are taken, there should be no issue...and if there was, be glad you aren't getting it done in a hospital, as there are much nastier bugs there.

Ask your doc how long they have been doing it, what their specific training in prolo/PRP is (and with which organizations), and then get back. I could help much more with that info.

[Darla Powell]

I had a good experience with it for tennis elbow.

[Garrett Smith]

Originally Posted by John Thomas

I am living overseas, so the organizations and training of the doctors probably wouldn't have much meaning to you.

Is there a significant difference (in either effectiveness or potential harm) between prolotherapy using an irritant and the platelet injections?

There are two procedures available here. The first is a "thread" that is implanted and dissolves over time. The process consists of three treatments over the span of three months. Apparently, it is a traditional treatment they have been doing for a long time. So, it's similar to, but probably not exactly the same thing as, the prolotherapy that is going on in the US.

The second procedure is the PRP injection. From what I have been able to find on the web, it looks like most doctors are using PRP for post-surgery recovery, but some are starting to use it for arthritis/joint pain treatment. The PRP therapy is considerably more expensive.

From what I understand of the mechanisms, effectiveness would depend on what the issue is with a joint.

Prolo would tend to be best for injured joints where they seem "loose", as in, the ligaments have been stretched/sprained/torn due to trauma and tightening up the joint would help.

PRP is more for healing degenerative processes in areas that don't normally have good bloodflow (ie. inside joint capsules).

The "thread" treatment is something I'm not familiar with.

[Steven Low]

The mechanism of effect is the same for all of them honestly.... any or either should work.

Prolo is generally a salt solution, and PRP/autologous blood is obviously platelets etc.

Basically they're aiming to irritate the area to try to induce inflammatory processes to heal the area or hypertrophy some structures if there's either chronic degeneration or laxity.

Platelets function similarly to the salt solutions in this regard -- they both signal inflammatory processes to come to the area to initiate healing/hypertrophy.

[Garrett Smith]

I learned some important things from a DO I know well-versed in the research.

PRP is generally more effective if done correctly. Prolo is less expensive.

Don't let them put you on a schedule of return visits. Give it some time to heal/recover in between and you be the judge of how many treatments you need. PRP is also generally fewer visits.

[Steven Low]

That would make sense as platelets should be more effective at healing than an irritant salt solution

[Garrett Smith]

Originally Posted by Steven Low

That would make sense as platelets should be more effective at healing than an irritant salt solution

Prolo is a dextrose- and anesthetic-based (procaine or lidocaine) solution. Practitioners may add a bunch of other things, ranging from methylcobalamin (B12) to injectable Traumeel or Zeel.

I'm not too familiar with the standard solutions for PRP other than the obvious ingredient.