•Platelet-rich plasma (PRP Injections) is a medical treatment in which a patient’s own platelets are collected and injected back into the body.
• PRP therapy may be able to help with plantar fasciitis by promoting the body’s natural healing process. The growth factors and other proteins in the platelets may help to repair damaged tissue and reduce inflammation, leading to pain relief and improved function.
• PRP therapy is not right for everyone. It is generally not recommended for individuals with certain medical conditions, such as cancer or blood disorders, or for those who are taking certain medications, such as blood thinners.
• It may take several weeks or even months see full benefits of PRP therapy for plantar fasciitis. Some individuals experience significant improvement after one treatment
Plantar fasciitis is a common but painful condition that affects many athletes and non-athletes. Fortunately, there are several treatment options available for those suffering from plantar fasciitis. One of these treatments is platelet-rich plasma (PRP) therapy. This type of therapy involves injecting a concentrated solution of the patient’s own blood platelets into the affected area. In this blog post, we will provide an overview of PRP therapy and how it can help with plantar fasciitis.
What Are PRP Injections?
Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) therapy is a type of regenerative medicine that utilizes the body’s healing power to help repair damaged tissue and reduce inflammation. It works by taking a small sample of the patient’s own blood and placing it in a centrifuge to separate out the components, including red cells, white cells, and platelets. The resulting solution contains a higher-than-normal concentration of platelets which are then injected into the injured area.
The Benefits Of PRP Injections For Plantar Fasciitis
There are several potential benefits associated with PRP therapy for plantar fasciitis, including:
• Promotes the body’s natural healing process: By utilizing your own body’s healing abilities, PRP therapy helps to stimulate the regeneration and growth of new tissue to reduce inflammation and pain associated with plantar fasciitis.
• Repairs damaged tissue and reduce inflammation: The concentrated solution helps to repair damaged tissues while also reducing inflammation in the affected area. This helps to reduce pain levels while also improving functionality.
• Pain relief and improved functionality: By reducing swelling and promoting the body’s natural healing process, PRP therapy can help provide relief from the pain associated with plantar fasciitis as well as improve the overall function of the foot.
Who Should Not Receive PRP Therapy?
While PRP therapy can be beneficial for those suffering from plantar fasciitis, certain individuals should not receive this treatment due to medical conditions or medications they may be taking such as cancer or blood thinners respectively. You must speak with your doctor before receiving any sort of treatment for plantar fasciitis to determine if you are an appropriate candidate for this type of procedure or if another form of treatment should be explored instead.
Recovery Time Following A PRP Injection For Plantar Fasciitis
Most individuals who receive a PRP injection for their plantar fascia will experience some degree of soreness at the site where the injection was administered immediately following their procedure but this typically subsides after a few days. PRP is normally more painful compared to other injected medications because it is more acidic.
Unfortunately, PRP cannot be mixed with local anesthetic (like Lidocaine) because it will decreased the activity of the platelets. Additionally, you cannot anesthetize the area FIRST and then inject PRP after for the same reason. As an alternative, for the plantar fascia, a block with local anesthetic can be performed higher up on the inner part of the ankle which is at a site distant from the fascia and this will make the PRP injection much more comfortable. Patients must follow post-treatment care instructions closely to ensure that they do not aggravate their condition while they heal and recover following their injections.
Duration Until Full Benefits Of PRP Injections Are Experienced
The duration until full benefits are experienced will vary depending on each individual’s unique case but most individuals experience significant improvement after one treatment within a few weeks. If a satisfactory response is attained around 4 weeks after the injection, another injection can be considered.
Our protocol for a heel PRP injection is optimal for providing the best possible outcome. I always suggest to my patients that they protect their foot in a CAM boot with an orthotic for two weeks post-injection. After this period, they may transition back into regular shoe while continuing to wear the orthotic. If, after four weeks of following this protocol, there is any evidence of improvement in the patient’s condition, then we can discuss considering another injection procedure. This enables us to track progress and ensure that the treatment is effective for the individual.
Getting an injection can be a bit uncomfortable and jarring, but its usually worth the short-term pain for the long-term gain. We do encourage closely following any post-treatment care instructions given by your doctor – that’s probably sound advice in any case. So don’t worry, with this tiny pinch of discomfort comes loads of relief when it comes to tackling whatever has been ailing you.
Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) therapy might sound like a sci-fi medical procedure, but it’s actually becoming quite commonplace. This therapeutic process involves collecting platelets from the patient’s own blood and injecting them back into their body as a way to jump start healing. Once the platelets have been injected, they undergo platelet degranulation which helps to promote growth factors for tissue regeneration. So basically, you’re investing in yourself when you sign up for PRP – how cool is that?!
While there are many potential benefits associated with using Platelet Rich Plasma (PRP) Therapy to treat Plantar Fasciitis, it is important that you consult your doctor prior to undergoing any form of treatment in order to determine if this is an appropriate option for you or if another form should be explored instead. As always, it is essential that patients follow post-treatment care instructions closely in order to achieve optimal results from any form of treatment for Plantar Fasciitis. PRP injections can help provide long term relief from pain associated with plantar fasciitis as well as improved functionality overall.
PRP therapy for plantar fasciitis offers an alternative treatment option for those suffering from chronic pain due to the condition. While the full results of this therapy may take weeks or even months to show, many individuals report feeling a significant improvement in their pain levels after one or two treatments. However, it should be noted that if the desired results are not reached by this point, additional treatments or even surgery may be required. With that being said, PRP therapy is providing hope to those who feel like all other options have been exhausted when searching for relief from plantar fasciitis-related pain and disability.