PRP and stem cells

Whenever you suffer an injury, your body's initial response is to send platelets to the injured tissue since they help with healing and new cell growth. Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) treatment at Sussex Pain Relief Center in Georgetown and Lewes, Delaware, delivers a tremendous infusion of platelets to the area where you're hurting to help you start healing quickly. Manonmani Antony, MD, DABA, DABIPP, and her team also offer stem cell treatment, which delivers stem cells to your painful tissue to start regeneration and relieve pain. Call either office or use the appointment scheduler online now.

PRP and stem cells FAQ

What is PRP?

PRP is your own blood, in a highly concentrated form that retains only the platelets. Because platelets are so essential in the body's normal healing process, a large infusion of concentrated platelets (the PRP) can promote faster and more effective healing. This relieves many types of pain, including frustrating back pain, neck pain, arthritis pain, and many other kinds of chronic pain.

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PRP can help to heal any type of tissue, from soft tissue like ligaments and tendons to hard tissue like bone. PRP also draws stem cells to your damaged tissue. Stem cells are important because they're your natural "blank" cells.

A stem cell can specialize, which means it's able to transform into any kind of particular cell that's needed. So, a stem cell can replace damaged tissue with healthy tissue to relieve your pain.

The Sussex Pain Relief Center team may recommend stem cell therapy, in which they inject stem cells directly around your damaged tissue. Stem cell treatment may be the preferred option if you've actually lost tissue, such as if you have chronic back pain related to degenerative disc disease because it replaces your tissue at an accelerated rate.

Both PRP and stem cell therapy can be extremely effective in reducing pain, so the Sussex Pain Relief Center team recommends the ideal approach for you.

How do PRP injections work?

The Sussex Pain Relief Center team takes your blood shortly before your PRP treatment. They use a centrifuge to rapidly spin your blood sample until the platelets separate from the rest.

This intensely concentrated platelet solution is then used for your injections. Your specialist typically uses fluoroscopy (X-ray guidance) to place the PRP injections perfectly.

Are PRP injections safe?

PRP substances are produced from your own blood, thus, your own platelets are used as PRP injectables. In most cases, you do not experience any adverse reactions to the injections.

PRP therapy is an advanced technique that provides a fast, safe, and effective healing process. This pain management approach also effectively reduces inflammation and swelling.

How long does it take to perform a PRP injection?

The procedure takes 1-2 hours, including preparation and recovery time. It is an outpatient office procedure that does not require surgery, general anesthesia, or a hospital stay.

There is no prolonged recovery for PRP injections. In fact, most people return to their jobs or usual activities right after the procedure.

What are stem cell injections?

Stem cell therapy is an entirely different procedure that harvests stem cells from your own bone marrow. This is typically taken from your hip and the marrow is placed in a centrifuge to obtain mesenchymal stem cells.

The concentrated stem cells promote the natural healing of damaged joints and soft tissues of the spine. Once injected, stem cells follow inflammatory signals from damaged tissues and can differentiate into the type of cell needed to help restore or replace injured cells.

What is the difference between PRP and stem cell injection?

PRP therapy and stem cell treatment are both reliable regenerative medicine procedures. PRP therapy is used for common injuries such as tendonitis, torn ligaments, and other soft tissue injuries.

Stem cell treatment is used for more complex cases such as arthritis. In advanced diseases such as osteoarthritis, spinal problems PRP treatment can be used solo or in combo with stem cell treatment.

What are the pain conditions treated with PRP and stem cells?

Many pain conditions can be treated or managed with PRP and stem cell therapy. Some conditions that respond to these regenerative medicine techniques include:

Because PRP and stem cells come from your own body, they can be used in many ways to treat pain wherever it occurs.

How many PRP treatments do I need in total?

The total number of injections you will need depends on your age, the area being treated, and the amount of pain you were experiencing before starting therapy.

Most patients require only one injection, and some may require multiple injections. Pain and functional recovery will be assessed 2-3 weeks after the injection to determine further therapy needs. It's not a “quick fix” and it is designed to promote long-term healing of the injured tissue.

Why choose Sussex Pain Relief Center for PRP or Stem Cell therapy?

Dr. Antony is a highly qualified interventional pain physician and ABIPP/ASIPP board-certified in interventional pain management. The team is skilled in administering injections under advanced ultrasound and fluoroscopic guidance for 100% accuracy.

Patients can expect injections only for appropriate indications resulting in successful outcomes. Dr. Antony abides by FDA requirements and is a dedicated physician with a passion for providing long-lasting pain relief.

At Sussex Pain Relief Center, the entire team also gives you a wide variety of pain relief strategies and tools to help you implement sustainable lifestyle changes in the long term. These lifestyle changes can work together with the PRP treatment for lasting pain relief.

Call either Sussex Pain Relief Center office or use online booking to arrange your appointment now.