PRP

Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) is a power-packed healing treatment derived from your own blood. At  Specialized Foot and Ankle Care, the elite team led by Ankur Bahri, DPM, and Sandeep Sandhu, DPM, are known as podiatry innovators because they offer the latest evidence-based approaches like PRP. Problems like chronic tendinitis often respond well to PRP, allowing many patients to avoid surgery. To find out more, call the office in Carteret, Perth Amboy, or Edison, New Jersey. Or, book your appointment online now.

What is PRP?

Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) is a healing treatment made from your whole blood. Whole blood consists of several parts, including red and white cells and platelets.

The platelets help your blood clot (stop bleeding) when you’re injured. But platelets are also healing powerhouses. They contain many growth factors — proteins that help repair wounds, grow new tissue, and grow new blood vessels. Platelets also reduce inflammation around injuries or wounds, allowing better healing.

Platelets rush in when you’re hurt, but after that initial response, their levels quickly decrease. PRP solves that drawback by concentrating your platelets.

Your doctor injects the concentrated solution. Recent studies show that when PRP is injected using ultrasound guidance, more than 60% of patients experience a complete elimination of pain and a full return to normal activities after one treatment.

What kind of problems can PRP treat? 

Several studies show that PRP is effective for tendon injuries like chronic tendinitis.

With tendinitis, the tendons that connect muscles to bones grow irritated and inflamed. This causes pain, stiffness, swelling, and, in severe cases, mobility problems.

Tendinitis often develops due to repetitive stress on the tendons in the feet and ankles. But it can also start suddenly after an injury.

PRP stimulates the repair of damaged tendons. It works by helping heal tiny tears, reducing inflammation, and helping grow new tissue to strengthen the tendons.

PRP is also used to treat other sports injuries, such as severe ligament damage. Some doctors also use it to treat osteoarthritis.

How does PRP treatment work?

PRP treatment happens in the Specialized Foot and Ankle Care office. A member of the team takes a small amount of blood from one of your arms.

They treat your blood using a special process that separates the platelets and white blood cells. After concentrating those components, your PRP specialist injects the PRP. They typically use live imaging (X-rays or ultrasound) to guide the injection to the ideal place around your tendon, ligament, muscle, or joint.

PRP doesn’t require incisions, and downtime is minimal. It could be the treatment that relieves your symptoms and gets you back to doing the things you love.

At Specialized Foot & Ankle Care, Dr. Sandhu or Dr. Bahari treat patients for bunions, diabetic foot care, athlete foot, sports injuries, heel pain, and more. We are a foot and ankle specialist practice located in New Jersey. Call us to book your appointment today.