4 Habits That Support Strong Healthy Shoulder Joints
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4 Reasons PRP Injections May be Right for You
More than 54 million adults in the United States are living with arthritis, and even more, are struggling to recover from an orthopedic injury.
Regardless of the cause, musculoskeletal pain can have a major impact on your daily life. From morning stiffness to joint swelling, orthopedic problems can make everyday tasks difficult.
Traditional treatments for degenerative conditions such as arthritis don’t always provide adequate relief. Fortunately, a revolutionary, all-natural alternative that uses platelets from your own blood may improve the way you feel and function.
At his practice here in Santa Barbara, California, Orthopedic surgeon Matthew Pifer, MD offers innovative treatments for musculoskeletal conditions.
Knowing your options can help you make an informed decision about your care. Before considering surgical treatments, it's wise to find out if PRP therapy is right for you. That's why our experts have compiled five key benefits of PRP therapy.
1. PRP therapy is non-invasive
PRP therapy involves using your own blood to create an ultra-concentrated serum rich in powerful growth factors and proteins that help the body heal and repair itself. Dr. Pifer draws your blood and uses a machine to separate the blood into layers. The exact makeup of your PRP injection will vary depending on several factors, including the concentration of platelets, centrifuge process, and the use of additives.
Once the centrifuge process is complete, Dr. Pifer prepares the PRP solution for injection and injects the treatment area.
2. PRP may prevent the need for surgery
Some injuries and degenerative joint conditions require surgery to restore the joint, tendon, or muscle to its normal function. This is necessary when less invasive treatments fail or are inappropriate. In some cases, PRP therapy can delay or prevent the need for surgery.
The goal of PRP therapy is to help the body regenerate and repair itself by replacing disease or damaged tissue with new, healthy tissue.
3. PRP can treat many musculoskeletal issues
Dr. Pifer has been helping patients reduce pain and improve a number of orthopedic issues using PRP therapy, including:
- Degenerative arthritis
- Tendonitis
- Sports injuries
- Soft tissue tears
If you have any of these problems, discuss it with Dr. Pifer to find out if you’re a good candidate for PRP therapy.
4. PRP is all-natural
PRP harnesses the power of your body’s own resources to stimulate regeneration and healing. Once Dr. Pifer injects the damaged joint, or tendon, with your own PRP serum, the platelets jump into action stimulating more stem cells and proteins to help rebuild healthier tissue.
As the body heals, patients report less pain and better joint function.
Dr. Pifer offers future-forward pain management using a patient-centered approach. Treatments such as platelet-rich plasma (PRP) therapy can help ease your pain so you can get back to enjoying life again.
To get started, contact our Santa Barbara office to schedule an appointment with Dr. Pifer or request a telemedicine appointment online using the webform here.
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