Platelet-Rich Plasma

Osteoarthritis

Osteoarthritis is a condition that causes the connective tissue that protects the bone to disintegrate. It is a degenerative disease, or chronic condition, which causes inflammation in the tissue and leads to stiffness and pain in the joints. However, it can also lead to tendon, ligament and bone damage, particularly if left untreated.

According to the CDC, 33 million adults in the United States have osteoarthritis. This condition, while common, does not yet have a cure. Those who experience this type of pain are encouraged to seek pain management treatment as soon as possible, as it can ensure they experience an enjoyable and pain-free life.

What causes osteoarthritis?
While osteoarthritis is most common in adults 45 and older, there are other groups of people susceptible to this condition, as well. Some causes of osteoarthritis include:

• Joint Injury
• Genetics
• Obesity
• Overuse of muscles and joints
• Musculoskeletal abnormalities
• Weak muscles
• Environmental factors

It's also important to note that post-menopausal women over the age of 50 are one of the most prevalent groups to be diagnosed with osteoarthritis.

What are the symptoms of osteoarthritis?
The main symptoms of osteoarthritis are stiffness, pain and swelling in the joints. This pain typically occurs after periods of rest or inactivity and can affect many joints including:

• Knees
• Hips
• Back
• Fingertips
• Feet

Osteoarthritis affects joints in different ways. For example, osteoarthritis in the hands can cause bones and joints to change shape, while osteoarthritis in the knees can cause a grinding noise and make the knees buckle.

Due to these symptoms, those with osteoarthritis are at a higher risk of developing certain conditions. For example, the pain associated with osteoarthritis can make it difficult for those with this condition to be physically active, which increases the risk of obesity. Obesity is linked with a higher probability to develop type 2 diabetes, high cholesterol and heart disease.

What are the treatment options for osteoarthritis?
The treatment options to relieve pain due to osteoarthritis range widely in scope. They include:

• Pain relievers such as acetaminophen and ibuprofen
• Opioids
• Acupuncture
• Joint replacement surgery
• Cortisone injections
• Hyaluronic acid injections
• Antidepressants like Duloxetine

Some of these treatment options, such as pain relievers and steroid injections, are only short-term solutions. They can provide temporary relief, but the osteoarthritis pain returns quickly. Treatments such as pain killers and opioids have also been linked with an increased risk of falling and injury. One study found that patients with osteoarthritis who used opioids and/or antidepressants "had a 22%-25% increased risk of recurrent falls."

On the other hand, joint replacement surgery is a much more invasive treatment option and one that would require anesthesia. While it can be an effective treatment, many who suffer with osteoarthritis want a non-invasive, long-term treatment option. Therefore, PRP Injections are the best pain management option.

What is PRP?
PRP injection treatment involves extracting a blood sample from the patient and spinning the sample in a centrifuge, which separates the blood platelets and helps create platelet-rich plasma (PRP). The PRP is then injected back into the patient. This procedure is a long-term treatment option that reduces healing time and aids with pain management. The entire process typically takes less than an hour.

Are PRP injections an effective treatment for osteoarthritis?
PRP injections are a very effective treatment for osteoarthritis because they help reduce inflammation, which is the main symptom of osteoarthritis that causes pain. This treatment option should only be performed by medical professionals, but when done properly, the positive effects of PRP can last quite a while. One clinical study concluded that "PRP injection represents a valid conservative treatment to reduce pain, improve quality of life and functional scores even at midterm of 6 months follow-up." Some patients have even experienced relief for up to two years.

When looking at all treatment options, it's important to find not only an effective treatment, but also one that is long-lasting. Thankfully, PRP injections are both. Recent data has shown that "PRP treatment is superior compared to hyaluronic acid injections for knee osteoarthritis, especially in regard to the duration of its positive effect."

At PRP Center of Staten Island, our highly trained doctors have been treating osteoarthritis patients with PRP injections for quite some time. If you're ready to live a life free from pain and swelling in your joints from osteoarthritis, contact us today.

Sacroiliac joint pain

Sacroiliac joint pain is the leading type of lower back pain. The sacroiliac joint is found in the pelvis between the sacrum and ilium bones. Its main purpose is to transfer weight from the upper to lower body. When the joint becomes inflamed, it causes intense pain, which can be located in the buttocks and lower back and can also shoot down the legs.

About 28% of adults in the United States suffer from lower back pain and up to 25% of lower back pain can be attributed to the sacroiliac joint.

What causes sacroiliac joint pain?
The causes of sacroiliac joint pain are quite widespread. Potential causes include:

• Falls or injuries
• Pelvic fractures
• Hormonal changes
• Weight gain
• Traumatic childbirth
• Inflammatory conditions like osteoarthritis
• Scoliosis
• Leg length discrepancy
• Infections

Some causes of sacroiliac joint pain can be directly traced- such as pain due to an accident- while other causes, such as from childbirth, aren't as easy to pinpoint. However, regardless of the cause of your sacroiliac joint pain, it can be treated easily with PRP injections.

How can I treat my sacroiliac joint pain?
With over 100 million Americans suffering from neck/back pain, finding the right pain management treatment is crucial. The most effective treatments for sacroiliac joint pain are ketamine or PRP treatments. However, before those treatments were created and popularized, there were other treatment options including:

• Non-Steroid Anti-Inflammatory Drugs (NSAIDs) like ibuprofen and naproxen
• Ice and Heat
• Cortisol Injections
• Radiofrequency ablation
• Surgery
• Pulsed radiofrequency

While some opt to use these older treatment options, they aren't as effective. NSAIDs as well as ice and heat can help relieve pain for a few hours, but they don't go the distance when it comes to effective sacroiliac joint pain management.

The most common long-term form of treatment for sacroiliac joint pain used to be surgery. However, studies have found that it isn't as effective as originally believed. In fact, one study found that 82% of patients were dissatisfied with their operations and a further 65% required further operations.

Comparatively, interventional pain physicians and specialized doctors around the world have been utilizing PRP injections as a form of pain management, including for sacroiliac joint pain, for several years now with much success.

How can PRP treat my sacroiliac joint pain?
With PRP injection treatment, a patient's blood is extracted, turned into platelet-rich plasma and then re-injected. The heavy concentration of platelets helps the body to heal itself quickly and efficiently. This treatment is used to help manage pain caused by a variety of conditions including chronic pain and sacroiliac joint pain because it is a regenerative treatment with long-lasting effects.

When compared to other treatment options for sacroiliac joint pain, PRP performs better. PRP injections have proven to provide longer-lasting pain relief and have fewer side effects than steroid injections. Our doctors at the PRP Center of Staten Island specialize in PRP injection therapy for sacroiliac joint pain. Together, we will work with you to develop a comprehensive PRP treatment plan.

Tendons

Tendons are thick fibrous cords that connect muscle to bone. Tendonitis is a condition that causes this tissue to become either inflamed or irritated. It is a common condition in the United States, particularly among athletes. One study found that tendon injuries were listed as the main reason for 7% of physician appointments amongst athletes.

The general term tendonitis refers to any tendon injuries that cause inflammation. However, there are two specific types of tendon injuries that are the most common: tennis elbow and jumper's knee. In fact, these conditions are so common that they are oftentimes used to refer to tendonitis as a whole. Tennis elbow and jumper's knee are appropriately named because they typically happen to those who play sports. Later, we will discuss how PRP treatments can help to effectively treat not only tennis elbow and jumper's knee, but all forms of tendonitis.

Tennis elbow, also known as lateral epicondylitis, is a type of tendonitis that causes inflammation on the outside of the elbow and is caused by repetitive wrist and arm movements. It can happen due to repeated stress on the area or a trauma to the elbow- or a combination of both. Those who suffer from tennis elbow suffer from discomfort, pain and even weakness when gripping items. It is referred to as tennis elbow because a common culprit is twisting or swinging the lower arm repeatedly- such as when you play tennis. About 2% of people have tennis elbow and 20% of those people suffer from chronic tennis elbow. While anyone can develop this condition, it is most common in those between the ages of 40 and 60.

Jumper's knee, on the other hand, refers to inflammation in the patellar tendon that connects the kneecap to the shinbone and- like any type of tendonitis- can be caused by overuse or injury. More specifically, it can be due to improper warm-up and cool-down when running or jumping, weak muscles or incorrect form. It is also common among athletes. One study had some shocking results:

• Nearly 27% of former athletes develop jumper's knee
• 40%-50% of high-level volleyball players develop jumper's knee and 19% of athletes in the study were forced to retire from competitive volleyball
• Jumper's knee symptoms can last longer than 6 years

Other types of tendonitis include golfer's elbow, achilles tendinitis and shoulder tendonitis.

What causes tendonitis?
Tendonitis happens due to repetitive movements, strain and overuse on the tendons. This can happen from something as small as a sudden movement or injury, but tendonitis can also become chronic over time. Typically, those who develop tendonitis have either jobs or hobbies- such as playing sports- that cause them to repeat the same motions over and over, which puts added stress on the tendons. Some causes for tendonitis include:

• Typing
• Falling
• Using incorrect form while playing sports
• Age
• Medications including fluoroquinolones
• Playing sports such as tennis, baseball, golf, running, swimming, football, volleyball and basketball
• Painting
• Playing musical instruments like the piano
• Working at a cash register

How can I treat my tendonitis?
Symptoms of tendonitis can include pain, swelling, weakness, stiffness and a popping sensation in the joints. Due to the wide variety of types of tendonitis as well as the range of symptoms, it can be difficult to treat. For example, treatment options include:

• Rest
• Icing the inflamed area
• Anti-inflammatory medications like naproxen or acetaminophen
• Wrapping the area with an elastic bandage
• Surgery

Many who suffer from tendonitis want quick and long-lasting relief, which can't be achieved just through rest or icing the area. However, the option of surgery is both risky and invasive. Thankfully, there is another option. All types of tendonitis can be treated with PRP injections.

How can PRP treat my tendonitis?
PRP injection treatment is an effective treatment for a long list of conditions including tendonitis. With this treatment method, trained medical professionals extract the patient's own blood, use a centrifuge to separate platelets in the blood, which are injected back into the patients. PRP, which stands for platelet-rich plasma, is effective because platelets have special growth factors that accelerate the healing process. Because this is an autologous treatment, it is much safer than other treatment options.

The National Library of Medicine published an article that accumulated results of over 21 studies that involved a total of 1031 participants relating to the use of PRP treatment of tendonitis and found that "Overall, long-term follow-up results showed significantly less pain in the PRP group compared to control."

Patients who have both sudden on-set as well as chronic tendonitis have found that PRP treatments are simple, safe and effective in combating their tendonitis symptoms. At PRP Center of Staten Island, our doctors have extensive experience administering PRP injections for a variety of conditions including tendonitis. We are dedicated to helping our patients live pain-free lives- if you're ready to fight your tendonitis and get your life back, give us a call.

Osteoporosis

Osteoporosis is a bone disease categorized by bone loss, which results in weak and brittle bones. Bones become weak due to loss of bone density, which in turn makes them more porous and more susceptible to breaks or fractures. Those who suffer with osteoporosis can experience a broken bone due to minor falls or bumps.

According to the FDA, 10 million Americans have osteoporosis, with 80% of those being women. While anyone of any age can develop this condition, it is most common in those over the age of 50. Additionally, one in four women over the age of 65 develop osteoporosis.

Osteoporosis can be caused by hormonal changes, genetics, age, prolonged periods of inactivity and nutritional deficiencies. Those who do not get enough calcium are also particularly susceptible.

What are symptoms of osteoporosis?
In the early stages of osteoporosis, there are no noticeable symptoms. It typically isn't until after someone suffers from a broken or collapsed bone that they are diagnosed with this condition. However, once symptoms do arise, they include:

• Back pain
• Vertebral fractures that can compress the spine
• Changes in spinal alignment
• Shortness of breath
• Bone fractures, most commonly in the hip, wrist and spine

Can PRP injections help my osteoporosis?
PRP, or platelet-rich plasma, is created when blood is removed from a patient and spun in a centrifuge to extract the platelets. Platelets are cell fragments that help form clots and prevent bleeding… however, they also help to release growth factors that increase healing times from various conditions including tendinopathy, chronic pain and osteoporosis.

Studies that have been conducted to determine the efficacy of PRP injection treatments for osteoporosis have determined that PRP "can effectively enhance the healing of osteoporotic fractures." Another study found that injecting pure platelet-rich plasma was an effective treatment for bone regeneration.

As highly trained medical professionals, our doctors at the PRP Center of Staten Island understand both the complexities of osteoporosis as well as the pain it causes. If you are interested in learning more about how PRP injection treatments can alleviate your osteoporosis symptoms, contact us today.