
How All-Natural PRP Injections Work to Alleviate Arthritis-Related Joint Pain and Stiffness

If you're seeking a natural, minimally invasive way to ease arthritis-related joint pain, you’re not alone. Arthritis affects an estimated 53.2 million Americans and is notorious for causing persistent joint pain, stiffness, and decreased mobility.
Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) injections harness your body’s natural healing abilities and offer promising relief for arthritis-related discomfort — and it’s a treatment we offer here at the Spine Group Beverly Hills in Santa Monica, California.
Take a moment as Dr. John Regan explains what PRP injections do and how they’re an all-natural pain relief option.
Learn more about PRP injections
PRP injections are derived from your own blood. The process involves drawing a small sample, separating the platelets from the rest of the blood using a centrifuge, and concentrating them into a nutrient-rich plasma. This is what makes PRP injections unique. It’s made from your own blood, so in a sense, every person who gets PRP injections receives a unique-to-them serum.
The secret power behind platelets
PRP injections work so well because they’re a concentrated serum of platelets. Platelets, or thrombocytes, are a component in your blood that promotes healing by releasing growth factors that repair tissues and reduce inflammation.
So when concentrating all of these platelets together, you get more healing power concentrated in the area you need healing the most — in this case, your joints.
How do PRP injections help with arthritis pain?
PRP therapy targets arthritis pain at its source: the damaged joint tissues. When Dr. Regan injects your PRP serum into the affected joint, the growth factors in your serum do three things.
The PRP can:
Reduce inflammation
Because PRP injections decrease swelling around stiff joints, you should notice that it’s easier to move your joints and that it’s more comfortable to do so.
Stimulate tissue repair
The platelets in your PRP serum also help stimulate tissue repair. In other words, they promote the regeneration of cartilage and other damaged tissues in your joint, so it starts to function better.
Improve joint lubrication
PRP injections improve joint lubrication by stimulating the production of synovial fluid, a natural lubricant that’s naturally found in joint fluid. PRP injections help with synovial fluid production by decreasing inflammatory cytokines in your joint.
Increasing joint lubrication helps to reduce friction and pain within your joint.
In other words, PRP helps your body naturally lubricate its joints better rather than injecting a fluid to lubricate it artificially.
Why this all works
This multi-faceted approach not only relieves pain but can also slow the progression of joint damage. Each injection helps your body heal itself.
What makes your PRP injection “all-natural”?
Because PRP is made from your own blood (and only requires one quick blood draw), it’s completely natural and biocompatible, so there’s no risk of allergic reactions. You also don’t have to worry about side effects from synthetic chemicals.
It’s a treatment option that aligns with holistic and integrative approaches to health.
What to expect from your PRP injection?
The procedure is straightforward and typically done in under an hour. Typically, you can expect three basic steps:
- A quick blood draw
- PRP preparation in a centrifuge to isolate the platelets
- Administer the PRP serum via injection into your arthritic joint using imaging guidance if necessary
The entire process is minimally invasive and doesn’t require a long downtime — just a day or two. You can expect to experience sustained improvement in pain and stiffness over the next few months.
Is PRP right for you?
PRP therapy is suitable for many arthritis sufferers, but the best results are often seen in individuals with mild to moderate joint degeneration looking for an all-natural solution for arthritis pain.
Ideally, PRP injections pair well with healthy lifestyle habits such as eating an anti-inflammatory diet, regular exercise, and healthy weight management.
To find out if PRP injections are right for you, give us a ring at 424-238-3281 or click here to schedule an appointment.
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