One of the most complicated and mobile joints in our body is the shoulder. As we grow older this mobility can result in osteoarthritis which can be painful. Younger adult athletes who overuse their shoulders for participating in competitions can also face this condition. Thankfully, there are new therapies evolved, including platelet-rich plasma therapy, which are proven alternatives to shoulder replacement.
WHY DO MANY PEOPLE SUFFER FROM OSTEOARTHRITIS?
If you are young and not an athlete that doesn’t mean you will not suffer shoulder pain. Everyone utilises their shoulders every day. This condition occurs when we gradually lose cartilage at the end of the shoulder bone. Cartilage is a smooth substance which allows the motion of the shoulder easily and almost in every direction.
We can experience joint stiffness and pain when the cartilage near our shoulders continues to degenerate. Most doctors will try to treat your pain conditions with all the typical conservative treatments. Shoulder replacement surgery is usually recommended if the conservative treatments fail to solve the problem.
WHAT IS PRP?
The liquid component of whole blood is called plasma. It is mostly made of water and proteins and serves as a medium for the movement of platelets, white blood cells, and red blood cells throughout the body. Blood cells called platelets, also known as thrombocytes, are responsible for blood clotting and other vital development and healing processes. An important aspect of the body’s natural healing process is platelet activation.
To elevate the repair of damaged tendons, ligaments, muscles, and joints, platelet-rich plasma (PRP) treatment involves injections of a patient’s own concentrated platelets. PRP injections work to treat musculoskeletal issues by enhancing each patient’s natural healing process.
Tubes of your own blood are used to prepare PRP injections, which are prepared by centrifuging the blood to concentrate the platelets. The damaged or ill bodily tissue is subsequently given an injection of these activated platelets. This leads to the release of growth factors, which promote and boost your body’s production of reparative cells.
PRP AS AN ALTERNATIVE TO SURGERY
Doctors are gaining more knowledge in finding out how our own body helps to intensify the healing properties. Platelet-rich plasma (PRP), sometimes referred to as regenerative medicine, releases growth factors that encourage and boost the production of repair cells in our bodies.
To obtain a concentration of platelets, a patient’s blood or bone marrow is drawn and put into a centrifuge. To make sure that the concentration is at the proper amount to properly treat the shoulder, it is critical that the kit a doctor is using is FDA-authorised.
After that, the concentrated blood combination is injected directly into the shoulder to elevate recovery and replace missing cartilage.
PRP treatment has a number of advantages, some of which are as follows :
- Lessens the need for opioids used to relieve pain or anti-inflammatory drugs
- Since it uses your own blood or bone marrow, there are few side effects.
- Helps by protecting any remaining cartilage to decrease the development of arthritis.
The main advantage of regenerative medicine is that it improves wounds and lessens pain by utilising the patient’s own healing system.
For alternative treatment of shoulder replacement surgery, visit Specialty Care Clinics. Our doctor will give you a quality PRP treatment.