To first understand what platelet-rich plasma, or PRP, injections are and how they may benefit your physical health and well-being, we must break down each component.

The main functions of plasma are to:

• Maintain blood pressure and volume
• Transport electrolytes, nutrients, hormones, and proteins to different parts of the body

Platelets, on the other hand, are crucial in the formation of blood clots. Also called thrombocytes, platelets help stop bleeding by clumping together and forming clots in sites of open injury.

Simply put, platelet-rich plasma is just blood that contains more than a normal amount of platelets and is highly optimized for natural healing. To make platelet-rich plasma, our technologists take a blood sample and place it into a centrifuge. The centrifuge rapidly spins the sample and separates the platelets out from other unwanted blood components, allowing it to be concentrated in the plasma.

PRP focuses primarily on using the patient’s own biological tissues (such as blood, fat, or bone marrow) to treat trauma and injury. The goal of PRP therapy is to speed up the natural healing process by encouraging and bolstering the production of specific bioproteins or hormones (known as growth factors) through injection of the patient’s own blood.

Applications of PRP

PRP injections is a widely utilized and popular therapy method used in sports medicine, musculoskeletal pain treatment, orthopedic therapies, and cosmetic procedures.

There are many uses for a platelet-rich plasma injection, some of which include:

• Tendon injury
• Ligament sprain
• Muscle tears
• Post-surgical repair
• Osteoarthritis
• Hair loss

Advantages

PRP treatments are great for patients looking to alleviate their long-term pain symptoms and improve musculoskeletal function. Additionally, PRP also boasts:

• Faster recovery times
• Reduced need for anti-inflammatory or opioid medications
• Reduced need for surgery
• Lower risk for side effects (as PRP is extracted from your own body)

How PRP Stands Out From Other Pain Management Injections

The most noteworthy feature that sets PRP apart from other therapeutic injections and intervention treatments is its use of the patient’s own biological tissues to heal wounds rather than temporarily relieve pain.

PRP & Corticosteroid Injections

Corticosteroid injections, or cortisone shots, are most well known for their use in temporarily relieving pain and inflammation in joints and tendons. The biggest difference between these two pain management treatments is that cortisone shots do not promote long-term natural healing and are typically used to provide quick relief.

In addition, it is important to note that like corticosteroid shots, PRP may not be for everyone. If you are interested in receiving a PRP injection at Insight Medical Imaging’s pain management clinic, be sure to read on!

How Do I Start My PRP Treatment with Insight Medical Imaging?

Patients who wish to receive a PRP injection must:

• Receive a referral from an MD (preferably an orthopedic surgeon, physiatrist, or sports medicine physician), and
• Have had medical imaging done to examine the treatment area within the last 3 months

Our radiologists and technologists also recommend that patients looking to enroll in this pain management therapy plan also be enrolled in a physiotherapy program so that their progress can be closely monitored by a medical professional. We also recommend that patients undergo post-PRP injection rehabilitation.

PRP Treatments at Insight Medical Imaging

We offer PRP injections at our Edmonton Unity Square location. As this treatment is not covered by the Alberta Health Care Insurance Plan (AHCIP), each injection costs $395.

* Please note that this pricing is subject to change without notice.

For the most up-to-date information on PRP pricing, please call our Central Booking department at 780-669-2222 or click here to learn more about PRP treatments!

References:

American Red Cross. (n.d.). What Are Platelets in Blood. Retrieved from https://www.redcrossblood.org/donate-blood/dlp/platelet-information.html 

American Red Cross. (n.d.). The Importance Of Plasma In Blood. What Is Plasma In Blood? | Red Cross Blood Services. Retrieved from https://www.redcrossblood.org/donate-blood/dlp/plasma-information.html 

Bava, E. D., & Barber, F. A. (2011). Platelet-rich plasma products in sports medicine. The Physician and sportsmedicine, 39(3), 94–99. https://doi.org/10.3810/psm.2011.09.1925

Bon Secours. (n.d.). Platelet Rich Plasma Injection (Prp Injection). Platelet Rich Plasma Injection | Orthopedics and Sports Medicine | Bon Secours. Retrieved from https://www.bonsecours.com/health-care-services/orthopedics-sports-medicine/treatments/platelet-rich-plasma-injection 

Cleveland Clinic. (n.d.). Cortisone Shots. Cortisone Shots: Treatment, Side Effects, Outlook. Retrieved from https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/treatments/17759-cortisone-shots 

John Hopkins Medicine (n.d.). Platelet-Rich Plasma (PRP) Injections. Retrieved from https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/treatment-tests-and-therapies/plateletrich-plasma-prp-treatment

Hospital For Special Surgery (HSS). (n.d.). Platelet-Rich Plasma (PRP) Injections. Platelet-Rich Plasma (PRP) Injection: How It Works. Retrieved from https://www.hss.edu/condition-list_prp-injections.asp 

Hospital For Special Surgery (HSS). (n.d.). Regenerative Medicine. Regenerative Medicine for Orthopedics: Biologic Therapies. Retrieved from https://www.hss.edu/condition-list_prp-injections.asp