What are PRP injections?
PRP injections are a type of regenerative medicine that encourages your body’s natural healing process.
Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) contains platelets and growth factors, two components found in your blood. By injecting a solution of PRP into an injured or diseased joint or soft tissue, it’s possible to ease pain, prevent further complications, and speed up the recovery process.
What types of foot problems can benefit from PRP injections?
Dr. Austin uses PRP injections to treat a variety of common foot problems, including:
- Diabetic foot wounds
- Heel pain
- Tendinitis
- Sports-related injuries
- Work-related injuries
- Ankle pain
- Plantar fasciitis
- Postsurgical injuries
You might also benefit from PRP injections if you have osteoarthritis of the foot or ankle.
What do PRP injections involve?
Dr. Austin provides PRP injections on-site as an outpatient procedure.
At the beginning of your appointment, he draws a sample of your blood and puts it into a machine called a centrifuge. The centrifuge spins around rapidly, separating the platelets from the rest of your blood, a process that takes about 15 minutes.
When the machine finishes spinning, Dr. Austin takes the concentrated plasma and transfers it to a syringe. Then, he uses ultrasound-guided imaging to pinpoint specific areas for injection. The number of PRP injections you receive depends on your symptoms and the severity of the injury.
Are PRP injections safe?
PRP injections are safe and usually well-tolerated, but there are potential risks. For example, a few hours after treatment, you might experience increased sensitivity or mild bruising at the injection site. Any discomfort should subside in a day or two, but if your symptoms persist, contact Dr. Austin right away.
What is recovery like following PRP injections?
Following PRP injections, there’s no recovery period or downtime. Dr. Austin might recommend taking it easy for the rest of the day, but you can return to work and other routine activities within 24 hours.
You might not experience an improvement in your symptoms right away. PRP is a cumulative treatment, meaning the results get better over time. Be patient, follow Dr. Austin’s recovery instructions, and attend each checkup as prescribed.
To see if you’re a candidate for PRP injections, make an appointment at the practice of Gerald D. Austin, DPM, by calling the office to speak with a caring member of the administrative staff, or by clicking the online booking tool.
