Quick answer: PRP (platelet-rich plasma) therapy uses concentrated healing factors from your own blood to reduce inflammation and repair damaged tissue. Injected with image guidance into the painful area, it offers a natural, minimally invasive way to relieve chronic joint, tendon, and back pain, often with lasting results.
How PRP works
- A small sample of your blood is drawn
- It’s spun in a centrifuge to concentrate the platelets and their growth factors
- The concentrated plasma is injected into the affected area using ultrasound or fluoroscopic guidance
What it treats
- Osteoarthritis of the knees, hips, and shoulders
- Tendonitis such as tennis elbow and Achilles tendonitis
- Chronic back pain from damaged or inflamed tissue
- Plantar fasciitis and a range of sports injuries
What to expect
PRP is performed in-office, usually in 45 to 60 minutes, with little to no downtime. Because it uses your own blood, the risk of a reaction is minimal. Mild soreness or swelling typically resolves within one to three days, and many patients return to normal activity within a few days.
Frequently asked questions
Is PRP therapy safe?
Yes, because it uses your own platelets, adverse effects are rare, usually limited to mild, short-lived soreness.
How soon does PRP work?
PRP stimulates natural healing over several weeks, so improvement is gradual rather than immediate.
Can PRP delay joint replacement?
For osteoarthritis, studies show PRP can improve pain and mobility and may delay the need for joint replacement.
If you’d rather treat the source of pain than mask it, PRP therapy may be a fit. Schedule a consultation with Colorado Pain Care: call (303) 468-7246 or book online here.
Colorado Pain Care treats each patient with the same care we would want for our own family. Founded on the promise of H.O.P.E., we provide honest, objective, personalized, and empathetic care from the area’s top physicians and providers.
