Platelet-Rich Plasma
PRP Injections in Milwaukee
Platelet-Rich Plasma (PRP) is a concentrated blood platelet solution with at least four times the baseline platelet count of ordinary plasma. It is derived from your own blood and, when injected at the site of an injury, facilitates tissue healing and regeneration.
Alternative to Cortisone Injections
For years, Cortisone injections have been the conventional treatment for tendonitis and tendon degeneration. While Cortisone reduces inflammation and pain, it doesn’t do anything to actually heal damaged tissue. In fact, multiple and frequent injections can actually increase tissue damage. Platelet-Rich Plasma injections, on the other hand, promote the healing of damaged tendons and tissue. In Milwaukee, sports medicine specialist Dr. Gertel is the leading provider of PRP injections.
PRP injections involve first drawing blood from a vein. This blood (enough to fill a small test tube) is then put in a centrifuge for about 15 minutes to separate the platelet-rich plasma from the rest of the blood. As with cortisone injections, Dr. Gertel then injects this plasma, using local anesthesia, directly into the tendon or other soft tissue where there is injury or degeneration. The process takes about half an hour. Since it is your own blood, there is no risk of rejection or disease transmission.
Benefits of PRP Injections
While research has shown plasma with a platelet concentration of 4 to 5 times above the baseline is the minimum necessary to stimulate healing, the technique used by Dr. Gertel consistently delivers plasma with a platelet concentration at least 7 to 8 times above baseline. His Milwaukee PRP injection patients benefit from this higher platelet count with faster healing times. Typically, improvement is noticed in the first week, with increased mobility and diminished pain over the course of a month or two.
Although PRP injection therapy has been shown to be a promising treatment option in plastic surgery, dental implant surgery, spinal fusion surgery and other procedures, it is still considered a “not proven treatment option” by most insurance companies. Because of this, PRP injections in Milwaukee are usually not covered by health insurance plans.
