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Jordan-Young Institute Orthopedic Surgery, Sports Medicine, Neurosurgery, Physical Medical & Rehabilitation Virginia Beach, VA / Services / Regenerative Medicine / Platelet Rich Plasma

Platelet Rich Plasma

Platelet Rich Plasma (PRP) uses naturally occurring growth factor in your own blood to promote healing. In this process we take a small amount of your blood, about the same as a typical blood draw for routine labs, spin it down in a centrifuge, and use only a small portion constraining a very high concentration of platelets and growth factors for the injection.

Before treatment:

  • Your initial visit to the clinic will consist of a full physical assessment based on injury or physical complain. This may include x-rays, diagnostic ultrasound, blood work, Range of Motion measurements or MRI, if needed.
  • You may be asked to stop taking NSAIDS (anti-inflammatories i.e.: Motrin, Naprosyn, Advil, Aleve). If so, please discontinue 2-4 days prior to treatment. You may be asked to hold NSAIDS for 3 weeks before, and up to 6 weeks after this treatment. Check with your physician before stopping any medications.
  • Follow your normal daily routine on procedure day. Make sure to drink plenty of water.
  • Upon arriving at the clinic, your blood will be drawn and you will be prepped for your procedure. Your blood will be spun down in a special centrifuge, which takes about 15 minutes.
  • Ultrasound or Fluoroscopic x-ray may be used to guide the injection. Those areas will be marked and numbed with local anesthetic.
  • Platelet Rich Plasma (PRP) will then be injected. After treatment with PRP:
    • You will be numb in the areas treated for 2-6 hours after the procedure.
    • Due to the numbness, we ask that you refrain from any strenuous activities,
    • but to stay mobile.
    • After the anesthesia wears off, you may resume activities to tolerance of pain.
    • You will experience some pain and soreness for 2-5 days after you treatment. Soreness can last up to 4 weeks
  • You may be asked to hold anti-inflammatory medication for 4-6 weeks after treatment.
  • Tylenol for pain, Ice as needed for pain and or swelling (10 minutes to cool the skin, repeat every 2-3 hours)
  • You may experience the “roller coaster” syndrome where you feel great one day, and for no apparent reason the area treated starts to hurt again. This is normal in the healing process.
  • The platelets are active for 6 weeks. It can take up to 6 months for normal collagen to form and heal completely.

Our goal is 80% improvement in pain, so you may or may not need more than 1 treatment to reach that goal. Sometime a series of 2-3 treatments are needed to achieve complete healing. If subsequent treatments are needed they are usually performed several weeks apart.

If you have any questions or concerns, please call .