Your hands carry a lot of responsibility for completing tasks that help you get through your day. They undergo many repetitive motions in a day making them more susceptible to conditions that cause pain. At REVIV, a common condition we see in the hand is osteoarthritis. Other common painful conditions affecting the hand include:
- Arthritis
- Thumb Arthritis
- Carpometacarpal Arthritis
- Trigger Finger
- Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
Pain in the hands can have a significant impact on quality of life. It affects how you grip, grasp, and bend or move your fingers.
BENEFITS OF PRP
A common way of treating pain in the hands is with steroid injections. The purpose of a steroid is to decrease inflammation in the injected area and therefore decrease pain. However, steroids like all other medications do come with risks and side effects that may outweigh the potential benefits. Some of these risks include infection, weakening of tendons, and nerve damage.
Like a steroid, Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) therapy is also an injection that can be used to treat hand conditions and injuries. PRP is a non-surgical treatment that utilizes the body’s innate ability to heal itself. At REVIV, we use PRP to decrease inflammation, stimulate new cartilage growth, and provide longer-lasting relief from pain.
HOW DOES PRP WORK?
Your blood consists of both solid (red cells, white cells, platelets) and liquid components (plasma). Platelets contain growth factors that play an important role in the healing process. With age, we begin to lose the power of these platelets which can make healing more difficult or can increase healing time. The purpose of using PRP therapy is to concentrate these platelets and inject them into an area of pain to promote the healing process.
THE PRP THERAPY TREATMENT PROCESS
An initial assessment is required by our doctors to ensure that you are an ideal candidate for the procedure. Our #1 priority is delivering the right solution to reduce your pain. Once our medical team has established PRP therapy is the treatment that will provide you with the best outcome you can begin treatment.
For PRP treatment, the doctor will draw your blood and spin it using a centrifuge to separate the liquid and solid components of your blood. The liquid portion (plasma) is then used for the injection process. Platelet-rich plasma can be injected into any area of the body that needs regeneration.
You can expect for the entire treatment process to take around 30-40 minutes.
For individuals who are not ideal candidates, we do have other treatment options available for your hand pain.