Platelet Rich Plasma

How does PRP work?

Although it is not exactly clear how PRP works, laboratory studies have shown that the increased concentration of growth factors in PRP can potentially speed up the healing process.

Platelets are blood cells with several roles to play in the body. One is to promote blood clotting so that a person does not excessively bleed when they are cut. Another is to help wounds to heal. Researchers theorize that by injecting areas of inflammation or tissue damage with high concentrations of platelets, it can encourage wounds to heal.

A small blood sample (30-60 ml) is taken from a vein in the person’s arm and put into a centrifuge that spins at high speed. This process separates platelets from other blood components. The concentration of platelets is then injected into the area of the person's body that needs to be treated. Because the injection contains a high concentration of platelets, which can be from 5 to 10 times more than the untreated blood, doctors theorize that the platelets will assist the healing of an injured body part. PRP has been shown in some but not all clinical studies to reduce pain from certain types of soft tissue injuries. The best evidence to date is for persons with tennis/golfers’ elbow or osteoarthritis of the knee.

How do I prepare for my appointment?

You should not have steroid injection in the same site you will have PRP within 4 weeks before and after your procedure.

You will stop all anti-inflammatory medication (including corticosteroids, Advil, Celebrex, Diclofenac, baby aspirin, others) 7 days prior to your PRP procedure. We will not resume anti-inflammatory for 4 weeks following your PRP procedure.

Within 14 days of your PRP procedure you will present to your local medical laboratory to have your blood tested for your platelet concentration. CHANGEpain will provide you with a requisition for this purpose.

Prior to your PRP procedure you will pre-book physiotherapy appointments on a weekly basis beginning 14 days after your PRP procedure and extending to 6 weeks following your PRP procedure.

What should I do if I have had a PRP injection and it has not been effective in controlling my pain?

Your PRP physician will discuss the specific circumstance with you. Clinical studies demonstrate some evidence for increasing benefit from a second PRP injection administered 6-8 weeks after the initial PRP injection. If a second PRP injection does not produce significant benefit, then a third injection would need further discussion as a small number of people need between 2 to 5 injections.

Will it hurt?

PRP procedures may cause minor discomfort during the blood drawing and PRP injection phases. This pain may be compared to the discomfort experienced while have blood taken from your arm in a laboratory setting.

After the injection, you should expect a strong inflammatory response which is painful up to 2 weeks but usually only a few days and it is helped with simple medications which your doctor will discuss with you. If you experience pain after the procedure, do not take anti-inflammatories (e.g. Advil).

Who should NOT have PRP at CHANGEpain?

• Anyone with an abnormality of platelet function or number such as but not limited to

thrombocytopenia (low platelet count)

• Anyone with low fibrinogen levels

• Anyone with acute and chronic infections or skin disease at the PRP injection site

• Anyone with chronic liver disease

• Anti-coagulation therapy (warfarin, dabigatran, heparin)

• Persons on chemotherapy or certain other immune or platelet related medications

• Persons dependant on anti-inflammatory medication, who are unable to stop it

• Persons with an artificial knee

How long does pain relief last?

Every patient’s response is different. The pain relief should be a minimum of several months, and some people experience full resolution. It is common for patients to require repeat injection 6-12 months following their PRP procedure. For some patients PRP will have little or no effect on pain levels.

Possible side effects?

As with any procedure, there are some risks and side effects. Like all invasive procedures some patients will have side effects and others won’t. Your PRP doctor will discuss these risks with you.

Mild side effects include: Local injection site pain and mild bruising

Moderate side effects include: Localized skin infection at the injection site, moderate bruising or hematoma formation

Severe risks include: Severe intra-articular infection also known a septic arthritis, severe intra-articular bleeding, contiguous structural damage such as nerve or blood vessel injury, or allergy (severe swelling, hives, low blood pressure)

What happens after the PRP?

Fourteen days after your PRP injection you will commence specific physiotherapy. You will have booked these physiotherapy appointments prior to your PRP injection. Specific physio will be conducted for a minimum of 6 weeks following your first physiotherapy consultation 14 days after your PRP injection. You should not take any anti-inflammatories for at least 4 weeks after your procedure.

How do I book a PRP injection?

Please contact the CHANGEpain reception at 604-566-9101. You will be required to pay a 50% deposit upon booking.

Cancellation and Refund Policy

We require at least 48 hours’ notice to cancel your appointment.

If you cancel more than 48 hours in advance, we will refund your deposit with a $50 deduction for the admin fee.

If you cancel within less than 48 hours the deposit is non-refundable.