What Is Platelet-Rich Plasma (PRP)?

Platelet-Rich Plasma (PRP) is a regenerative treatment created from your own blood. A small sample of blood is drawn and processed in a centrifuge to concentrate platelets, the cells responsible for clotting and healing.

Platelets contain powerful biological signaling molecules called growth factors. These growth factors help regulate tissue repair, reduce inflammation, and stimulate the body’s natural healing processes.

Instead of masking pain like a steroid injection, PRP aims to support the body’s own repair response in injured or degenerative tissue.

Because PRP is derived from your own blood, it is autologous, meaning it comes from you, which significantly lowers the risk of allergic reaction.

How Does PRP Work?

When tissue is injured, whether it’s cartilage, tendon, ligament, or disc, the body initiates a healing response. In chronic conditions, that response may be incomplete or stalled.

PRP works by delivering a concentrated dose of platelets directly to the injured area. These platelets release growth factors such as:

• Platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF)

• Transforming growth factor beta (TGF-β)

• Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF)

• Epidermal growth factor (EGF)

These signaling proteins help:

• Reduce inflammatory signaling

• Stimulate collagen production

• Improve tissue remodeling

• Enhance blood flow in appropriate tissues

• Support cellular repair

PRP does not “regrow” an entirely new joint or disc. Rather, it optimizes the biological environment to encourage improved function and pain reduction.

PRP in the Spine

PRP for Facet Joint Pain

Facet joints are small stabilizing joints in the back of the spine. Degeneration or inflammation of these joints can cause chronic neck or low back pain.

PRP may be injected into:

• Cervical facet joints

• Lumbar facet joints

In selected patients, PRP may offer longer-term relief by addressing inflammation at the joint level rather than temporarily numbing it.

This may be considered in patients who:

• Have confirmed facet-mediated pain

• Have had temporary benefit from diagnostic injections

• Prefer a regenerative option rather than repeated steroid exposure

Intradiscal PRP (Disc Injections)

Degenerative disc disease can cause chronic axial spine pain. In carefully selected patients, PRP may be injected into the intervertebral disc under imaging guidance.

The goal is to:

• Reduce inflammatory mediators within the disc

• Support disc cellular health

• Improve pain related to discogenic inflammation

Not every patient with disc degeneration is a candidate. Careful imaging review and clinical evaluation are critical.

PRP in Joints

PRP is commonly used in large and small joints, including:

• Knee osteoarthritis

• Hip osteoarthritis

• Shoulder conditions

• Elbow tendinopathy (e.g., tennis elbow)

• Ankle instability

• Mild to moderate cartilage degeneration

PRP may help:

• Reduce joint inflammation

• Improve pain and stiffness

• Delay progression in certain degenerative conditions

• Improve functional capacity

It is often considered in patients who want to avoid or delay surgery, or who prefer to minimize repeated corticosteroid injections.

What Happens During the Procedure?

1. A small blood sample is drawn from your arm.

2. The sample is placed in a centrifuge to isolate and concentrate platelets.

3. The targeted area is cleaned and numbed.

4. Using ultrasound or fluoroscopic guidance, PRP is precisely injected into the affected joint, tendon, facet, or disc.

The procedure is outpatient and typically completed within an hour.

Does It Hurt?

You may experience temporary discomfort at the injection site. Because PRP stimulates a healing response, it is common to feel:

• Soreness

• Increased inflammation for several days

• Temporary stiffness

This inflammatory response is part of the intended biological effect.

When Will I Feel Improvement?

PRP is not an immediate numbing injection.

Typical timeline:

• First few days: soreness or mild flare

• 2–6 weeks: gradual improvement begins

• 6–12 weeks: continued healing response

Some patients benefit from a single injection; others may require a series depending on the condition.

Benefits of PRP

• Uses your body’s own biology

• Minimally invasive

• No synthetic medication

• May reduce reliance on steroids

• Can support tissue repair rather than simply masking pain

• Useful in joint, tendon, ligament, and select spinal conditions

Risks and Considerations

PRP is generally safe, but potential risks include:

• Temporary increased pain

• Infection (rare)

• Bleeding

• No improvement

Because PRP uses your own blood, allergic reactions are extremely rare.

Insurance coverage varies. Many PRP treatments are considered elective or investigational depending on the indication.

Who Is a Good Candidate?

PRP may be appropriate for patients who:

• Have mild to moderate degenerative joint disease

• Have chronic tendon or ligament injury

• Have confirmed facet-mediated spine pain

• Have discogenic pain without severe instability

• Prefer a biologic approach to pain management

A detailed evaluation is necessary to determine candidacy.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is PRP the same as stem cell therapy?
No. PRP uses platelets and growth factors from your own blood. It does not contain embryonic stem cells.

Is PRP FDA approved?
PRP preparation devices are FDA cleared. The use of PRP for various orthopedic and spine conditions is considered off-label but widely practiced.

Will this regrow cartilage?
PRP may support cartilage health and reduce inflammation, but it does not completely regenerate advanced arthritis.

Reference

American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (AAOS). “Platelet-Rich Plasma (PRP).” Available at: https://orthoinfo.aaos.org