How Does PRP Work to Heal My Shoulder Pain?
Your shoulder is an extremely complicated network of bones, ligaments, tendons, and muscles. As your body’s most flexible joint, it allows you a wide range of motion so you can get things from high shelves, reach behind you, spread your arms wide, and more.
At least that’s the case when this joint functions properly. But even a small issue in your shoulder can lead to widespread, mobility-limiting pain.
If your shoulder hurts, don’t assume it’s simply a normal part of aging. If your pain hasn’t resolved after about a week of rest, it’s time to see a medical professional so you can get some relief.
With expertise in shoulder pain, Dr. Halina Snowball can help you explore your treatment options and figure out what eases your pain. Plus, here at Integrated Pain Solutions in Stamford, Connecticut, she offers leading-edge regenerative medicine treatments like platelet-rich plasma (PRP) to help your shoulder heal.
Deciding if PRP is right for you
Platelet-rich plasma delivers healing properties directly into your shoulder. Dr. Snowball gets the PRP by taking a tiny sample of your blood and using a centrifuge to separate out the platelets. Then, she injects it into targeted locations in your shoulder.
PRP helps with soft tissue healing and inflammation. That makes it effective for shoulder pain stemming from:
- Arthritis, including osteoarthritis
- Bursitis
- Muscle sprains
- Tendonitis and other issues with the tendons in your rotator cuff
An early study also showed that PRP can help with shoulder impingement.
Talk with Dr. Snowball about your symptoms so she can determine if your specific shoulder issue would benefit from PRP therapy.
How PRP treatment works
If you’re a candidate for PRP, you can rest easy knowing that because the PRP comes from your own blood, the risk of side effects or complications is extremely low.
Once Dr. Snowball injects the platelet-rich plasma into your shoulder, it goes to work. The platelets in your blood contain growth factors, which stimulate your body’s healing processes and help them work faster. The growth factors give your body resources to create new, healthy cells.
At the same time, PRP delivers anti-inflammatory properties. That can help with inflammation-related pain like tendonitis and arthritis. In fact, a recent study found that PRP delivered both short and long-term pain relief without the use of any additional pain drugs.
If shoulder pain gets in the way of your daily activities or your quality of life, don’t hesitate to talk to Dr. Snowball. In addition to PRP, she can help you explore other treatment options that might address your specific shoulder issues.
To get started on the path to a more comfortable shoulder, call our office at 203-293-0549 or request an appointment online today.