PRP (Platelet Rich Plasma) Injection Therapy Provider for Injury, Chronic Pain & Sport Injuries Near Me in Toronto and Oakville & Across Canada
Platelet Rich Plasma (PRP) is an injectable substance that is derived from the plasma and buffy coat of our blood. It contains platelets and white blood cells which are crucial for the regeneration of injured tissue. Once injected into the tissue, it sends signals to the area to begin the healing process: blood flow increases, growth factors arrive, and new cells begin to prosper.
At our downtown Toronto clinic, we treat many conditions including sciatica, elbow pain, acute partial tears of tendons and ligaments, inflammatory conditions such as tendinopathies, neuropathic pain due to ligament or tendon abnormalties, lax joints due to unstable tendons or ligaments, pain due to inflammation in joints, Pain due to osteoarthritis, especially in the knee joint and Partial muscle tears, tennis elbow, golfers elbow, frozen shoulder, rotator cuff, cervicogenic HA, arthritis to any joint in the body, patelofemoral syndrome, partial tear of ACL and sport injuries to knee and ankle.
PRP Platelet Rich Plasma Injection Therapy for Pain
PRP Platelet-Rich Plasma Injection Therapy for Knee Pain, Tendonitis and Knee Meniscus in Toronto and Ontario, Canada
The strongest evidence available for the use of PRP is for tendinopathies because of its ability to repair, strengthen and rejuvenate connective tissue. Individuals that appear with knee pain due to ligament weakness or degeneration often present with inflammatory symptoms which manifest from collagen separation, thin, frayed and fragile tendon fibrils and low vascularization (blood flow) to the area. PRP has the ability to activate the healing process of these tissues in addition to increasing blood flow to the area, treating the root cause of the problem. Overuse injuries are especially difficult to heal because of the scar tissue and other structural abnormalities that appear over time and PRP has shown to reconfigure this and restart the healing process anew.
PRP Platelet-Rich Plasma Injection Therapy for Elbow Tendon and Shoulder Pain in Toronto and Ontario, Canada
Tennis elbow (eg. Lateral epicondylosis) is one of the most common manifestations of overuse injury, especially present this technological area because of keyboard use. This tendinopathy manifests from repetitive and high-load upper extremity tasks either on athletes, while the most common form is developed from low-load repetitive tasks such as keyboarding. Left untreated, tennis elbow can become quite severe and prevent individuals from returning to work or resuming normal activities for extended periods of time. Once severe, the cost of repair may be high due to the fact that this injury could require multiple modes of intervention for long periods of time, and if left untreated, can develop into other severe conditions such as carpal tunnel. PRP is an effective method of increasing tissue and structural integrity of tennis elbow, while promoting long-term healing and neovascularization, possibly preventing further injury in the future. The number of PRP injections required to treat tennis elbow will vary upon the severity of condition, but the number of treatments ranges between 1-3.
PRP for Sports Injuries in Toronto and Ontario, Canada
As an alternative to surgery, PRP has been shown to be effective in treating many types of acute sports injuries, particularly those that involve ligaments and tendons in areas of the body that are difficult to access and have large ranges of motion. In terms of acute muscle injury, there is evidence to show that PRP injection to the muscle tissue can promote faster healing, less swelling and faster return to play time.
In athletes, injuries involving the Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL) is the most common due to its anatomical location and great force during physical activity. This injury has the potential to resist functional improvement and if not treated properly and may result in permanent disability. The loss of functionality and physical debilitation is most severe in athletes, due to the fact that their bodies’ performance is an indicator of their success. Conventional surgery has shown to be less effective in treating ACL tears due to tendon autograft deterioration, a phenomena that PRP has shown to improve. While ACL reconstruction may not repair the ligament even 12 months after surgery, PRP may help to fully restore the ligament with one treatment (and after the required time to heal). This is due to the combined actions of TGF-beta and EGF that inhibit the deterioration of the tendon-bone graft’s mechanical properties.
PRP Platelet-Rich Plasma Injection Therapy for Chronic Pain
PRP for Chronic Pain (Joints, Ligaments) in Toronto and Ontario, Canada
Platelet Rich Plasma is an excellent aid to patients who struggle with chronic pain from previous acute injury. For instance, those that retained injuries of the ligaments, tendons or muscles in young adulthood are more likely to develop chronic pain in those areas due to compensation and deformation of the injured area. PRP can help to strengthen the tissue in the area while promoting neovascularization that can lead to self-healing and recovery.
PRP has the ability to reduce pain and improve joint function by increasing the lubricating fluid in the joints. It has shown to increase hyaluronic acid, a major component of synovial fluid. It can also stimulate the repair of cartilage and/or help stop the damage of existing cartilage. It can help reduce pain due to previous ligament damage by helping to create an environment that is essential to the breakdown of scar-tissue, a vital step towards joint recovery and repair.
PRP for Chronic Back Pain in Toronto and Ontario, Canada
Platelet Rich Plasma (PRP) can be an excellent treatment for chronic back pain. Back pain may have various origins, ranging from pain due to disc herniation, muscle tear or tightness, neuropathies, and/or fascial pain. PRP can effectively treat back pain because of its ability to improve symptoms regardless of their origins. The basic mechanism of action allows for increased blood flow, leading to increased oxygenation of the tissue, which is vital to the regeneration of any tissue in the body.
Ligaments, tendons and discs may become brittle and/or dry to do depleted access to blood and thus oxygen. Over time, this can make this tissue increasingly vulnerable, increasing the chance of re-injury, formation of scar tissue and chronic pain disorders. PRP therapy can promote vascularization of the tissue, creating new routes for blood to flow into the area. It also increases cytokines, a major signalling component during the healing process. For that reason, PRP therapy has also shown to increase several types of growth factors and cause the specialization of stem cells.
Types of Injuries Platelet Rich Plasma (PRP) is Good For.
PRP for Tennis elbow
An injection of PRP has shown to be especially effective in treating lateral epicondylitis, commonly known as tennis elbow. This injury is due to overuse or chronic stress of tendons in the forearm, which causes inflammation and pain. Although common in tennis players, tennis elbow can occur in rock climbers, cooks, musicians, assembly line workers, or anyone who performs tasks that require repetitive arm movements.
The tendons in the forearms receive little blood, which means that they aren’t exposed to the same level of oxygen, nutrients and proteins required for tissue healing as other parts of the body. PRP addresses this issue by increasing blood flow to the area in addition to increasing the amount of cytokines and growth factors.
PRP For Rotator Cuff Injuries
An injury common to those performing repetitive or high stress shoulder movements, it may also be injured during falls or accidents. The rotator cuff is a system of muscles and soft tissues that control the movement of the shoulder.
Total tear of the rotator cuff requires surgery, however partial tear and inflammation in the bursa have shown to respond positively to PRP injection therapy. Rotator cuff tendinopathy or tendonitis has also shown to benefit from PRP injection therapy.
PRP for Plantar fasciitis
Tendonitis of plantar fasciitis is the most common form of heel pain or pain in the arch of the foot. It is an inflammation of the flat tissue that connects the heel to the toes, which when irritated, can become stiff, swollen and severely impair functional movement. If left untreated it can develop into bone spurs that require surgery.
PRP injection therapy can help relieve pain, decrease inflammation and start the healing process of the tissue.
PRP for Achilles tendinopathy
Chronic achilles tendinopathy is a common sports injury, however it is very difficult to treat due to the extreme restriction of blood flow and nature of the tendon’s function. PRP injection therapy has been shown to be beneficial in decreasing inflammation while increasing the structural integrity of injured tendon tissue, preventing the possibility of future injury.
PRP for Ulnar Collateral Ligament (UCL) tears
PRP therapy can be used to treat partial and complete tears of the ulnar collateral ligament. PRP is effective through its ability to aggregate growth factors which would otherwise be significantly decreased due to restricted blood flow. Return to sport has been shown to be faster for both partial and complete tears treated by PRP compared to surgical intervention. PRP therapy was shown to be more effective for proximal tears of the UCL.
PRP for Hamstring tears
Evidence shows that PRP can be effective in the treatment of acute hamstring strains or tears by reducing swelling, pain and recovery time.
Acute injuries, especially those of ligament and tendon sprains
Chronic injuries, especially those with scar tissue
Muscle tears and chronic wear from years of activity
Weak joints
Arthritis
Toronto PRP Platelet-Rich Plasma Pain and Injury Procedure & FAQ
What is PRP Injection Therapy and how long does it take?
Sometimes, the terms PRP and Prolotherapy are used online interchangeably. However, they are actually very different, but are both used to repair, promote and regenerate damaged tissue.
Prolotherapy and PRP differ in quite a few ways. The most obvious difference is in the substance injected itself– prolotherapy is a mixture of dextrose and anesthetic, while PRP are platelets derived from your own blood. Neither hurt upon injection, however prolotherapy can cause some discomfort in the area several hours after treatment due to its mechanism of action. PRP is not typically painful, but may be tender and/or cause bruising or swelling. Although the mechanism is not completely clear, prolotherapy incites an inflammatory response similar to what you would have acutely sustained when you first got the injury, except it is delivered in a controlled setting. PRP differs in that it triggers a healing response from the body by signaling the body to repair and rejuvenate the tissue through different means, although it does not feel like an acute injury.
What do I need to do for PRP Injection Pre-Injection Preparation?
There are a few things you can do to maximize the healing potential of your PRP injection therapy. These are suggested guidelines that can be followed within reason:
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Do not take anticoagulant medication 5 days before the procedure
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Do not take anti-inflammatory medication 7 days before the procedure
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Stop taking corticosteroid medications 2-3 weeks before the procedure
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Drink plenty of fluids before the procedure (2-3 litres)
The following tips are meant to maximize the number of platelets in your blood and promote the clotting process (thrombosis).
What is the PRP Injection Recovery Time & Protocol?
Good news! The recovery time for PRP is fast. Patients report that discomfort from the injection site dissipates within 1-3 days. This is likely due to the immediate onset of healing effects through the activation of local thrombosis.
It is advised to keep the area under low impact for a week following the procedure. For example, a patient coming in for a sports injury is advised to wait a week before returning to play. However, it is possible that they resume light activity within 1-3 days.
We highly recommend against taking any NSAIDs or OTC pain medication if possible for 1-3 days following your PRP injection therapy. This can possibly interrupt the healing process and slow your progress. We highly recommend getting enough sleep, staying hydrated, avoiding alcohol and eating a well-balanced diet. If you can, it is recommended to eat higher levels of the following to promote the thrombosis process:
- Vegetables: swiss chard, kale, spinach, broccoli and okra
- Blueberries and grapes
- Pine nuts and cashews
- Lentils, kidney beans, chickpeas
- Seafood
This is because they are high in vital nutrients, such as Vitamin K and Iron, that promote thrombosis.
What is the PRP Injection Aftercare?
The first 1-3 days following your PRP injection therapy are incredibly important. To achieve maximum results, it is important that you:
- Don’t take any anti-inflammatory medications. It may be sore, but it is well worth it! Taking anti-inflammatories could stunt the healing progress.
- Take a load off. Use a splint or sling to immobilize the joint, or crutches if the injection was given to your lower extremities.
- If there is discomfort, use a cold compress 10-20 minutes at a time to decrease sensations of pain or any swelling that may occur.
Is PRP Covered by OHIP? How Much Does PRP Injection Therapy for Pain and Injuries Cost?
PRP injection therapy is not covered by OHIP, however it is sometimes covered by extended health benefits. To check if you are covered, contact your insurance provider.
PRP Injection therapy costs between $950-2000 dollars per treatment. The range of the cost depends on the number of areas requiring injection. It also depends on the time your appointment will take and the amount of blood that we need to draw. If your injury is severe, requires several injection sites and a large amount of PRP, the cost will be much higher compared to a singular PRP injection.
What are the Benefits of PRP (Platelet-Rich Plasma)?
PRP therapy can be extremely beneficial for both acute and chronic injuries. It has been shown that PRP can:
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Reduce pain and inflammation
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Inhibit inflammation and slow down the process of osteoarthritis
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Slow or stop decay of cartilage and/or possibly promote new cartilage formation
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Improve joint function by increasing the amount of lubrication in the joint
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Stimulate the production of collagen and elastin
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Long-lasting results
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Low risk because products are derived from your blood
What are the Side Effects of PRP For Pain and Injuries?
PRP injection therapy uses your own bodies’ platelets, so patients rarely experience any adverse effects from the treatment. However, some patients report pain or discomfort at the injection site, along with some irritation or mild bleeding.
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Upper Room Clinic assists clients with their Platelet Rich Plasma (PRP) that live in a wide range of Toronto areas, including midtown, uptown, downtown Toronto, North York, Danforth, Leslieville, Roncesvalles, CityPlace, Liberty Village, King Street, Queen Street West, Scarborough, Markham, Etobicoke, Yorkville, Rosedale, The Annex, Forest Hill, The Beaches, The Junction, Mississauga, Brampton, and other areas of the Greater Toronto Area (GTA) such as Okaville.