Every athlete — weekend warriors and Olympians alike — has the same chance of getting injured every time they lace up. An injury can make or break your progress or even have you warming the bench for the rest of the season.
Besides avoiding them in the first place, our patient-athletes want nothing more than to bounce back from injuries as quickly as possible.
That’s where Dr. David Wu and our team at CurePain come in.
We’re proud to offer platelet-rich plasma (PRP) injections. PRP injections are just the newest fad to hit the sports medicine scene. They’re a proven, all-natural type of regenerative medicine.
In this blog, we highlight some of the key differences between PRP injections and other treatments and show you why they should be at the top of your lineup.
Your body is your greatest asset, so we know you care greatly about what goes in it. That’s why athletes love PRP — it’s derived from your own blood. PRP is minimally processed and free from additives, addictive prescriptions, and other suspicious ingredients.
Traditional approaches to injury recovery and pain management often fail and keep you sidelined for longer because they mask your symptoms rather than help your body heal.
PRP injections are different because they address your injury at the source, promote healing, and produce genuine results.
Not only do PRP injections reduce your time on the bench, but they also don’t add to your recovery with invasive procedures. All that’s involved is a blood draw and an injection. We never need to make an incision, and there’s minimal risk of side effects.
PRP injections are incredibly effective, but we know how important a fast recovery is, so we rarely recommend them as a stand-alone treatment. Instead, we include facet joint injections, epidural steroid injections, radiofrequency ablation, and spinal cord stimulation in your treatment plan.
This is possible because PRP injections are minimally invasive and all-natural, allowing you to explore virtually every treatment option available.
Every PRP injection begins with a blood sample. We don’t need much, about as much as you’d give during routine lab work.
We place your blood sample in a centrifuge, which separates platelets from the rest of your blood. Then, Dr. Wu injects the concentrated solution of platelets into the painful, swollen, stiff, and injured areas of your body.
Each injection takes only a few minutes to complete, and once you’re done, you’re free to resume your daily activities. You may notice some swelling and increased pain shortly after your injection, but this is a normal response and should subside within a day or two.
You'll notice fewer symptoms and increased mobility as your tissues rebuild over the next few weeks. To achieve the best results, you may need a series of injections.
We recommend you attend all of your follow-up appointments with us, especially as you get closer to returning to play, so we can help you make a smooth transition.
With PRP injections, no injury has to be a game-ender. To learn more about PRP injections for athletes, call our friendly staff or use our online booking tool to schedule a consultation at our Torrance, California, office today.
