Overview

Tennis, golf, running, pickleball and other sports can lead to tendon and joint injuries that linger for months. Platelet-rich plasma, or PRP, is an injection made from your own blood. For some active adults whose pain has not improved enough with rest, physical therapy and other conservative care, PRP may be an option to consider. Research is still growing and results vary from person to person.

Dr. Dharam Mann personally performs PRP injections at GSMC and has performed about 8,000 PRP procedures. Care is available at our offices in Toms River and Manahawkin.

Injuries PRP may be used for

• Tennis elbow and golfer's elbow (tendon pain on the outside or inside of the elbow)
• Rotator cuff tendinopathy (irritated or worn shoulder tendons)
• Knee pain, such as patellar tendon pain and some cases of knee osteoarthritis
• Plantar fasciitis (heel and arch pain)
• Achilles tendon pain

Not every injury is a good fit. A full tear, a fracture or an unstable joint usually needs a different plan.

What PRP is

PRP is made from a small sample of your own blood. The blood is spun in a machine called a centrifuge, which separates out a layer with a high number of platelets. Platelets contain growth factors that play a role in the body's normal healing process. That platelet-rich layer is then injected into the injured area, often with ultrasound guidance.

PRP is not FDA-approved to treat any specific condition. The devices used to prepare it are FDA-cleared.

What to expect

1. Evaluation: Dr. Mann reviews your injury, exam and any imaging, and discusses whether PRP or another option fits your goals.
2. Before: you may be asked to stop anti-inflammatory medicines (such as ibuprofen or naproxen) for a period before and after the injection. Ask before stopping any prescribed medicine.
3. Blood draw: a small amount of blood is drawn from your arm, much like a routine blood test.
4. Processing: the blood is spun for several minutes to concentrate the platelets.
5. Injection: the skin is cleaned and numbed, and the PRP is injected into the injured tendon or joint, often with ultrasound guidance. You go home the same day.

Recovery

• Soreness at the injection site for a few days is common.
• Use ice and acetaminophen if your physician approves, and avoid anti-inflammatory medicines for the period you are told.
• Most people return to light daily activity within a day or two. Return to training and sport is usually gradual, often with physical therapy.
• Any benefit, if it happens, usually builds over several weeks. Some people notice little or no change.

Who may be a good fit

May be a good fit: active adults with tendon or joint pain that has lasted for weeks to months and has not improved enough with rest, activity changes, bracing or physical therapy.

May not be a good fit: people with an active infection, certain blood disorders, some cancers, or a recent steroid injection in the same area. Dr. Mann will review your health history with you.

Insurance and cost

PRP is often not covered by insurance and is usually self-pay. Our team can check your benefits and explain the cost before you decide, so there are no surprises.

Frequently asked questions

Related pages

• PRP therapy
• PRP for knee osteoarthritis
• PRP for shoulder pain
• PRP injections in Toms River