Like stem cell therapy, platelet-rich plasma (PRP) is still not commonly discussed by the general population. However, PRP therapy has shown efficacy in the symptom management of several maladies in addition to or in place of conventional medical therapy.
Both PRP and stem cell therapy carry enormous potential, as scientists believe there is a lot to unveil about these cutting-edge techniques. In this article, we will cover how PRP can help patients who are dealing with chronic conditions, such as pain, sexual performance issues, and age-related deterioration.
PRP as a treatment
Platelets are part of the hematopoietic system that intervene when the body’s mechanical defenses get breached. For instance, if you step on a sharp object and your foot starts bleeding, the body recruits platelets to perform primary hemostasis and stop the blood flow.
Additionally, platelets will induce the production of hormones and growth factors that will drive the physiological repairing of damaged tissues. Unfortunately, when this process occurs naturally, it is quite slow an ineffective, with negligible tissue repair. For this reason, PRP therapy was discovered to help boost physiological healing processes.
When you are qualified to receive this therapy, the physician will take a blood sample and expose it to a process known as a centrifuge, which enables the isolation of platelets and other progenitor cells of the blood. After, the isolated platelets will be re-administered into a targeted area of your body, depending on the initial chief complaint. This procedure usually takes around 30-60 minutes, and multiple therapy sessions can be scheduled.
There are many potential benefits that PRP treatments can bring and some are discussed below.
Relieves pain
Chronic pain is a serious condition that millions of people suffer from around the world for various reasons. The most predilected body parts to chronic pain are the joints due to the complexity of their anatomical composition (e.g., bone, cartilage, ligaments, tendons, synovial fluid).
Fortunately, PRP therapy has proven its effectiveness in treating chronic pain, especially for patients who reported no symptom improvement after conventional pharmacological therapy or those at risk of becoming addicted. The good news is that this treatment option uses your own tissue, hence the absence of any serious side effects.
Enhances sexual performance
Unlike erectile dysfunction, female sexual dysfunction is seldom discussed. Fortunately, PRP has shown to be effective in the treatment of dyspareunia (pain during sexual intercourse), vaginal dryness, anorgasmia (difficulty to orgasm), and certain types of bladder incontinence.
As explained earlier, the mechanism of action that leads to these results involves the regeneration of damaged tissue, induction of cellular differentiation and proliferation, and the improvement of neuronal signaling.
Exerts anti-aging effects
Age-related deterioration can disrupt the livelihood of patients, with some individuals experiencing psychological distress induced by the drastic changes in their physical and mental performance.
Perhaps the most apparent modifications are seen on the skin (e.g., wrinkles, laugh lines), where the physiology can be explained by decreased protein production. PRP injections can serve as an artificial booster of your skin’s regenerative properties to produce collagen, elastin, and other crucial proteins of the extracellular matrix. This natural treatment be advantageous compared to other techniques that may use harmful chemicals.
PRP treatments are a fantastic option for a subset of patients. These methods allow individuals who suffer from serious medical conditions to find relief from their day to day symptoms and potentially stimulate cell growth and cell repair.
This post was written by Becky Palmer, a medical professional at Stemedix Inc. At Stemedix we provide access to Regenerative Medicine. Regenerative medicine has the natural potential to help improve symptoms sometimes lost from the progression of many conditions. Click here to learn more.
