Over time our joints gradually wear down. Cartilage is the substance that stops bones rubbing against each other in joints and it acts as a shock absorber. Over time cartilage gradually becomes thinner and the bones get close together. Eventually this becomes a condition known as Osteoarthritis which is due to wear and tear. Excessive wear and tear is seen in athletes or sports people as well as those who have had busy active jobs. Currently there is no way to reverse this process and many people go on to have surgery such as joint replacements later in life. A few years ago Doctors started using PRP (Platelet Rich Plasma) either alone or mixed with a joint lubricant made of Hylaluronic Acid and injected this back in to aching joints.
The results have been exciting and today it is a treatment that is becoming more popular for joint pains. Our Doctors have had years of experience injecting painful joints with steroid medications that settle inflammation. With the advent of PRP we now have a treatment to offer that contains none of the side effects of steroids. PRP uses your own growth factors that help repair damage and these are extracted from your own blood sample. We commonly treat shoulders and knees with PRP, and our patients have had great pain relief with our treatments.