Platelet Rich Plasma/Bone Marrow Aspirate Concentrate
Boost Health and Alleviate Pain
Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) and bone marrow aspirate concentrate (BMAC) therapies help you heal faster, using your body’s own blood or stem cells to encourage faster healing of muscles, joints, tendons and ligaments. PRP and BMAC can be used to treat a wide variety of conditions, including arthritis, bulging or herniated discs, sciatica, injuries and sprains.
During platelet-rich plasma therapy, blood is drawn and sent to a laboratory. The lab separates the platelets from the blood and then uses centrifugation to increase the platelet concentration. The high concentration of platelets is then mixed back into the blood, which is injected back into the body.
Your blood contains several important components, including red blood cells, white blood cells and platelets. Platelets contain growth factor proteins that play a critical role in the healing process and help blood clot. By increasing the number of platelets, the body is essentially given more healing resources and can recover faster.
Bone marrow aspirate concentrate therapy is a newer procedure that uses a similar process, concentrating stem cells obtained from the bone marrow. During the BMAC procedure, bone marrow is extracted using a needle and then sent to a laboratory for processing. The lab will spin the marrow in a centrifuge, producing a liquid that is rich in stem cells. Next, these stem cells are injected into the body at the surgery site or site of pain to promote rapid healing.
Pre-Op & Aftercare
What to expect before, during and after Platelet-Rich Plasma/Bone Marrow Aspirate Concentrate
Platelet-rich plasma therapy and bone marrow aspirate concentrate therapy are both outpatient procedures that take less than 10 minutes to perform.
PRP is a simple procedure in which blood is drawn, processed and then injected back into your body. In preparation, you may be instructed by your specialist at Kayal Pain & Spine Center to stop taking specific medications, including NSAIDs and arthritis medications, but preparation is otherwise minimal. Aftercare is also simple. Most patients experience very little discomfort or side effects.
Bone marrow aspiration therapy is a minimally invasive surgical procedure with marrow typically retrieved from the pelvis, hip or breastbone. The healing process usually takes a week. Your specialist at Kayal Pain & Spine Center can prescribe medication to ease any pain. You can maintain most of your regular activities in the days following your procedure.
Benefits
Faster healing is the primary benefit of platelet-rich plasma therapy and bone marrow aspirate concentration therapy, boosting your body’s ability to recover faster and eliminate any associated pain as soon as possible. Platelet-rich plasma therapy is sometimes used by athletes who rely on healthy bodies to perform their jobs.
If you are experiencing chronic pain or have a certain medical condition, you also may find relief with these therapies, as your body is given the extra edge required to keep symptoms at bay.
Many of the benefits of bone marrow aspiration are still being studied in clinical trials, but the therapy has been proven to alleviate pain, reduce swelling and accelerate healing of bone grafts and cartilage. As studies continue, bone marrow aspiration concentration may eventually replace platelet-rich plasma therapy.