{"id":30955,"date":"2023-08-20T14:17:32","date_gmt":"2023-08-20T19:17:32","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/wholehealthchicago.com\/blog\/?p=30955"},"modified":"2023-08-21T21:13:36","modified_gmt":"2023-08-22T02:13:36","slug":"platelet-rich-plasma-for-my-joints-my-hair-my-vagina-oh-my","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/wholehealthchicago.com\/blog\/2023\/08\/20\/platelet-rich-plasma-for-my-joints-my-hair-my-vagina-oh-my","title":{"rendered":"Platelet Rich Plasma for My Joints! My Hair! My Vagina! Oh My!"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

You may have read the phrase \u201cPlatelet Rich Plasma Injections\u201d somewhere, but it didn\u2019t stick in your brain. Understandable. A lot of stuff flies by every hour on the internet. Or a friend recommended it to you when she saw you limping around and suggested you give these a try.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Give this Health Tip a three minute read and you may be very pleased with what you learn.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

QUICK INTRODUCTION: PLATELET RICH PLASMA INJECTIONS (PRP) HAS BEEN PROVEN TO HELP WITH CHRONIC JOINT PAIN, HAIR LOSS, AND TROUBLES WITH YOUR VAGINA<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

NO KIDDING<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Platelets are one of the white cells circulating in your blood. Their day-to-day usefulness is to help your blood clot when you cut yourself. But decades ago, it was discovered that platelets also contained certain chemicals (growth factors, cytokines) that triggered healing of injured tissue like tendons, ligaments, cartilage. Injected into your scalp, they could also grow hair (really!). Into your vagina, could tighten its muscles (really!!). Using these chemicals therapeutically gave rise to the term Regenerative Medicine.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The PRP injections work best when you use your own platelets. First, our PRP Nurse Specialist, Rachael Feliz<\/a>, will draw off a tube of your blood and spin it down in a centrifuge to layer out its separate components. She will then extract the thin layer of concentrated platelets and inject these through a very tiny needle into whatever area needs work (your knee, elbow, scalp, vagina).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The first PRP joint injections began in the 1970\u2019s, a welcome addition to cortisone injections, which could provide temporary relief but never triggered actual healing. Cortisone was followed by hyaluronic acid injections (Synvisc and a dozen other brands). Both cortisone and hyaluronic acid injections provided only temporary relief, usually only a holding pattern on your way to surgery. And, of course, orthopedic surgery itself did not come with any guarantees of success.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Unlike cortisone, which reduces inflammation, or hyaluronic acid, which injects a synthetic joint padding, PRP actually triggers rebuilding within the arthritic joint (remember: \u201cregenerative medicine\u201d). Patient satisfaction statistics are excellent: According to NIH data 78% of patients undergoing PRP treatment were able to enjoy normal lives and avoid surgery<\/a> with additional injections sometimes needed at 8 month intervals.<\/p>\n\n\n

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The commonest areas of treatment are:<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n