PRP Injections vs. Traditional Treatments: Which is Right for You?

Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) injections have quickly become one of the most popular therapies in pain management. But is it better to stick with the treatments you’re familiar with, or is it time to try something new?

Dr. David Wu and our team at CurePain don’t believe the choice is black and white. 

This month’s blog explores the differences between traditional treatments and PRP injections and helps you decide which is best for you. 

What are traditional treatments?

Traditional pain treatments include a wide range of therapies and approaches. Among the most common treatments for pain are pain medications, physical therapy, and corticosteroid and facet joint injections. Others turn to cognitive behavioral therapy to help manage their pain by shifting their perception of their pain and establishing coping skills. 

These are all excellent options for pain management, but they’re by no means your only path to pain relief. Many of our patients turn to PRP injections or add them to their current treatment plan to address their pain from a different angle. 

Here’s a closer look. 

What is PRP?

PRP is an advanced pain treatment derived from your own blood. That might sound unsettling, but when you consider that your blood contains some of biology’s most potent growth factors, it becomes clear why we’re tapping into it. 

The platelets and other growth factors in your blood stimulate cell growth and healing, which is great news when you’re struggling with virtually any type of pain condition or injury. 

To create PRP, we need only a blood sample. A centrifuge machine spins the sample rapidly to separate PRP from the rest of the blood (namely, the white and red blood cells). 

We inject PRP back into the damaged areas of your body, and over time, your body responds with accelerated healing and less pain.

When is PRP the best option?

PRP is almost always an option because it’s all-natural and carries very little risk, so many of our patients are candidates. We specialize in PRP injections for sports injuries, but we can also recommend it for a wide range of pain conditions, including: 

• Strains
• Sprains
• Fractures
• Tendonitis
• Sports injuries
• Arthritis pain
• Osteoporosis
• Back or neck issues
• Joint injuries
• Tendon, muscle, and ligament damage
• Wounds

Many of our PRP patients have tried traditional treatments and seen no improvement in their symptoms. 

Why choose just one method?

Perhaps the best part of PRP is that it doesn’t pigeonhole you into one treatment plan. In fact, if you’ve tried traditional treatments and been disappointed, PRP injections may finally make them effective. 

For instance, it may have been difficult to engage in physical therapy due to your pain levels. As PRP works its magic and you start feeling better, you can return to physical therapy and work on strengthening and rehabilitating your body. 

You can combine most pain management treatments with PRP injections, including other joint injections, cognitive behavioral therapy, pain medication, acupuncture, and more. 

The best way to decide which course of treatment(s) is right for you is to meet with Dr. Wu and our pain management team. We start with a consultation to understand the exact cause and severity of your pain and discuss which treatments you’ve tried in the past. 

When appropriate, we combine traditional treatments with PRP injections to create a new action plan that sets you up for a pain-free life. 

Ready to see what our pain management services can do for you? Call our friendly staff or use our online booking tool to schedule a consultation at our Torrance, California, office today.