How Your Own Blood Plasma and Platelets Can Alleviate Your Pain

You’ve probably marveled at your body’s healing capability. A giant scrape on your knee becomes a barely noticeable scar over the years. A sprained ankle that couldn’t bear any weight a week okay feels fine now. A headache vanishes after a good night’s sleep. Clearly, your body knows what it’s doing when it comes to healing your aches and pains. 

In some cases, though, it might need a little help. Fortunately, that doesn’t mean you have to turn to outside sources. With platelet-rich plasma (PRP) derived from your own blood, Dr. Jonathan D. Carlson can treat a wide variety of injuries and painful conditions. Here at Hawai’i Pain and Spine on the Windward side of Oʻahu in Kailua, he can use your blood’s plasma for sports injuries, degenerative conditions, and other problems. 

Why we use plasma and platelets

Multiple components make up your blood. The liquid portion of your blood is called plasma. Plasma helps to circulate your blood and maintain blood pressure in your veins and arteries. It carries the types of cells in your blood, called red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets.

When you get hurt, your body directs platelets to the injury site. Platelets make it possible for your blood to clot, a potentially life-saving measure. At the same time, they call in growth factors, which are essentially resources your body uses to support tissue regeneration. 

While your body sends platelets to injury sites, sometimes that isn’t enough. Injuries might persist or a degenerative condition like osteoarthritis might continually cause pain there. Fortunately, Dr. Carlson has a way to re-trigger your body’s natural healing processes through supplying the area with an influx of plasma and platelets. 

Putting PRP to work for you

If Dr. Carlson recommends PRP to alleviate your pain, the process starts with him taking a small sample of your blood. Using a centrifuge, he can separate the plasma from the solid components in the blood sample, including the platelets. This derives the platelet-rich plasma, so named because the resulting plasma is mixed with a high concentration of platelets, which contain growth factors.

By injecting this PRP into targeted locations where you experience pain, Dr. Carlson supplies your body with two things. First, the PRP signals to your body that it’s time to do healing work in the area. Secondly, it delivers resources that can support new cell growth in the area. As a result, the PRP Dr. Carlson made from your own blood can help to alleviate pain and support regeneration. 

If you think PRP might be right for you, ask Dr. Carlson if it could be effective for your specific condition or injury. To get started, call our office to schedule your appointment today.