Everyone has suffered physical pain at some point in life. It is an experience that no one wants to continue or to repeat in the future. This holds true, particularly for injuries to the ankles and feet. Pain in these body parts may be due to issues with the Achilles tendon, weak ankles, sprained foot, ligament problems, strained calf or plantar fasciitis. One effective treatment for this pain, whether acute or chronic, is offered by Mill Creek Foot & Ankle Clinic. Platelet rich plasma injections in Marysville are administered in only one office appointment. Dr. Hall has helped more than 100 individuals with PRP therapy and studies are underway to test PRP for use with joint arthritis, as well.
An injury to the body invokes an immediate innate reaction called a healing cascade. This 3-stage process effectively heals damage without intervention. For the first week after the injury, the body part swells and reddens due to coagulating blood platelets for wound repair. This is the inflammatory phase. Collagen and scar tissue form for the next 2-3 months. The last phase consists of regeneration where damaged tissue is healed and scar tissue removed and can take up to 6 months for complete recovery.
Should the healing cascade be interrupted due to treatment that was not administered swiftly, the body halts the healing process, also known as the quiescent phase. Since the injury has not adequately healed, pain lingers indefinitely.
To re-initiate the healing process beginning with the inflammatory phase, platelet rich plasma is injected into the wound. The body is then capable of finishing the healing procedure to alleviate pain and discomfort.
PRP therapy begins with a blood draw. The vial of blood is placed in a centrifuge to separate the whole blood from the plasma. An anesthetic is administered to the ankle or foot and platelet rich plasma is injected into the tissue. A boot is required to immobilize the area for about 4 weeks to make certain total healing takes place.
To schedule your platelet rich plasma injections in Marysville, or for additional information, call Mill Creek Foot & Ankle Clinic at (425)482-6663.
