Any kind of pain is detrimental to overall health. This is even more true when it is experienced in the feet and ankles, as we use them to move us from place to place all day. Causes for this discomfort are varied and include weak ankles, a strained calf muscle, ligament problems, sprained foot, plantar fasciitis (heel pain) or Achilles tendon damage. Whether your condition is chronic or acute, Mill Creek Foot & Ankle Clinic has an innovative solution in the form of PRP or platelet rich plasma injections in Snohomish that can be reached in only a single office visit. More than 100 of Dr. Hall’s patients have benefited from PRP therapy and he is currently researching the use of PRP for joint arthritis.
When the body is injured in some way, core systems take over and commence a healing cascade course in 3 critical periods. During the first week post-injury, the wound becomes red and swollen due to the coagulating of blood platelets to begin tissue repair. The reparative phase of healing lasts 8-12 weeks, during which scar tissue and collagen form. The last 6 months of the healing cascade are known as the regeneration phase. Damaged tissues are regenerated and scar tissue broken down.
If the healing cascade is interrupted by treatment that was not given quickly enough, the body stops trying to heal it. This is called the quiescent phase. Lingering pain is the unfortunate result.
Injecting platelet rich plasma directly into the wound stimulates the healing cascade to begin again with the inflammatory phase. The body can they complete the entire healing process to alleviate pain.
The PRP process is clear-cut and simple. A vial of blood is drawn and spun in a centrifuge. This machine separates whole blood from the platelet rich plasma. An anesthetic is applied to the injured ankle or foot and the PRP inserted precisely into the damaged tissue. Immobilization in a boot for 1 month is required to ensure appropriate healing.
Schedule your platelet rich plasma injections in Snohomish by phoning Mill Creek Foot & Ankle Clinic at (425)482-6663.
