Key Takeaways
- PRP therapy, short for platelet-rich plasma therapy, uses a concentrated sample of your own blood to deliver natural growth factors to a painful or injured area.
- At Dr. Redmond's practice, a small blood sample is spun in a machine for about 10 minutes, and the PRP is then injected under ultrasound guidance, all in about an hour.
- Because PRP comes from your own body, the risk of an allergic reaction or immune rejection is very low.
- PRP is not a cure and does not work for everyone, but for the right patient it may ease pain and, in some cases, delay the need for surgery.
- Dr. John Redmond is a Mayo Clinic-trained orthopedic surgeon who offers PRP injections in Jacksonville, Florida, at his Southside and Beaches offices, so request an appointment to learn if PRP therapy fits your joint pain.
What Is PRP Therapy? A Simple Definition
Your blood is mostly a liquid called plasma. It also carries red cells, white cells, and platelets. Platelets help your blood clot. They also hold proteins called growth factors, which play an important role in healing injuries.
PRP is plasma with far more platelets than normal blood. According to the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (AAOS) OrthoIguided e to platelet-rich plasma, the platelets in PRP can be 5 to 10 times more concentrated than usual.
The goal is simple. PRP places a concentrated dose of your body's own healing signals right where you need them.
How PRP Is Created From a Patient's Own Blood Sample
At Dr. Redmond's PRP practice in Jacksonville, making PRP takes just a few steps:
- A small blood sample is drawn from a vein in your arm.
- The blood goes into a centrifuge, a machine that spins very fast. It spins for about 10 minutes to separate the platelets from other blood parts.
- The platelet-rich portion is removed and prepared for injection.
Nothing from a donor is used. The treatment is made entirely from your own blood.
What Happens During a Typical PRP Appointment
Before Your Injection
Dr. Redmond starts with a review of your joint, your symptoms, and your goals. He only recommends PRP when he believes it fits your condition.
Your care team will give you instructions before your visit. The Cleveland Clinic overview of PRP injections notes that providers may ask patients to stop certain medicines first, such as blood thinners or NSAIDs (nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, like ibuprofen). Always follow the directions Dr. Redmond's team gives you.
During Your Injection
- Your blood is drawn and processed into PRP.
- The treatment area is numbed with a local anesthetic, a medicine that numbs one small area.
- Dr. Redmond injects the PRP under ultrasound guidance.
- The whole visit takes about an hour and happens in the office.
After Your Injection
- Mild soreness where you got the shot is normal and may last a few days.
- Cold compresses and over-the-counter pain relievers can help with discomfort.
- Avoid anti-inflammatory medicines for at least 48 hours, because they can interfere with how platelets work.
- Limit hard activity for the first few days.
- Most patients start to notice improvement over the next four to six weeks, though results vary from person to person.
How Ultrasound Guidance Helps Ensure Precise Delivery
Ultrasound uses sound waves to show a live picture of the tissue under your skin. Dr. Redmond uses ultrasound guidance so he can see where the needle is going and place the PRP in the targeted area.
This matters because PRP can only help if it reaches the tissue that needs it. A live image takes the guesswork out of placing the injection.
Why Using the Patient's Own Blood Lowers Certain Risks
PRP is autologous, which means it comes from your own body. That gives it some built-in safety benefits:
- Low risk of allergic reaction or rejection. Your body recognizes its own platelets.
- No donor blood concerns. Cleveland Clinic explains that using your own blood avoids the complications of using donor blood.
- Minimal overall risk. AAOS OrthoInfo reports that infection, tissue damage, and nerve injury appear to happen no more often than with cortisone injections.
PRP is not completely risk-free. Cleveland Clinic notes a remote chance of contamination if blood is not kept sterile during preparation, and the injection may be more uncomfortable than you expect.
How Does PRP Work? What the Research Says So Far
Scientists are still learning exactly how PRP works. AAOS OrthoInfo states that the exact process is not clear, but lab studies suggest the higher level of growth factors may speed up healing.
Results in people have been mixed. Cleveland Clinic explains that PRP research is still in its early stages, partly because there is no single standard way to prepare PRP.
One well-known study, the RESTORE trial, followed 288 adults with mild to moderate knee arthritis. Half received PRP and half received saline (salt water). After 12 months, knee pain improved by 2.1 points with PRP and 1.8 points with saline, a difference that was not statistically meaningful. The authors concluded that the results did not support PRP for knee osteoarthritis (OA), according to the published abstract on PubMed.
This is why an honest evaluation matters so much. PRP works well for some people and not for others.
What PRP Is (and Isn't) Designed to Accomplish
| What PRP Can Be | What PRP Is Not |
|---|---|
| A non-surgical option for certain tendon, muscle, ligament, and early-to-moderate arthritis problems | A cure for arthritis |
| A way to boost your body's own healing response | A guaranteed way to avoid surgery |
| A quick in-office treatment that takes about an hour | A replacement for a badly worn-out joint |
| An option that may delay or reduce the need for surgery in some cases | Usually covered by health insurance |
Dr. Redmond's practice describes PRP as one part of a personalized approach to joint care, not a one-size-fits-all fix.
Is PRP Therapy Covered by Insurance?
Most insurance plans see PRP as an elective procedure, so they usually do not cover it. AAOS OrthoInfo also notes that few insurance plans offer even partial payment. Dr. Redmond's office can answer cost questions at your visit.
Find Out if PRP Can Ease Your Joint Pain With Dr. Redmond in Jacksonville
PRP therapy uses your own concentrated platelets to support healing. It is a low-risk, in-office option that may help the right patients with tendon problems, soft tissue injuries, or early joint wear.
If joint pain is holding you back, the team at John Redmond MD can tell you whether PRP injections are a good fit for your condition. Request an appointment at the Southside or Beaches office, or call (904) 675-4000.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is PRP therapy used for?
At Dr. Redmond's practice, PRP is most often used for tendon injuries, early-to-moderate hip or knee osteoarthritis, muscle injuries, and partial or chronic ligament injuries.
How long does a PRP injection appointment take?
The full visit, from blood draw to injection, takes about an hour. Most patients return to their normal routine shortly after.
Does a PRP injection hurt?
The area is numbed with a local anesthetic first. Mild soreness afterward is normal and may last a few days.
How soon will I feel results from PRP therapy?
Most patients start to notice improvement over four to six weeks as the healing response builds, though results vary.
Where can I get PRP injections near me in Jacksonville, FL?
Dr. Redmond offers PRP at his Southside office on Old St. Augustine Road and his Beaches office on First Coast Technology Parkway. You can request an appointment online at any time.
