PRP vs Corticosteroid Injections For Joint Pain
Tissue injury is often accompanied by some common symptoms like inflammation, redness, and pain. Oral medications like anti-inflammatory drugs and painkillers are used to relieve these symptoms. However, these medications have a generalized effect on the body because they enter into the systemic circulation, which makes them associated with many side effects compared to localized forms of treatment.
Injections are a form of localized treatment that targets damaged cells and tissue around the injured area. Injections for knee pain near LAX, for example, target only damaged cells around the knee injury, while shoulder pain injections near LAX only target damaged cells around the shoulder injury.
A chiropractor near LAX uses either PRP or corticosteroid shoulder pain injections near LAX to promote the healing of shoulder injuries. The two injections are different.
PRP Injections
Platelet-rich plasma is made from blood drawn from a patient. If you seek treatment for joint pain, your blood will be used in making PRP injections near LAX for your treatment. PRP injections have several uses, such as hair loss, osteoarthritis, acute injuries, and post-surgical repair.
Plasma has all cells important for blood clot formation and fighting off an infection. White blood cells in plasma fight off infections of the injury site, while platelets form blood clots. Blood clot formation is an important step in repairing tissues, which is why PRP injections for knee pain near LAX are increasing in popularity. Plasma is also rich in growth factors utilized for tissue regeneration.
Corticosteroid Injections
Corticosteroid injections are what most patients received before the discovery of PRP injections. The injections are given directly to the joint. They provide quick pain and inflammation relief because they contain local anesthetic and anti-inflammatory properties, respectively. They provide inflammation relief by suppressing genes that regulate the inflammation process.
PRP Injections vs Corticosteroid Injections
LAX PRP injections are more effective than corticosteroid injections. A chiropractor near LAX noticed that corticosteroid injections only mask the pain in damaged tissues or are a temporary relief; they do not promote repair. After a few weeks of treatment with corticosteroid injections, symptoms of tissue injury come back. On the other hand, PRP injections promote tissue regeneration. They promote the growth of new and healthier tissues around the injury. This is because they contain platelets and growth factors instead of just anesthetic and anti-inflammatory medicine.
Corticosteroid injections also provide quick relief of pain and inflammation. On the other hand, PRP injections have a delayed response in relieving the pain.
In a study, the benefits of PRP were observed as long as after six weeks of treatment. They also have a lower risk of side effects, unlike the use of corticosteroid injections. As such, PRP injections near LAX are preferred for treating injuries compared to corticosteroid injections. Some side effects observed with corticosteroids injections include joint deterioration, nerve damage, joint or soft tissue infection, and thinning of the skin around the injection area. The use of corticosteroid injections is limited in terms of the number of injections each patient can receive. Lastly, compared to corticosteroid injections, LAX PRP injections are costly due to the procedures involved in making the injections.
The best way to decide which type of injection is best for you is to meet with a skilled chiropractor like Advanced Spine & Sports Medicine. One of the talented doctors at our office will go over your individual needs and discuss which option they think will relieve your joint pain most effectively.