Tendonitis is a common overuse injury seen in many active patients that can be challenging to treat. OPTIMAL Pain & Regenerative Medicine® offers PRP injection therapy for patients in the Dallas, Arlington and Fort Worth communities who are suffering from tendonitis .

What is Tendonitis?

Tendons are tough flexible bands of fibrous tissue that connect muscles to bones. Tendons can be small, like in the hand, or large like the Achilles tendon in the heel. Tendonitis is most often due to overuse that causes the tendon to become inflamed and irritated. With tendonitis, movement can become extremely painful. Tendon problems are most common in patient’s ages 40-60 years old.

There are hundreds of tendons throughout the body, but only a handful of tendons develop tendonitis. These tendons are located in areas of the body where there is a poor blood supply. When there is a poor blood supply, the tendon has a hard time absorbing the oxygen and nutrients necessary for healing.

What is Platelet Injection for Tendonitis?

Platelet injection for tendonitis combines technology with the body’s natural abilities to heal itself. Red blood cells, white blood cells, plasma and platelets combined form blood. When activated, platelets release healing proteins called growth factors. Growth factors occur naturally and are capable of stimulating cellular growth, proliferation, healing and cellular differentiation. When these growth factors are injected into the injured tendon, they help jump-start the body’s natural healing response.

Are you suffering from tendonitis?

You may be a candidate for PRP therapy

Contact us today to learn if you are a candidate

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How Does PRP Injection Therapy Work?

The goal of PRP injection therapy is to reduce the pain and swelling of tendon injuries and promote accelerated healing to allow patients to return to a pain-free life.

To begin the treatment, approximately 30 milliliters of a patient’s blood is drawn. The blood is then spun in a machine that uses high speeds to separate the four main components of the blood. Once the components are separated, the platelet rich plasma is removed and injected into the injured tendon releasing three to five times the growth factors compared to normal human blood. These growth factors recruit and increase the proliferation of reparative cells. In some cases, an “activating agent”, may be added into the injection, such as thrombin or calcium chloride.

The entire process takes less than 15 minutes. Response to treatment will vary with each patient. Most patients will require 1-3 sets of PRP injections. Each set of treatments is spaced 4-6 weeks apart. Since PRP is obtained from the patient’s own blood, the risk of reaction is low. As with any injection, there is a small risk of injury to any structures in the area as well as a very small risk of infection.

If you are interested in platelet injection for tendonitis and live in the Dallas, Arlington or Fort Worth area, please contact OPTIMAL Pain & Regenerative Medicine®.

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