Are you experiencing joint pain from trauma or overuse?

This may be age-related arthritis in the knees, or something more acute like a labral tear. When a joint is injured, the ligaments and tendons can be stretched out, torn, or fragmented which causes joints to become hyper mobile. This allows misalignment of the bones in the joint, which causes pain, muscle spasms and contributes to arthritis.

How can PRP help?

Our bodies are naturally equipped with healing mechanisms that respond to injuries – we most often see this related to swelling, pain and redness. These processes are the way your body tries to stimulate healing. Platelet Rich Plasma (PRP) injections are carefully placed in areas of injury and the surrounding structures (tendons, ligaments, cartilage, etc.) and that same inflammatory response helps to repair ligament and joint issues. Because of this targeted inflammation, anti-inflammatory drugs such as aspirin or ibuprofen can “turn off” the healing mechanism and should be avoided.

Your blood is rich with platelets, growth factors, and other healing cells. The key is to isolate these elements of the blood. The process begins with drawing your blood, and then using state-of-the-art equipment, the healing elements of your blood are isolated. The separation of activated platelets, growth factors, and healing cells are what we call PRP. This solution is injected back into the areas of injury or breakdown. Dr. Hopp often uses ultrasound guidance to make sure the injections are targeted to the areas that need it most, ultimately improving the outcome of the procedure!

The solution does not contain any steroids like cortisone which can slow down or stop the healing process. This treatment is generally well tolerated, without any major difficulties. PRP procedures are outpatient, and patients are able to return home the same day. You can expect to spend approximately 2 hours in our office. If you have a fear of needles or experience generalized anxiety related to procedures, please contact our office.

Don’t take our word for it. Hear what an Olympian has to say:

Hey guys,

Just wanted to let you guys know that my back has been feeling awesome! I’m not 100% perfect, but I can do so many things now that I never could before! I can do some form of exercise every day and am no longer a slave to treatment and rehab. I still need it here and there… I see a chiro, PT, or OT once/week but it’s mostly maintenance for nagging injuries instead of managing back pain daily/weekly.

Originally, I had hoped to get to a normal, pain free body within 6 months of retiring for skating. I’m not 100% there… my body still struggles to recover from new movements/intensities, but the fact that I can do new movements/activities with only mild tightness or pain is such an improvement!

Getting PRP was absolutely the turning point for me! I remember how miserable I was when I visited in February when I was having to foam roll and do Pilates once or more per day just to keep the pain manageable. I can’t believe I was scared to get PRP when the other option was to live with that kind of routine and still be in pain! How was that even an option?!?

Anyway, I’m wanted to let you know that I’m so grateful to call you my friends and for the difference you’ve made in curing my back pain.

Thank you!

Katherine Adamek, OLY
2xOlympic Medalist

For more information on Platelet Rich Plasma Injections and to see if you are a candidate follow the link below or give TLC The Littleton Clinic a call at 720.351.2411.

https://thelittletonclinic.com/platelet-rich-plasma/