PRP Doctor for Shoulder Pain in Potomac, MD

Myths About PRP Treatment for Shoulder Pain

If you have injured your shoulder and are looking for alternative treatments to invasive options, a PRP doctor for shoulder pain in Potomac, MD, may be ideal. PRP, or Platelet Rich Plasma, has been around since the 1970s. Only in the last decade or so has it become one of the go-to choices for doctors and patients. 

As a doctor for shoulder pain might explain to you; the treatment has been credited for its ability to treat a broad range of musculoskeletal conditions. These include but are not limited to joint pain, muscle injuries, connective tissue injuries, and more. Platelet-rich plasma is also being widely used in hair and beauty clinics for purposes such as hair loss restoration and skin rejuvenation. 

Consider these common myths if you’re unfamiliar with PRP treatment or have been misinformed about its expansive potential. 

Myth 1: Platelet Rich Plasma Is an Invasive, or Long, Procedure

Fact: PRP is Non-Invasive and Takes About One Hour

When you choose a PRP doctor, you can feel peace of mind knowing the treatment is relatively easy. It will involve drawing your own blood (usually from the arm) and placing it into a centrifuge where it will be spun, and plasma separated. The plasma is placed into a syringe and injected into the shoulder. All of this is done in about one hour’s time. 

Myth 2: PRP Hurts

Fact: There is Little to No Pain

When it comes to shoulder pain, PRP treatment is perhaps one of the least painful procedures. While there are needles involved, these are micro-thin. In general, patients feel slight discomfort during the blood withdrawal and PRP injection.

Myth 3: PRP is Dangerous

Fact: PRP is Considered Safe

PRP for shoulder pain, and other treatments, is considered to be very safe and effective. Because your own blood is used, there is little risk of experiencing a reaction, side effect, or other complication. Your body will also not reject the platelets because they are your own. In a small number of cases, infection has developed at the site of infection. Typically, this is treated with antibiotics. In an even smaller group of patients, their bodies rejected the PRP. The reason for this is not yet understood. 

Myth 4: It Takes Months to Feel Any Result

Fact: An Improvement is Often Noticed Right Away

Many patients will notice some degree of improvement after their first PRP treatment. Your PRP doctor will talk with you about the number of treatments needed. This may vary from one to eight or more. Platelet-rich plasma treatment is quickly becoming one of the preferred treatment methods for shoulder pain and other musculoskeletal issues. If you are interested in knowing more, please call the Pain Arthritis Relief Center. 

PRP Injection for Shoulder Pain Do’s and Don’ts

Do Learn About the Risks of the Procedure Beforehand

Fortunately, when you receive an injection of platelet-rich plasma at Pain & Arthritis Relief Center from a PRP doctor shoulder pain in Potomac, MD, the risks associated with the procedure are relatively low. There is virtually no risk of an allergic reaction because you are injected with your own cells. Major side effects are rare. Nevertheless, there may be risks associated with the initial blood draw, which you can manage by eating something beforehand and making sure you are hydrated. There is also a small risk of infection, bleeding, and damage to nerves or tissues.

A PRP doctor shoulder pain in Potomac, MD, can inform you of the risks and give you specific instructions to avoid them. 

Don’t Drink Alcohol Following the Injection

Alcohol consumption can negatively affect healing after a PRP injection in several ways. It can affect the number of stem cells as well as the way they function. It can also affect the way that platelets respond to enzymes and proteins. By consuming alcohol, you can decrease the effectiveness of the injection. Therefore, you should avoid it completely until your PRP doctor shoulder pain in Potomac, MD, at Pain & Arthritis Relief Center informs you that it is safe to resume. 

Do Rest Following PRP Injection

If the injection is successful, you should eventually be able to return to the exercise and work activities that you performed prior to your injury. However, do not try to return to your previous activities too quickly. The platelets need time to release the necessary growth factors, and they have to set in place for at least seven days in order to accomplish this. Vigorous exercise or activity could compromise your long-term outcome by displacing the PRP from the point of injection. Rest your shoulder for a week and then follow the instructions you are given to resume activity safely. 

Don’t Ice the Area

PRP injections produce an inflammatory response. This is normal and expected as part of the healing process, but it can be uncomfortable. Ask your doctor about ways to manage the discomfort without icing the area of the injection. Healing requires good blood flow to the affected area, but ice reduces the blood flow by causing the blood vessels to constrict. Interrupting the expected inflammatory process could also negatively affect the outcome, potentially prolonging the healing process or arresting it completely. 

Six Questions To Ask Your Doctor About PRP

When it comes to shoulder pain, you have a variety of treatment options. You may be considering platelet-rich plasma (PRP) to reduce or eliminate your pain. Here are six questions to ask your doctor about having a PRP treatment.

How Much Experience Do You Have in Treating Musculoskeletal Issues?

Musculoskeletal injuries are best treated by doctors who have been trained in orthopedics, physiatry, chiropractic or sports medicine. You’ll want to ask your doctor what their training consisted of and how much experience they have treating conditions like yours. 

How Much Experience Do You Have With PRP?

PRP is a treatment doctors are learning more about every day. It’s good to know that your PRP doctor for shoulder pain in Potomac, MD, at the Pain & Arthritis Relief Center uses PRP regularly and keeps up with the field of regenerative medicine. Medical schools may not be teaching PRP yet, so it’s important that your doctor goes to regenerative medicine conferences and reads journal articles about it.

What Are Your Clinical Results?

Medical practices don’t always track their clinical results. But since consensus on best practices for PRP doesn’t exist, your doctor may keep track of their patients’ results and should be willing to share that information with you.

Will You Combine PRP Therapy With Any Other Form of Therapy?

PRP works very well as a stand-alone treatment. However, your PRP doctor for shoulder pain in Potomac, MD, may prescribe other treatments to supplement it. Physical therapy is commonly advised. Surgery may be necessary.

What Kind of PRP Will You Use? 

There are many different ways to perform PRP. From drawing your blood, to running it through the centrifuge, to injecting it into the injured area, doctors use disparate methods. For example, the platelets can be anywhere from two to 15 times more concentrated than normal. The efficacy of treatment often depends on the concentration of the platelets. 

Your PRP doctor for shoulder pain in Potomac, MD, at the Pain & Arthritis Relief Center may or may not choose to use white blood cells with your plasma. White blood cells can help reduce infection and provoke nearby cells into creating healing proteins. However, they can also lead to a delayed healing response. It’s a balancing act.

Have You Ever Had a Complication?

PRP is a very safe procedure. However, even the most benign of medical treatments can carry risks. Some of the risks associated with PRP include pain, infection, swelling, tissue injury, allergic reaction and failure to alleviate your symptoms. Many PRP doctors have never had a significant complication.

FAQ: Answering Your Questions About PRP Treatments

When experiencing pain, it can feel as though there is no possible solution, but know that our PRP doctor can help. Those coming to the Pain & Arthritis Relief Center are looking for help- and we want you to know that there may be many ways to treat what ails you. One possible solution offered at our practice is Platelet Rich Therapy (PRP), a treatment that aims to use the bodies’ own properties to reduce pain and assist with healing. For those unfamiliar with PRP, it’s common to have questions, and having a basic understanding of the process and how best to prepare can offer both peaces of mind and confidence in the treatments to follow.  

What is PRP?

Platelet Rich Therapy (PRP) takes a concentration of the body’s platelets to heal musculoskeletal issues. This occurs by taking plasma from the body and putting it through a centrifuge. The centrifuge separates the fluid or blood that has been extracted, which develops a concentration of plasma. Once the plasma is collected, it is then strategically injected into the affected area of the body. Administration of these injections is done with precision, often using ultrasound for placement. 

What conditions does PRP often treat?

PRP therapy treats a variety of conditions throughout the musculoskeletal system, including:

  • Joint Issues with:
    • Shoulders
    • Elbows
    • Knees 
  • Osteoarthritis
  • Chronic Pain
  • Sprains
  • Torn Ligaments
  • Hair Loss
  • Back Pain
  • Tendonitis
  • Lower Back Pain
  • +More

What are the benefits of PRP?

Seeking a PRP doctor for shoulder pain provides several benefits that those seeking treatment may have access to, including the opportunity to experience natural healing safely and effectively. Results often administer relief with little downtime, allowing patients to return to regular activity with little recovery time. 

How long after my PRP treatment will I notice the results?

For those considering treatment, results will be the top priority. Patients may experience relief immediately; however, know that it may take a few weeks before you truly experience results. At times, recovery may require more than one treatment. 

How many PRP treatments are needed?

The number of treatments will significantly depend upon the reason you are seeking PRP. It may take 2-3 treatments in most cases, but it’s best to defer to our professionals for a more specified treatment plan. 

How long after treatment can I resume regular activity?

While you may experience relief reasonably soon after treatment, you must take it easy. Know that you will be able to move around some after treatment. Still, you should slowly return to your regular physical activity, and your doctor may recommend follow-up appointments and physical therapy after PRP treatment. It’s best to defer to your doctor before fully returning to normal. 

7 Shoulder Conditions That PRP Conditions Might Treat

If you have shoulder pain that has not resolved with either surgical or nonsurgical treatment, platelet-rich plasma therapy may help promote healing and resolve symptoms. A MD PRP doctor for shoulder pain in Potomac at Pain Arthritis Relief Center takes a small sample of blood and puts it in a centrifuge. The different blood components separate. The plasma, which is the liquid part, becomes concentrated with platelets. In addition to being necessary for clotting, platelets produce proteins that facilitate healing by encouraging cell growth. There are several conditions of the shoulder that PRP injections may be effective at treating.

1. Bursitis

A bursa is a fluid-filled sac that occurs in a joint to help facilitate movement by reducing friction produced by the bones rubbing together. If there is too much friction, the bursa can become inflamed. An injection by a PRP doctor may help to ease the pain from the bursa.

2. Impingement Syndrome

The acromion is bony prominence at the end of the shoulder blade. It lies right above the top of the humerus, which is the upper arm bone. The gap between the two is the subacromial space, within which are soft tissue structures including the bursa and the coracoacromial ligament. The soft tissues sometimes become pinched between the two bones, causing inflammation and pain. Bursitis can be a component of impingement syndrome but is not required for it.

3. Rotator Cuff Tears

The rotator cuff is a group of four muscles that surround the shoulder joint and allow it to move in almost any direction. The tendons connecting the muscles of the rotator cuff to the bone can sometimes tear. This can occur due to acute trauma or chronic wear. Either way, a PRP doctor may be able to promote healing with an injection.

4. Shoulder Tendonitis

Sometimes the tendons of the rotator cuff do not tear but simply become inflamed due to overuse. The pain that results is called tendonitis. Tendons are difficult to heal under any circumstances, but PRP injections may help to accelerate healing.

5. Myofascial Pain

Myofascial pain occurs at certain points in the muscle called trigger points. Pain can originate from the area of your upper back, shoulder blade, or neck and radiate outward from there.

6. Arthritis

Arthritis is inflammation of the joints. The most common type is osteoarthritis and occurs because of degeneration of the cartilage between your bones, allowing them to rub up against each other, causing pain and stiffness. When a PRP doctor gives you an injection for arthritis, it can help to slow the progression of the disease as well as help ease pain.

7. Augmentation for Surgical Rotator Cuff Repair

Rotator cuff tears sometimes require surgery to repair. A repaired tendon is vulnerable to re-tearing, but giving PRP injections during the surgical procedure may help to decrease the risk. See a PRP doctor at Pain Arthritis Relief Center for answers to any questions you may have about the treatment.

Signs Your Shoulder Needs Attention

If you are dealing with shoulder pain either due to a recent injury accident or an unknown cause, it’s a good idea to consult with a chiropractor for an examination and diagnosis. When it comes to treating shoulder pain, you won’t want to delay, as that could lead to further problems. If our body is in pain, it’s because something isn’t right, and it needs to be addressed. If you have the following symptoms, reach out to us at Pain & Arthritis Relief Center today:

  • You are unable to carry objects
  • The shoulder pain lasts more than a few days
  • The shoulder pain is recurring
  • You have restricted range of motion when using arm/shoulder
  • You have shoulder pain when trying to sleep or rest
  • You cannot fully raise your arm above your head

The symptoms listed above could point to an undiagnosed condition that must be treated promptly with the chiropractic approach. Dealing with chronic shoulder pain doesn’t have to control your life. If the pain flares up on a regular basis, you should see that your shoulder gets the medical attention it needs. 

Chiropractors are uniquely attuned to the musculoskeletal system and how it works, so they can assess what could be going on with your shoulder and create a comprehensive care plan. Common causes of shoulder pain may stem from: 

  • Arthritis
  • Ligament injury
  • Shoulder instability
  • Shoulder dislocation
  • Neck or back pain
  • Frozen shoulder
  • Calcific tendinitis
  • Labral tear
  • Rotator cuff tendinitis
  • Rotator cuff injury
  • And more+

Pain of the shoulder is a common complaint from patients seeking chiropractic treatment. Many adults will experience some degree of neck, back, shoulder, or other joint pain in his or her lifetime. The shoulder is a complex joint that has many moving parts, where something can go wrong within the network of tendons, muscles, bones, and nerves. Most of us imagine shoulders to be sturdy joints, but in actuality, it is one of the areas most vulnerable to joint pain. 

Pain & Arthritis Relief Center

Experience. Compassion. Dedication. Skill. Flexibility. Specification. These are all qualities possessed by our team at the Pain & Arthritis Relief Center. We know that the road you have been on has probably been challenging and limiting, and we are here to offer our support and assistance when you need it the most. Our team can provide solutions that are focused on recovery and relief from pain. Learn about our Potomac, Maryland PRP doctor for shoulder pain so that you can finally experience comfort- schedule an appointment with the Pain & Arthritis Relief Center today.

How Long Are PRP Injections Effective? 

Platelet-rich plasma treatment may be effective for different time periods depending on specific variables unique to each patient. In some cases, platelet-rich plasma treatment may be effective for up to 9 months after administration of injections. 

Different conditions presented by a patient may influence how long PRP injections remain effective. The general health of the patient is also a relevant factor that can affect the longevity of each PRP injection. Individuals will also respond to PRP injections differently, and this can also decrease or increase the time in which the a PRP injection remains effective in the body. 

Every patient is different and no two people will experience the same effects of a PRP injection for the same length of time. Some patients will experience positive effects for long periods of time while other patients will experience positive effects for shorter periods of time. 

Patients who are in overall good health will recover quickly from injuries and will also experience more positive effects from PRP injections. Patients who do not take care of their physical health will respond differently to various treatments. Some of these patients may experience the benefits of PRP treatment for a shorter amount of time. 

Patients and their medical providers should pay special attention to a patient’s response to the first round of PRP injections. The symptoms and affects associated with the first treatment will help the patient and the physician have a clearer understanding of how the particular patient responds to the PRP treatment. 

Platelet-rich plasma treatment will last for different periods of time in different patients. No two patients will experience the exact same benefits for the same period of time. Every patient must consult with his or her own medical providers to ensure that any underlying health conditions are acknowledged and accounted for. 

Contact Pain & Arthritis Relief Center Today 

Contact the Pain & Arthritis Relief Center today to schedule a free consultation. We can discuss your treatment history to date and analyze how PRP treatment can improve your physical and mental health. Contact us today to learn more about how a Potomac, Maryland PRP doctor for shoulder pain can help you improve your life with a robust PRP treatment plan.