PRP injections (Platelet-Rich Plasma)

PRP — Platelet-Rich Plasma — uses your own platelets to stimulate tissue repair. We take a small blood sample, centrifuge it, and inject the concentrated growth factors into the painful location.

On this page9

1. How does it work?
2. What can you expect?
3. Scientific substantiation
4. More about this treatment
5. What platelets do
6. Where we apply PRP
7. Safety
8. This is how a session goes
9. Frequently asked questions

How does it work?

15-60 ml of blood is taken from your arm. This blood goes into a centrifuge that separates the platelets from red blood cells and plasma. The resulting ~3-7 ml of platelet-rich plasma is injected directly into the damaged joint, tendon or ligament, often under ultrasound guidance for maximum precision.

The growth factors (PDGF, VEGF, TGF-β) activate stem cells and stimulate collagen formation. It is your own blood, so there is no risk of rejection or transmission of diseases.

What can you expect?

Total procedure 30-60 minutes: first blood collection (5 min), then centrifugation (wait 10-15 min), then the injection. Local pain and swelling 2-5 days afterwards is normal and part of the recovery process.

Important: NSAIDs (ibuprofen, diclofenac) are not recommended from 5 days before to 2 weeks after because they inhibit the effect.

Scientific substantiation

Meta-analysis (2019) showed that PRP in knee osteoarthritis is more effective than hyaluronic acid for long-term pain reduction. Evidence is mixed for lateral epicondylitis and Achilles tendinopathy.

More about this treatment

PRP is also called ACP. Why a little of your own blood can help heal a worn-out joint or chronically damaged tendon lies in one type of cell.

What platelets do

After centrifugation, the red blood cells sink to the bottom and a light yellow layer of plasma remains at the top. The dividing line between those two layers is the usable part. That's where the platelets — repair cells, platelets in English — are located and the growth factors they produce.

You will notice what these growth factors do with every scratch on your skin. The platelets ensure that bleeding stops, a crust is formed and the skin recovers. They stimulate tissue repair and promote healing.

If we inject a concentrated mixture of these cells into a painful tendon, joint or ligament, we powerfully stimulate the body's own healing response. This gives the damage and pain a chance to heal.

Where we apply PRP

PRP is versatile, but in our practice we mainly use it for joint wear. PRP has been shown to:

• heals joint inflammation due to wear and tear
• inhibits the breakdown of cartilage in osteoarthritis
• can stimulate the growth of new cartilage
• stimulates the production of the natural lubricant
• has an analgesic effect

Many chronic tendon problems are also suitable for treatment with PRP.

And then the back. In our practice we see many patients with chronic lower back problems. In many of them, instability of the joints and ligaments in the back plays a role. In addition to treatment with prolotherapy, we can then use PRP to accelerate the healing process.

Safety

We use components of your own blood. As a result, there are virtually no side effects or complications. What remains applies to any injection: you may have residual pain, and there is a very small chance of infection.

This is how a session goes

Each process is tailor-made, but this is what a typical course looks like — from first intake to pain-free and maintenance. You always know exactly where you stand.

1. Blood collection

   Standard venous collection of 15-60 ml of blood from your arm. Feels like a normal blood draw.

2. Centrifuge process

   Blood is split into concentrated platelet-rich plasma (PRP). You wait comfortably. Concentration 3-5× normal value.

3. PRP injection

   Often ultrasound-guided injection of 3-7 ml of PRP into the damaged joint or tendon. For maximum precision.

4. No NSAIDs — make it work

   Swelling for 2-5 days is desired (healing cascade). No ibuprofen or diclofenac. Patients notice an effect in the first 4-6 weeks; peak at 3 months.

Frequently asked questions

Is it my own blood?

Yes — therefore no risk of rejection or transmission of diseases.

How quickly will I notice an effect?

Often after 4-6 weeks; peak after 3 months.

Does the injection hurt?

The blood sample is normal; the injection itself has a short stinging effect.

Can I take NSAIDs?

Preferably not from 5 days before to 2 weeks after the injection. Paracetamol is allowed.

How long does it last?

In knee osteoarthritis often 9-18 months per treatment series.

Not suitable for thrombocytopenia, active infection, malignancy at treatment site, use of NSAIDs during the procedure, hemodynamic instability, anemia or pregnancy. For joint osteoarthritis, typically a series of 3 injections (2-4 week interval).