When inflammation, soreness, and pain occur in or around the elbow, particularly the outer (lateral) part near the upper arm, it is often caused by a partial tear in the tendon fibers that connect the muscle to the bone. Thus, specific symptoms may include radiating pain outside of the elbow that extends to the forearm and even the back of the hand. Familiar terms for this type of elbow pain are “tennis elbow” or “golfer’s elbow,” although the exact definition is lateral epicondylitis, and this condition can affect anyone.
When it comes to pain and injuries involving tendons, PRP therapy is a superior treatment option, as it extracts the healing platelets from a patient’s own blood and then re-injects the platelet-rich plasma (PRP) into the injured or damaged area.
Specifically, individuals suffering from elbow pain note that PRP therapy provided significant pain relief and improved mobility in the short term, as well as at 12 weeks and up to 18 months following treatment (when compared to conventional treatments that included a corticosteroid injection). Thus, in regard to healing of various tendinopathies, including the elbow, PRP therapy remains a valuable non-operative alternative.
STEM CELL TREATMENTS FOR ELBOW PAIN RELIEF
When injected in its most concentrated form, stem cell treatments, using a patient’s own rich blood platelets, facilitates the body’s natural healing mechanisms, enhances the recovery of damaged tissues, signals new blood vessel formation and bone regeneration. Since injured tendons receive very little blood, healing is notoriously slow. Yet, when injected, stem cells attract growth factors to an area of injury.
To begin, a small sample of a patient’s blood is taken. The blood is then spun at high speeds in a centrifuge machine, which separates the much-needed stem cells from the rest of the blood. Next, the stem cells, which attract growth factors, are injected directly into the area of damage in the elbow where they amplify healing.
PLATELET RICH PLASMA INJECTIONS
Though steroids and painkillers work to provide temporary pain relief, PRP injections have become a key component for complete wound healing and recovery of injured tendons, ligaments, muscles, joints and other degenerative conditions.
What’s more is that therapy using PRP is natural, as it promotes the body’s own formation of reparative cells that not only reduce pain but increase strength and endurance.
Dr. Daniel Moghadam is a leading physician that administers PRP therapy for a variety of musculoskeletal conditions, including elbow pain and injuries. Placing a high value on helping individuals improve their quality of life, Dr. Moghadam provides focused, individualized treatment to promote a full recovery, optimal function and no pain. To schedule an appointment with Dr. Moghadam, contact Modern Aesthetica, his impressive new facility in Santa Monica, CA.