During the last decade, the clinical use of Platelet Rich Plasma (PRP) has greatly increased in the medical community, especially among physical and pain medicine specialists and orthopedic surgeons. PRP is rich in growth factors, and for this reason, according to experts, it will have a favorable effect on the inflammatory process and cause tendons, ligaments, muscles and bones to heal. The shoulder is one of the strongest joints in the body and will affect all body activities in some way. Therefore, for people who are facing shoulder pain, PRP injection to the shoulder can be an effective way of biological improvement with minimal side effects.

Nowadays, the treatment method of PRP injection to the shoulder is used to treat many musculoskeletal complications. در این مطلب تمامی آن چه باید در مورد تزریق پی آر پی به شانه بدانید در اختیار شما عزیزان قرار خواهد گرفت، با ما همراه باشید:

منظور از تزریق پی آر پی به شانه چیست؟

پی آر پی یک روش درمانی کم تهاجمی است که از آن به منظور درمان بیماری­های عضلانی و آسیب­ های تاندون­ها استفاده می­ شود. In this method, blood is taken from the person himself, and after that, the components of the blood are separated during a process, and the platelet-enriched plasma is re-injected into the muscles and tendons of the shoulder.

These platelets help to heal and heal damaged tissues through the release of growth factor. The amount of growth factors will increase 8 times with the injection of platelet-rich plasma, and naturally, tendons will heal faster.

Why is the PRP method used for shoulder injury?

In order to treat shoulder injuries, there are several treatment methods that you need to research well before choosing each one. By choosing several treatment methods and combining them, you will have a better chance for a faster and more complete recovery. You will have the possibility to get help from the PRP method to heal your shoulder.

This method uses a completely natural substance grown from your own body. Also, many times, people with this method will no longer need surgery. Of course, in this regard, the condition of the patient should also be considered and it cannot be said with certainty that this method is an alternative to surgery. You can consult your doctor about using the PRP method. In any case, this PRP injection is one of the effective methods for the treatment of many diseases and has been able to attract the attention of many people as a non-invasive and effective method.

How Does PRP injection improve the shoulder?

It was mentioned in the previous section that in this method, platelet-rich plasma is injected into the shoulder. As a result of receiving PRP by the patient, growth factors will be produced at the treatment site, and this will accelerate tissue repair and the production of new cells in the body. PRP injection is effective in restoring hyaluronic acid in the tissue, and in this way, it helps to better protect the joints and their function.

PRP of the shoulder is used to improve what complications?

In the PRP method, unlike many shoulder pain treatment methods, platelets and growth factors of the patient's own body are used to treat and improve the damaged area. This treatment method is a non-invasive method and no foreign substance will be injected into the body. The method of PRP injection to the shoulder can be used to improve and accelerate the treatment process of the following complications:

Arthritis or shoulder arthrosis

This disease weakens the cartilage and the person will have pain and inflammation in the shoulder area, which includes things like arthritis, rheumatoid arthritis and arthritis caused by injuries. Therefore, the pain and inflammation caused by these diseases can be treated with the help of PRP. Because by using plasma rich in platelets, it is possible to help reduce the speed of the inflammatory process and prevent the development of arthritis. Also, by injecting PRP, new cartilage is formed.

Platelet-enriched plasma is one of the regenerative therapies that is very effective in this field. As a result of platelet injection with high concentration, damaged tendons, ligaments, joints and muscles heal faster.

Frozen Shoulder

Another common shoulder problem is frozen shoulder. This disease causes increase in thickness and contraction of the ligament tissue capsule around the shoulder. The shoulder capsule refers to the ligaments that hold the shoulder components together. For this reason, the person will experience stiffness and pain in the shoulder and will face limitations in movement.

Usually, this disease is more common among people aged 40 to 60 and may be caused by diseases such as hypothyroidism or hyperthyroidism, diabetes, heart diseases, Parkinson's, etc. However, it is an idiopathic or latent complication and the cause of its occurrence cannot be fully and definitively diagnosed. Although this condition will eventually be cured by itself, the pain is very uncomfortable and it is very difficult to bear it for several years.

According to the studies, PRP is one of the effective measures to cure this disease and it leaves a direct biological effect in preventing inflammation and improving the healing process of the capsule. Although the main method of treating this complication is steroid injection, studies show that the recovery of patients who receive PRP injections is much faster than patients who received steroids.

Rotator cuff tear or shoulder rotator muscles

Rotator cuff or shoulder rotator muscles are a group of muscles and tendons that stabilize the shoulder joint in place and allow arm and shoulder movement. Complications related to the rotator cuff can be considered the most common problems of the shoulder joint. Rupture of shoulder tendonitis and bursitis, rotator cuff tear, instability of the shoulder joint, including previous dislocation of the shoulder joint, laxity of ligaments, etc. are the things that cause this complication. To improve the quality of tendon and muscle in this disease, you can use the PRP method, which enables the speed and ease of the healing process. A full-thickness tear of the rotator cuff actually causes the tendon to completely come out of the bone, and to fix this tear, surgical repair must be done. However, according to researchers' studies, minor tendon tears can be healed by injecting PRP, and even this method is effective in improving the appearance of the tendon.

PRP is also used in rotator cuff repair as an auxiliary treatment method. Usually, after the injection, most of the patients have reported a reduction in pain and a faster recovery period.

Tendonitis or inflammation of the shoulder

Generally, the rotator cuff tendon includes supraspinatus, subspinatus, small round and subscapular tendons. The rotator cuff stabilizes the shoulder joint and allows the shoulder to move through its full range of motion. But when the head of the humerus is completely out of its socket, shoulder laxity or instability occurs and causes instability of the shoulder joints.

Due to wear and tear, the tendon weakens, and as a result, the person faces more pain and difficulty in moving the shoulder, and in this case, the complication of tendinosis will occur. Tendonitis and tendinosis both cause tendon problems and their combination is called tendinopathy. PRP injection into the shoulder can be considered as one of the effective treatment methods in improving pain, function and tendon pathology.

Shoulder instability and laxity

Among the body joints, the shoulder joint is the most mobile and the shoulder rotates in many directions. Although this is a great advantage for people, shoulder dislocation is also very common in many people for this reason. In fact, the head of the upper arm bone coming out of the glenoid cavity, even if it is partial, causes shoulder dislocation. If the dislocation is complete, the head of the bone will be completely removed from the joint cavity. In both partial and complete cases, shoulder instability and pain are seen.

If dislocation of the shoulder becomes a recurring problem, sometimes a brace is used to prevent the shoulder from dislocating again. However, if the treatment and braces are ineffective, the person must undergo surgery to repair or tighten the torn or stretched ligaments supporting the joint. This is especially important for young athletes. In the meantime, PRP injection also helps to repair torn or worn tissue, which is usually prone to injury and failure due to internal and external factors. With PRP injection, the pain is reduced and the recovery period is faster.

Shoulder impingement syndrome

Shoulder impingement syndrome is actually caused by impingement of the tendons of the rotator cuff muscle. These tendons pass through the shoulder joint through a narrow bony space called the subacromial space. The meaning of entrapment is to hit or engage the bone, followed by frequent irritation and pressure, injury and pain.

In this complication, when lifting the arm, the joint bags and tendons are pressed on the tip of the shoulder. Therefore, the method of injecting PRP into the shoulder can improve the range of motion within the joint and prevent problems caused by shoulder impingement.

Shoulder bursitis

This condition, which is also known as subscapular bursitis, usually presents with pain, sensitivity to touch, and swelling of the bursa. A bursa is actually a bag filled with fluid under the skin and generally on the joint, which plays a protective role between the tendon and the bone. Although every person is susceptible to this disease, people who use their shoulder more often suffer from this disease.

Amas of joint bags

As a result of excessive use of the shoulder, people may be involved in the complication of bursitis. In this condition, inflammation and pain will occur in the shoulder area, and to reduce this pain and inflammation, treatment with platelet-rich plasma is effective.

What are the benefits of shoulder RP?

The PRP injection method is used by many doctors these days as an effective method for treating shoulder problems for various reasons. Among the advantages that have made this treatment method popular, the following can be mentioned:

1. The degree of permanence of PRP injection results is high;
2. This method is a very suitable alternative to treatment methods such as painkillers or invasive operations to solve orthopedic problems;
3. Unlike open surgery, whose recovery period is between several weeks and several months, after the first PRP injection, people will see the benefits of PRP well within a week, and in fact, this method has a quick effect;
4. There is no need for stitches in this method;
5. Due to the use of the patient's own blood, the probability of transmission of infection is reduced to zero and the occurrence of allergy is greatly reduced;
6. The process of preparation and recovery after the injection is only one or two hours and there is no need to hospitalize the patient, and after that the person can resume his daily routine without needing a long rest;
7. Although PRP injections are usually repeated at intervals of two to three weeks, patients will notice a reduction in their pain from the first or second injection, and the symptoms of the disease will gradually decrease.

PRP injection is one of the new treatment methods that is used in various fields to improve people. Research shows that in the early stages of erosive arthritis, people can get better results. Therefore, this method is a suitable choice for people who are still in the early stages of arthritis and have not received satisfactory results from other treatment methods such as taking non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and physiotherapy, and on the other hand, they are not prepared for joint replacement surgery.

Considering that PRP is a biological product prepared from the patient's own blood, the best candidates for plasma injection are healthier patients. The healthier a person is, the better the result will be from this method. Usually, most patients are willing to leave surgery as the last option and choose different safe methods before that.

To whom is PRP injection in the shoulder not recommended?

It is better for people who have the following conditions to avoid doing this treatment method:

• Patients with active infection
• People with blood disorders
• People with anemia
• Pregnant women

Also, this treatment method is not recommended for people who have the following diseases:

• Hepatitis C
• AIDS
• Types of blood cancer
• Cardiovascular diseases requiring the use of diluting drugs
• Skin cancer in the treated area

PRP injection is a minimally invasive treatment method that will be performed on an outpatient basis with the help of local anesthetics. At the beginning of this treatment, a little blood is taken from the person. The blood will then be spun in a centrifuge at high speed. With the help of a centrifuge, the constituents of the blood are separated and thus a rich source of platelets is obtained. In fact, the number of platelets and growth factors reaches 5 times the normal state.

Finally, platelet-rich plasma is injected by a doctor in a part of the body that needs repair and regeneration. This treatment method is usually painless for most people and takes between 45 and 60 minutes.

How Prepare for PRP injection to the shoulder?

To prepare as much as possible for shoulder PRP injection, you need to pay attention to the following points before visiting the PRP injection center:

1. At least 5 days before the treatment, avoid taking anti-inflammatory drugs;
2. One week before the treatment, stop blood-thinning supplements or herbal medicines;
3. Stop steroid injection one month ago;
4. One to two weeks before the treatment, stop using systemic steroids;
5. On the day of treatment, be sure to eat a healthy and full breakfast and don't forget to drink plenty of water.

It is important to note that if you are taking oral steroids, consult your doctor about how to stop using them. Because the sudden use of these drugs may cause side effects. Therefore, doctors prohibit any expectation or use of drug regimes without consulting the doctor who prescribes the drugs.

Following the following tips after PRP injection will help you get a better result from this method and also prevent possible side effects:

1. It is recommended to rest until the end of the day after the injection;
2. The day after PRP injection, work less than the treated shoulder but avoid keeping it still so that the joint has enough time to heal and also the injected substance is absorbed by the tissues around the shoulder;
3. You may feel a little pain and discomfort at the injection site, which is one of the normal side effects of this procedure and shows the body's adaptation to the injected materials and actually means that the body is healing. Therefore, be sure to drink plenty of water to facilitate the healing process;
4. After PRP injection, avoid taking any medication except for those prescribed by the doctor. The necessity of not taking medicine is due to not disrupting the healing process or the occurrence of severe side effects;
5. Avoid putting cold or warm compresses on the injection site for 72 hours;
6. Do not use a hot tub or sauna for a few days after the injection;
7. It is forbidden to consume alcoholic beverages for two days after the injection;
8. Avoid bathing for 24 hours after injection;
9. Avoid smoking.

After a few weeks, you can start taking anti-inflammatory drugs and follow physical therapy or exercise under the supervision of a doctor.

Shoulder PRP injection, like any other treatment method, may have side effects, but fortunately, these side effects are very rare. But in any case, you need to be familiar with these possible complications before choosing this treatment method. In general, PRP injection may have the following side effects:

• Increased pain and inflammation at the injection site
• Bleeding and bruising
• Injection site infection
• No relief of symptoms and its aggravation
• Change in skin color
• Sensitivity to local anesthetic drug
• Injury of nerves or blood vessels
• failure to achieve a successful result
• Dryness or prolonged pain

How long does PRP injection last?

Usually PRP injection is effective for up to 9 months and of course this period of time is not the same for all patients. It is also not possible to expect a general and identical result for all complications and problems. It is natural that for severe and complex orthopedic problems, the PRP method is effective for less time.

Another factor that determines the duration of the effect of the treatment can be considered the general health of the applicant. The healthier a person is, the more he will react to the treatment and the better he will be able to maintain the effect of the treatment. The way the patient's body reacts to the injection is another factor that determines the amount and duration of its effect.

Usually, doctors will do their best to get the best healing result with just one injection. However, in situations such as a serious rotator cuff tear or high severity of shoulder joint arthritis, two or three injections are required within a few months.

Cost How much is a PRP injection to the shoulder?

Given that the main substance injected in the PRP method is taken from the patient's own body, it can be said that a large part of the costs will be reduced for this reason, and in general, PRP injection is a cost-effective method compared to surgery.

Also, the final costs are completely dependent on the number of sessions and the extent of the injection area. Therefore, to accurately determine the cost of shoulder PRP injection, it is necessary to have your condition checked by a doctor.

How is RP made for shoulder injection?

In order to make PRP to be injected into the shoulder, a small amount of blood is taken and its platelets will be separated from other blood components during an operation. Finally, by the doctor, the concentrated platelets and growth factors are combined with the remaining blood and injected into the person with the help of local anesthesia, and in this way the pain is improved and relieved.

Number How much are shoulder PRP sessions?

How many injection sessions are needed for shoulder PRP injection treatment depends entirely on your condition. In fact, according to the type of disease and its severity, the number of sessions will change. Many times, people get a significant recovery even with one session, but it cannot be expected that all people will get a complete recovery with just one session.

Most people need to go through 2 to 6 injection sessions to get a satisfactory result from shoulder PRP.

What What factors are effective in the success of shoulder PRP?

PRP injection does not work for all people. The following two factors are among the most important factors that cause differences in the results:

1. Treated area

Depending on which part of the shoulder PRP injection is done, the final result and effectiveness will be different. But usually this method brings a satisfactory result for each area.

2. The type of disease and its severity

The success rate of using this treatment method will also be influenced by the type and severity of the injury. Actually, according to the fact that the patient was injured due to a sudden impact or has chronic pain and this has developed and intensified over a long period of time, the chances of getting results from this method are also different.

Can PRP injection be used for all tendon and rotator cuff injuries?

Although PRP is an effective method for shoulder injuries, it cannot be prescribed for all rotator cuff injuries. For example, this method may not bring an effective result for the treatment of rotator cuff tears where the tendon is collected. (In the state of tendon contraction, the torn parts of the tendon are far apart.)

When deciding to do PRP, you must go to a center where skilled and skilled people are working. There are different methods to perform PRP injection, but only experienced people are well familiar with these methods.

For example, some doctors will prescribe antibiotic drugs after PRP injection because this substance is likely to bring unexpected results or effects. Because according to some doctors, PRP will stimulate the body's own natural inflammatory reaction. Some doctors also perform PRP injections in ways such as injecting steroid drugs and will not pay attention to the exact place where the PRP substance should be injected.

Doctors and specialists who have a lot of experience in the field of PRP injection will definitely use ultrasound images to find the exact point of injection and also by cultivating the best PRP, they will provide a safe and effective treatment method for the patient.

Usually, people recover only a few days after the injection, while in other procedures, such as rotator cuff surgery, a person may recover after several months. Also, unlike during surgery, there is no need to use a hand support band after PRP injection. Therefore, this method can be considered a fast effective method.

Fortunately, no relationship between PRP injection and arthritis has been found so far. This is despite the fact that in the case of joint surgery, the incidence and progress of arthritis has been observed several times. In order to get a better result, a person should undergo a rehabilitation program after PRP treatment related to problems such as rotator cuff injuries. Usually, after the PRP injection, you should refrain from exercising for a short period of time before starting the rehabilitation program.

You can do PRP treatment and stem cell treatment separately or simultaneously. In the PRP injection method, as mentioned, the components of a person's blood are separated in a centrifuge, and in this way, a liquid rich in blood platelets and containing growth factors is obtained.

But in the stem cell method, stem cells are taken from the bone marrow, and this group of cells has not yet been assigned to a specific category of cells. In the case of stem cells, this idea is that it is possible to place an unallocated cell in the empty space of the damaged area, and after that, this stem cell will become a suitable cell for that situation, and in this way, it will accelerate the healing process.

Certainly, in order to get favorable results from any treatment method, it is necessary to refer to a specialist and expert doctor in the desired field. In the case of PRP injection to the shoulder, it is also very important that this work is done by an experienced and skilled doctor. Dr. Ana Avamehr is the best physical medicine specialist in Tehran that you can go to for the treatment of various diseases related to the shoulder and leave the rest to this professional doctor.

Dr. Avamehr is very familiar with all kinds of PRP injection methods for the shoulder and according to your condition, he will perform the best PRP injection for the shoulder.

The last word

Shoulder PRP, as mentioned in this article, is one of the safe and easy ways to treat shoulder problems. If you do the PRP injection to the shoulder in a well-equipped and professional clinic under the supervision of an expert doctor, this method can definitely be effective and satisfactory for you.

Is shoulder PRP a safe method?

PRP is one of the few safe treatment methods. This method is considered a safe method due to the use of the enriched plasma of the person's own blood, and there is no possibility of adverse reaction or disease transmission in this method.

Can you drive after shoulder PRP?

If you can use your shoulder comfortably and without pain after shoulder injection, you will be able to drive. Usually, you will experience this feeling of comfort within a week after the injection.

Is it possible to exercise after shoulder PRP injection?

It is better to have minimal activity for three days after injection and start light activities after one week.

After how long can the effect of PRP injection be observed?

Depending on the type of complication, the result is usually determined two to six weeks after the injection.

Are the results visible after the first PRP injection?

Since each person's body is different from another, PRP extracted from patients' bodies is not the same. However, most patients have seen satisfactory results after several injections. In general, you have to be a little patient to get results from this method.

Is the result of PRP injection permanent?

Based on the type of problem, it can be temporary or permanent, and its results usually last up to 9 months.

What should be the interval between two PRP shoulder injection sessions?

Usually, PRP injection should be done once a month in the first three months.

How long does each shoulder PRP session take?

PRP injection usually takes about 30 minutes to an hour and most of this time is dedicated to plasma separation.

Does PRP cause shoulder pain?

In general, this method is a painless method. However, everything depends on the individual and the injection area. Sometimes the doctor uses local anesthetic for the comfort of the patient.