Help! Hip Pain Wakes Me Up at Night
Good quality sleep is important for your overall health and wellness, but if hip pain is keeping you awake, those Zs can be hard to catch. Fortunately, there are some simple things you can do to find relief.
Is PRP Right for Me?
Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) is an innovative treatment that helps speed up and enhance recovery following many types of injuries. Made from your own blood, PRP taps into your body’s natural healing cascade to help you feel better faster, without medication or surgery.
Joshua D. Harris, MD, is skilled in PRP treatment and other innovative therapies that help patients at his Houston, Texas, practice enjoy better health, better recovery, and better outcomes. If you have an orthopedic injury, here’s what he wants you to know about PRP.
PRP: The science behind the therapy
As the name implies, platelet-rich plasma is composed of platelets and plasma in a concentrated form. Plasma is the liquid part of your blood, while platelets are blood components that play a significant role in healing.
Each platelet contains tiny proteins called growth factors that help your blood clot and work to trigger other crucial processes necessary for optimal healing. These growth factors promote the development of new blood vessels to supply oxygen and nutrients to injured tissues, and they also support development of new, healthy cells to replace damaged tissues.
PRP is made from a sample of your blood processed to remove the other parts of your blood, leaving just the platelets and liquid plasma. Then that concentration is injected directly into the injury site to “jumpstart” the healing process).
What PRP treats
PRP is used to treat an array of injuries affecting the soft tissues, connective tissues, and joints, including:
- Arthritis
- Sciatica
- Tennis or golfer’s elbow
- Achilles tendonitis
- Other tendon injuries
- Cartilage damage
- Sprains and strains
- Plantar fasciitis
- Rotator cuff injuries
While anyone can potentially benefit from PRP therapy, it’s widely used among athletes to help them heal following injuries related to competition, practice, and warm-up.
Who shouldn’t have PRP therapy
One of the biggest benefits of PRP is that it’s made from your own blood. That means you don’t have to worry about allergic reactions or sensitivities that can prevent you from having treatment.
You also don’t need to worry about the long-term use of medications that could cause an upset stomach or other symptoms. Plus, PRP is injected, which means it can be a good treatment option even for patients who don’t want to have (or can’t have) surgery.
Of course, although PRP is generally safe, it’s not always the best choice for every patient. In general, PRP might not be suitable for you if you:
- Have a bleeding or clotting disorder
- Have an active infection
- Have chronic liver disease
- Use anticoagulant medications
- Are anemic
- Are pregnant or breastfeeding
Dr. Harris performs a thorough review of your health and medical history before recommending PRP.
Find out if PRP is right for you
PRP offers plenty of benefits for many people, but the only real way to know if it could benefit you is to schedule an office visit. To learn more, call 713-441-8393 or book an appointment online with Dr. Joshua Harris today.
You Might Also Enjoy...
Does Your Favorite Sport Increase Your Risk of Developing Hip Problems?
Being active keeps you physically and emotionally fit. But if you have hip problems, some activities could make your symptoms worse. Here’s how to decide which activities are good for your hips, as well as for your overall wellness.
Pulled Muscle or Hamstring Tear? How to Tell the Difference
Millions of hamstring injuries happen every year. Knowing the difference between a hamstring pull and a hamstring tear is essential for ensuring you recover quickly. Here’s how to tell the difference between these two injuries.
Can Hip Preservation Surgery for Early-Stage Osteoarthritis Help Me Avoid a Joint Replacement?
Hip arthritis can cause major joint damage, but if you “catch” arthritis early, there are treatments that can help. Here’s how hip preservation surgery is used to relieve pain, restore the joint, and avoid the need for joint replacement surgery.
Do These Things Now If You Want Healthy Knees When You're Older
Knee pain is a common “side effect” of getting older, but it doesn’t have to be. Taking some simple — but important — steps now could help prevent painful knees in the future. Here’s what you can do to protect your knees.
The Link Between Your Diet and Joint Health
Your joints work hard for you all day. By watching your diet, you can return the favor by giving them what they need to stay healthy. Here’s how you can tweak your diet to support better joint health now and in the future.