Natural Treatment for Knee Calcification, PRP injection.
What is PRP treatment?
PRP is derived from the initials of the English phrase “Platelet Rich Plasma” and means platelet-rich plasma. PRP therapy is a new method that has been increasingly used in the treatment of various diseases, especially in the last few years. Although it was used mostly for cosmetic and anti-aging purposes in the beginning, it has recently been used frequently especially in musculoskeletal system diseases. In this method, the drug is prepared from the patient’s own blood. So it is a natural treatment method.
PRP treatment is not a kind of temporary suppression treatment, but a treatment aimed directly at curing the disease.
How is PRP obtained?
Approximately 50 cc of blood from the patient is taken into tubes containing anticoagulant drugs specially prepared for this purpose. The blood taken is subjected to a special centrifugation process with a tube. This process takes about 20-30 minutes. After centrifugation, the blood cells other than platelets settle to the bottom of the tube. A yellow colored plasma liquid rich in platelets remains on it. At the bottom of this upper liquid, there is a section of approximately 2 cc where the platelets are even more dense. Thanks to the special system, the plasma containing approximately 1-2 million platelet cells per cubic millimeter is drawn into the injector where the injection will be administered. Finally, before the injection, a drug (special activators) to activate the platelets is added to this plasma. PRP is now ready and after this stage, it is applied to the desired area with the appropriate technique without waiting.
How does PRP affect the body?
Platelet is basically the coagulation element of the blood and it contains growth factor and some natural preservatives. With the PRP method, platelet-rich plasma is obtained and platelets are activated with the added drug. Thus, the growth factors contained in the platelets are released. Platelet-enriched plasma fluid acts like a natural medicine. They accelerate the healing in that area by stimulating the cells of structures such as tendon cartilage, where there is injury and damage. PRP has been shown to have a healing effect on cartilage injuries and abrasions, especially in knee osteoarthritis. In such cases, PRP can provide a slow but permanent treatment.
How is PRP applied?
It is applied by injection method of 2-4 ml once or 2-3 times at regular intervals, depending on the area to be treated. In knee calcifications, it is applied into the knee joint three times with an interval of one month. In cases such as tennis elbow, Achilles tendonitis, and shoulder tendon ruptures, 2 injections are usually administered one month apart. .
In which diseases is PRP used?
Knee calcifications
Cartilage damage in the knee
Cartilage abrasions that occur at an early age
tennis elbow, golfer’s elbow
Shoulder tendon rheumatism and tears
Achilles tendinitis
Tendinitis in athletes
When does the curative effect of PRP treatment begin?
It starts gradually within a few weeks after the injection and the healing process continues between 3 months and 12 months. For this reason, after PRP injections, there is no rapid pain reduction as in cortisone injections. The pain gradually decreases and passes within months. However, the recurrence of complaints that we see in almost two out of every three patients in cortisone application is not a common condition after PRP treatment.
Are there any side effects of PRP application?
The PRP method has no side effects. It can only cause temporary pain and swelling in the area where it is made. This effect goes away on its own within 1-2 days and there is no harm. In this case, ice application and simple painkillers can be used.
Research results on PRP treatment are generally positive and find new application areas. Although the data on this natural treatment method is still scarce, the results are promising. We also get extremely good results in patients who have undergone PRP due to knee calcification in our own clinic. These results show that PRP treatment is a powerful alternative to traditional methods in the treatment of knee osteoarthritis, which has become one of the most important health problems of our age with the aging society.
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