How PRP/Prolotherapy Can Relieve Your Foot Pain
When you come to Fairfax County’s Clifton Foot & Ankle Center, you’ll find outstanding podiatric medical and surgical care in a welcoming environment. Board-certified podiatrist Dr. Kenneth R. Wilhelm uses best practices and has advanced treatment methods at his disposal – including PRP injections and prolotherapy treatment for foot pain.
What is Prolotherapy?
Prolotherapy is a non-surgical treatment method that helps accelerate the healing process. We inject a natural solution into the affected area of your foot or ankle – an irritant that stimulates healing. We may use prolotherapy to treat heel pain, arthritis, muscle injuries, neuromas, bone spurs, and more.
What is PRP?
PRP, which means platelet-rich plasma, is a type of prolotherapy. Rather than injecting an external, natural solution, PRP uses injections of the patient’s blood. Here’s how it works: first, Dr. Wilhelm takes a sample of blood, which contains red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets. Next, he uses a centrifuge to spin and separate the three types of cells. Then, he enriches the blood with a greater concentration of the patient’s platelets. Platelets are valuable because they contain proteins proven to speed up healing. Finally, he injects the platelet-enhanced blood directly where it’s needed.
Pros and Cons
There are many reasons to consider PRP/prolotherapy:
- It calls for only 2-6 injections over several weeks.
- It’s an alternative to surgery and may eliminate the need for surgery because it can stop the degenerative process.
- There’s no need for general anesthesia.
- It’s an attractive alternative to steroid injections, which only provide temporary pain relief, whereas PRP heals the root cause of your pain.
One obstacle for those considering PRP/prolotherapy is that it’s not always covered by insurance. We can help you check with your insurance company to see if any coverage is available. Dr. Wilhelm and our staff will be happy to discuss your options and answer any questions you may have. For more information about PRP/prolotherapy treatment for a foot or ankle pain, contact us in Centreville, Virginia, at (703) 996-3000. You may also make an appointment online.
