People are spending more time than ever looking at screens, and more specifically, looking down at them. Whether it’s a phone, laptop, or tablet, this slouching posture forces the neck to support the head in a way it’s not designed to, leading to persistent pain that doctors have dubbed “tech neck.” Needless to say, it has become more prominent over the years, but thankfully, the solution you’ve been searching for might be flowing through your veins at this very moment. Using PRP, a doctor can fix the source of your problem and give you lasting results, all without surgery or painkillers.
What is PRP?
PRP stands for “platelet-rich plasma.” It is a substance that is derived from human blood by placing it into a centrifuge and spinning it at high speeds. This causes the components to separate, one of which is PRP, which has a much higher concentration of platelets compared to regular blood and contains a variety of healing proteins and growth factors.
In the past, PRP was primarily used in conjunction with surgery. After an operation, PRP was applied to the area to ensure faster healing. But, thanks to advancements in technology that make producing it much less time-consuming and expensive, it is now being utilized as a primary treatment for many types of chronic musculoskeletal pain.
How Does PRP Treatment Work?
First, your doctor will perform a basic medical exam so they can get a better idea of what is causing your pain, and then they will discuss what you have done to treat it in the past. If you both decide that PRP would be helpful, they will take a small sample of your blood (the same amount that’s needed for a standard test) and place it in a centrifuge.
Once the PRP is ready, the doctor will inject it into the particular muscle, ligament, or tendon that is at the root of the problem. There, PRP will allow the body to repair itself much faster than normal, which will reduce pain, improve strength, and address any other unpleasant symptoms.
After the initial treatment, a patient should notice a difference within a few weeks, and they may need to return for additional PRP injections in the future. The number needed can vary, but the best part is that the results are guaranteed to last because it’s not the symptoms that are being treated, but the underlying cause of the pain. So, once it’s gone, it shouldn’t come back.
Why People Like PRP
With PRP, you get the best of both worlds. It’s fast and non-invasive like medication, but it has little to no side effects. It directly treats a problem and can lead to lasting results like surgery, but no incisions are necessary, plus it is dramatically less expensive.
If your life revolves around screens, and your neck has been bothering you despite your best efforts, PRP might be the convenient and effective solution you’ve been looking for. It has already helped countless people in your situation, and finding a doctor who offers it has never been easier.
About the Author
Dr. Paul Tortland has been helping people feel better for over 30 years. Board-certified in sports and regenerative medicine, he has been a leader in the non-surgical orthopedics field for decades, and as such, he has used PRP to successfully treat patients dealing with a wide variety of chronic pain and injuries. To learn more about PRP and what it could do to stop your neck pain, click here to schedule a consultation.