Plantar Fasciitis? PRP Might Be Right For You

Plantar Fasciitis is common, but painful and sometimes even debilitating due to the deterioration of the plantar fascia, the thick band of tissue that runs from your heel to the forefoot. For some, rest, ice, anti-inflammatories, and change of shoe gear are all it takes to stop the pain, but for others, the pain can prove harder to overcome.

Luckily there are medical treatments available that can help treat the pain without entering an operating room. PRP or Platelet-rich plasma is one of those treatments.

What exactly is PRP?

When an injury occurs, your body’s platelets rush to the damaged area where they release proteins called growth factors, which stimulate tissue repair.  PRP has been shown to significantly enhance your body’s own healing process by reducing pain and limiting the need for anti-inflammatories or other pain medications.

Platelet-rich plasma essentially is the process of drawing blood, spinning the blood until it becomes separated, and then injecting the activated matter back into the area of your foot injury, sometimes with ultrasound guidance. Recovery time is minimal as the patient can return to normal activities after the procedure, however, a boot may be advised to support the heel and decrease pressure on the site.

Available since the 1950s, PRP became well-known in the 70’s and has been popular amongst many major athletes such as professional golfer Tiger Woods and tennis star Rafael Nadal.

Plasma is an important liquid component of the blood that takes up more than half of your blood's volume and it's necessary to help recover from injury, prevent infection, and much more. PRP is a great way to prompt your body to begin the healing process.

Side-effects are minimal to none as the injections are created from your own blood and if you’re looking to avoid anti-inflammatories or stronger medication such as opioids, PRP is a route you should consider.

For more information about PRP or to schedule a consultation with one of our doctors, please call 336-375-6990 or click here to schedule an appointment online.