/assets/images/provider/photos/2840419.jpeg)
Platelet-rich plasma, also known as PRP therapy, has gained popularity in recent years. And while most understand its usefulness as a cosmetic procedure, many don’t realize it can also be used for other conditions in the body, including several foot and ankle issues.
Southwest Foot & Ankle in Scottsdale, Arizona, pioneers new and improved treatment alternatives, and PRP is among our most cutting-edge options. Our providers — Petrina C. Lewis, DPM, FACFAS, and Mark T. Lewis, DPM, FACFAS — utilize PRP therapy to manage various conditions, and we’re happy to discuss its benefits with you today.
Plantar fasciitis is a condition that results from overuse. It causes persistent heel pain that’s hard to ignore. Active runners or those on their feet for long periods are among the groups most likely to develop this condition.
While the problem is often treated with conservative processes, pain can persist, making it hard to engage in physical therapy or even to rest your heel properly.
PRP therapy can manage the pain associated with plantar fasciitis. The platelet-rich plasma taken from your own blood promotes healing and reduces inflammation, the main source of discomfort with this condition.
PRP therapy can help support recovery and make it easier to engage in strengthening exercises.
A neuroma is another condition that can be better managed with the help of PRP therapy. Neuromas usually occur on the foot as Morton's neuroma, which presents near the toes and creates a burning sensation in the ball of the foot. The pain and placement of the damaged nerve can make it difficult to treat neuromas.
With PRP injections, your provider applies the same anti-inflammatory principle to the neuroma as with plantar fasciitis. In addition, the safety of PRP (because it comes from your own blood) and the ease of injecting it with a needle make it a precise and effective treatment.
Most people who deal with nerve damage due to diabetes experience the most trouble in their hands and feet. These extremities are affected because they’re farther from your heart and take the longest to receive blood flow.
When a person experiences diabetic neuropathy, treatment is often about managing the damage that’s already been done rather than healing entirely.
For this condition, PRP therapy has many of the same benefits already mentioned. It’s very safe since it utilizes your own blood, which is especially important for diabetic patients who have to take extra care to avoid infection.
In addition, PRP therapy minimizes pain, reduces inflammation, and promotes growth factors, which the affected tissue sorely needs.
People often discuss joint pain in their hands and wrists, hips, and knees. However, ankle pain is a common condition resulting from injuries, osteoarthritis, and many other causes. As with many of the conditions mentioned, conservative treatments are typically suggested before surgical interventions, especially early on, and PRP can be a great option.
PRP has been found to help relieve pain and improve joint function in individuals with osteoarthritis. This can make it easier to stick with exercise routines and maintain a healthier, more active lifestyle.
In most cases, PRP is used as a supplemental treatment in combination with exercises or physical therapy, rest, custom orthotics, and other procedures or therapies.
This doesn’t mean PRP isn’t effective for treating many foot and ankle conditions. It's an excellent addition to a full treatment regimen, not a miracle cure.
Have you been dealing with foot and ankle problems without relief for several months or years? Or are you considering that your new treatment regimen might be enhanced with the help of this procedure? If so, call our office today at 480-900-7399 or visit us online to schedule an appointment.