Can PRP help treat sciatica?
PRP may help relieve sciatica, which is pain from an irritated or compressed sciatic nerve, often due to a herniated disc. A sample of your own blood is spun in a centrifuge to separate platelet-rich plasma, which is then injected into the affected area to promote healing. It is a non-surgical option for many people, from athletes to seniors.
If you suffer from sciatica, you may have explored many options for pain relief in the past, to no avail. But there is a refreshing solution that could work for you and it’s called platelet rich plasma therapy, or PRP for short.
Approximately 40 percent of people in the U.S. have experienced sciatica sometime during their life, according to the Cleveland Clinic. Sciatica pain is cause by the inflammation, irritation, compression or pinching of a nerve located in the lower back, with the most common cause being a herniated or slipped disk that puts added pressure on the nerve root.
Most of the time, sciatica gets better on its own with time and home treatments, but for many, it’s an ongoing pain that offers no relief. The sciatic nerve happens to be the longest nerve in your body, running through your buttocks and then down your leg. Compression of this nerve often leads to radiating numbness, pain or tingling.
PRP For Sciatic Relief
Platelet rich plasma is taken from a blood sample from your own body. Because the blood cells and plasma are your own, such injections do not put you at risk of contracting a bloodborne illness. If you are weighing your options, our PRP injection cost guide explains what affects pricing.
This non-invasive process is relatively straightforward. A sample of your blood is placed in a device known as a centrifuge. This device spins rapidly and, using centrifugal force, can separate the different cell types and result in distinct layers within the vial – of which PRP is one.
The platelet rich plasma is then injected into the affected area to promote and hasten the healing process and provide much-needed relief.
In addition to sciatica, it’s used for many other conditions such as arthritis, bursitis, tendinitis, and even hair loss.
One of the most prevalent causes of sciatica pain is degenerative disc disease, which results in weak and worn-down spinal discs. Other common causes include herniated discs, spondylolisthesis and spinal stenosis.
PRP has been emerging as a viable alternative to more invasive procedures over recent years as regenerative medicine takes more of a prominent role in pain management. Best part is, many people can benefit from it, from athletes to seniors.
Contact Michigan Center for Regenerative Medicine
If you suffer from sciatica and are eager to try a solution that has been known to secure more promising results than the options you’ve been through up till now, our team is here to help. Just call us at (248) 216-1008 for your free, no-obligation consultation.
By Board-certified Doctor Thomas Nabity, MD
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