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Platelet Rich Plasma (PRP) Therapy: Regenerate Your Body's Natural Healing Powers at Our Portland, Oregon Clinic

PRP Portland

Why PRP?

PRP injections, or Platelet-Rich Plasma injections, involve using a person's own blood to promote healing and tissue regeneration. To prepare for a PRP injection, a small amount of the person's blood is drawn and then processed to separate the platelets from other components. The platelets, which contain growth factors and proteins that help the body repair and regenerate tissues, are then injected back into the person's body at the site of the injury or damage. At Cascade Regenerative Medicine these injections are always done Ultrasound-Guided. 

The injection of concentrated platelets can help accelerate the body's natural healing process and promote tissue repair. PRP injections are increasingly used in sports medicine and orthopedics to treat injuries and joint pain.

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See Dr. Oltman's in-depth PRP articles here: 

PRP Quality and Quantification

Multiple v Single PRP Treatments

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FAQs

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Pricing information can be found here.

Focused Self-Healing

Platelets are packets of growth factors and healing signals. The biochemical messengers released from platelets stimulate many processes in the blood and tissues including white blood cell recruitment, wound healing, inflammation resolution, cell proliferation, and new blood vessel growth.

All of the tissues in the body that are prone to degenerative conditions have poor blood flow and PRP is a distillation of the blood's healing power. PRP stimulates the body's natural healing process as if it has been injured, without creating any new injury, allowing more time and energy for healing. 

Powerful Concentration

The concentration and number of platelets is the most important variable in PRP. This is where the medicine derives its benefit and where expertise matters. At Cascade Regenerative Medicine, we quantify the platelet count for every batch of PRP we produce and put it in your chart note for official record keeping. We are continually reviewing the scientific literature for ways to improve our processing technique and we produce our PRP manually (instead of using a kit) to maintain complete control and customization of the process, while keeping the patient-cost low. Cascade Regenerative Medicine is also a member of the DataBiologics Network, working to add to the scientific documentation of orthobiologics, track patient progress, and improve outcome measures. 

Versatility & Flexibility

While some downtime is necessary after treatments, it is generally no more than a few days and allows patients to keep up their activities during a treatment course. This also allows for "maintenance treatments" periodically without a big disruption to your routine.

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PRP is very versatile and has wide ranging benefits that can be delivered in various forms to help the pain of a variety of conditions:

  • Osteoarthritis

  • Spine Pain

  • Tendinitis and Partial Tears

  • Meniscus Injury

  • Labrum Injury

  • Instability/Laxity

  • Nerve Entrapment

  • Chronic Dry Eye

  • Peripheral Neuropathy

  • Wound Healing

Disclaimer

PRP is not approved by the FDA to treat any medical condition. It is an unregulated autologous blood product and like many treatments in medicine, its use is "off-label". The potential benefits and risks will be discussed in detail with Dr. Oltman while considering your specific medical circumstances.

Scientific Evidence

Each Bullet Point Summary Links To A PubMed Study

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HIP

SHOULDER

LOW BACK and SPINE

ELBOW

HANDS and FEET


What does the scientific literature show?

FAQs

How Many Treatments Will I Need?

The vast majority of patients need more than one PRP treatment. This is because the healing process takes time and we want a continuous period of healing stimulus to achieve symptom relief. It can vary widely for different people and different conditions, but most people need a minimum of 3 treatments spaced out over 3-4 months. Injuries most likely resolve and don't require continuous treatment. Degenerative conditions, like osteoarthritis, generally get optimal results with routine treatments every 4-6 months, depending on severity. 

Are The Treatments Painful?

There is often temporary discomfort/pressure associated with the treatment as fluid is placed into small spaces. We offer a full array of options to ensure and prioritize patient comfort:  

  • Local and Regional anesthetic

  • Nerve Blocks when indicated

  • Nitrous Oxide Sedation

  • Pain Medication (Opioids and/or natural supplements)

  • Anxiolytics (Rx or natural supplements)

The majority of patients experience minimal pain with these measures. All patients will be provided instructions for post-treatment care that outlines additional comfort measures.

Is There A Recovery Period After A Treatment? 

For PRP, the recovery period is usually 3-5 days. During this period the treated area may feel increased achiness and/or stiffness that can be treated with heat applications and Tylenol (not anti-inflammatories). You do not need to be immobilized or non-weight bearing but you should avoid all strenuous activity during this period. After the post-treatment soreness has resolved you may begin slowly increasing your physical activity as tolerated. 

Are There Medications Restrictions During Treatment?

Most medications do not need to be stopped and do not interfere with the treatments. The exception are anti-inflammatories. This includes NSAIDs (Advil, Aleve, ibuprofen, etc) and steroids (prednisone orally or steroid injections). These inhibit the process that the treatments are trying to stimulate so they should be discontinued prior to any treatment. There are some exceptions and Dr. Oltman will address your specific needs as a part of your treatment plan. 

What Is The Cost Of A Treatment?

We require payment at the time of service. We provide you with a Superbill that you can submit to your insurance company for reimbursement. HSA accounts can also be used to pay for our services.

See our Pricing page for the full details on treatment cost and insurance coverage.

Are The Treatments Image-Guided?

Yes. Every treatment and every injection a patient receives is ultrasound-guided for the highest possible precision. The target is visualized and Dr. Oltman guides the needle directly into the area where the medicine needs to go for maximum results. There is no guess work. Dr. Oltman's RMSK credential is "Registered in Musculoskeletal Ultrasound" and distinguishes him as an expert in the technique that only a few doctors in the entire state of Oregon have. Read more about Ultrasound Expertise here.

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