What is PRP?

PRP is shorthand to describe an injection of platelet rich plasma, which is obtained by drawing blood from your vein and spinning it in a centrifuge to separate out and concentrate the platelets from the other cells in your blood.  Platelets are targeted because they are rich in growth factors, which promote healing, reduce inflammation, and accelerate tissue repair.  The goal of PRP injections is to reduce inflammation and pain, and accelerate or promote healing through cell signaling.  Your circulating blood cells see those concentrated growth factors and responds by recruiting more cells with anti-inflammatory capabilities to the injured area to reduce inflammation and stimulate healing.  

What is BMAC?

Bone Marrow Aspirate Concentrate (BMAC) entails harvesting bone marrow containing mesenchymal signaling cells (MSCs) from your pelvis bone, concentrating these cells via a centrifuge, and injecting them into an arthritic joint or injured tendon to reduce inflammation and promote healing/repair.  With bone marrow aspirate concentrate we bypass the peripheral blood and go to the source of healing cells in the bone marrow by concentrating the MSCs, which may have the potential to differentiate into other cell types and are anti-inflammatory.  When injected into an arthritic joint or injured tissue, research has shown that these cells help create an environment of reduced inflammation and pain, with superior outcomes when compared to steroid injections.

Why choose PRP or BMAC?

The goal of these treatments is to promote healing by creating the best possible biologic microenvironment.  This environment promotes symptomatic relief, reduced inflammation, stimulation of healing of damaged tissues via an injection of a minimally manipulated but concentrated autologous blood product and/or a bone marrow derived cell-based therapy.  Some benefits to PRP/BMAC include: 

  • natural pain relief versus prescription medications 

  • increased healing potential

  • improved mobility and function

  • faster recovery time

  • reduced time away from sports, work, and everyday activities

  • avoidance of potentially harmful steroid injections

Frequently Asked Questions

  • We recommend you bring any imaging or imaging reports with you to your consult.  If you do not have current imaging, do not worry, we can determine the most appropriate imaging for you.

  • Adolescent athlete, in-season athlete, weekend warrior, pregnant or breastfeeding, non-operative, intra-operative, post-operative, geriatric

  • Acute injury, muscle strains or acute tears, joint/ligament sprains, ACL partial tears, tendinopathy (epicondylitis, patella, rotator cuff, glute medius, achilles, plantar fascia), meniscus tears that are not immediately operative, mild-moderate osteoarthritis, anyone interested in rehabbing an injury conservatively

  • Easy, safe, does not burn any bridges (if surgery is eventually decided), avoids steroid use, does not delay surgery (like steroid does), no extended time off from routine/sport

  • We have an anesthesia provider start an IV and provide conscious sedation so you will not feel pain during the bone marrow harvest.

  • Typically in-and-out of clinic in 30 minutes. If you are undergoing BMAC injection, this can be up to 45 minutes.

  • Research shows there is possible increasing benefit with consecutive injections depending on the diagnosis.  Oftentimes we will recommend a series of 2-3 injections based on your body’s response and improvement in pain and function. In general, we recommend a minimum of 1-2 weeks in between injections.

  • Hydrate! Avoid NSAIDS for 1-2 weeks prior to and up to 4 weeks after. Wear shorts or a sports bra depending on the injection site. If you are getting a BMAC injection, do not eat/drink anything by mouth for 6 hours prior to your appointment.

  • You may feel sore and have increased pain for up to two weeks after.  Avoid strenuous, endurance or repetitive high impact exercise or heavy weight lifting after injection for 3-5 days. We encourage patients to stay active with a low-impact routine for the first week following an injection.  We recommend rest, ice, compression, elevation, and Tylenol as needed for acute pain for 1-2 days.

  • Not usually, but you can use your HSA or FSA

  • PRP and BMAC have been shown in multiple studies to have better outcomes when compared to knee arthroscopy for osteoarthritis, hyaluronic acid or placebo injections.  There is no guarantee for outcome, but current studies continue to show extremely promising results.