What was your injury that was treated with prp?
Achilles Tendinosis and Insertional Tendonitis and Retrocalcaneal bursitis due to a Haglund’s Deformity on my heel.
Layman terms: I have a bone spur, which doesn’t actually have any symptoms in and of itself, but your body thinks it does, and forms a bursa around it. As it grows, the bursa interferes with the movement of the achilles at its insertion point. Meaning, you can’t push off of your toes because your tendon can’t move properly. Its misery.
Did you try any other therapy before you opted for prp treatment?
I have actually tried everything and anything. Ultrasound/Physical therapy, Cortisone shots, ice, rest, elevation, heel lifts, then high heels, then really high heels, then a hard cast for three weeks that I wore for my cousins wedding dammit, piles of advil and aleve and flector patches and massage and acupuncture and slamming my head against a wall. For a year ive given everything, both medical and non, a fighting chance and absolutely nothing has worked. I really hope this legal doping, not quite medically proven stuff works. This skeptic has hope in medicine. Thats why I’m choosing PRP.
Why did your physician decide to utilize prp for this injury?
Nothing else worked. I have bad knees that I need to continue rehabbing and can’t be injured like this! I was jogging, biking…its debilitated me, and quickly. Just FYI, I am a 40 year old woman of average weight and above average height (5’8″).
What medical facility did your physician perform this treatment? Hospital? Physician clinic?
Did much research in NYC as to pricing and expertise, and have decided to have it done at my current orthopedic practice. They have an ultrasound technician and xray tech on site. My orthopedist, whom I trust implicitly, recommended it, since nothing seems to have worked. (disclosure: he is my surgeon of 3x on the same knee in 7 months. You don’t have to ask, but safe to say he’s a miracle worker.) He does not do the injections himself; he concentrates his practice on surgery. There is a DPM in his private practice office who has treated me for this issue (cortisone shots) and his injections, ultrasound guided, are very gentle.
I hope it doesnt hurt. Good thing I work at a wine store. I can self-medicate beforehand.
PRP is not very expensive in comparison to what I’ve already put toward any sort of healing. Easily $500 on new shoes, $250 on acupuncture and massages. At $350 an injection, its a relative bargain. Botox costs as much, and living in New York City, hoo boy do you see money burned on THAT.
Did your physician have you follow a specific protocol the night before your prp treatment?
No special instructions. I am healthy and my blood counts always normal. (note: I used to work in OB/GYN and have a better than average working medical knowledge.
Did the physician use ultrasound as a guide to place the platelet rich plasma?
No. So swollen it was obvious where i needed shot up. Dr confirmed the most sensitive spots beforehand.
How did the injection feel? Explain. And do you remember how long the prp treatment took? If you had pain, how long did the pain last? Any swelling?
felt ZERO. NOTHING. a little pressure but by then it was over. Blood draw and novocaine took longer than injection!
How long did the entire visit take?
60 Min
After treatment, did your physician wrap the treatment site? If not, what did he do post treatment?
Put a bandaid on it. Advised a cam walker boot but that hurt to wear. UsIng COBAN and tylenol instead.
What was your physicians post prp treatment protocol for you? Restrictions? Rest? Exercise? Stretching? Pain medication? Any specific directions you had to follow?
Tylenol, Ice, Rest, Elevation, Follow up in 3 wks.
How much was the prp treatment?
$400
Did the treatment work for you? If so, when did you start feeling better?
INSTANTLY. wow. Just. Wow. I’m a skeptic but this works. The throbbing is gone. The inflammation is easily 50% less than 12 hrs ago.
