You expected your ankle pain to go away weeks ago. Instead, every step reminds you that something still isn’t right with your Achilles tendon.
Chronic Achilles tendon pain can be frustrating because it often lingers long after your initial injury. In fact, it develops from overuse and affects as many 10% of all runners at any given time. But runners aren’t the only ones who can be affected.
While rest, physical therapy, and anti-inflammatory treatments help many people, some continue to struggle with persistent pain and stiffness. That’s where platelet-rich plasma (PRP) therapy comes into play.
PRP therapy supports your body’s natural healing processes, and it’s available at Rocky Mountain Foot & Ankle Center. Here, our expert podiatry team explains what PRP is and three ways it can help with chronic Achilles tendon pain.
Your blood naturally contains platelets. They’re the smallest component in your blood, and their main job is to help if you’ve been injured. Because of that, they’re naturally rich in growth factors and other proteins involved in tissue repair.
PRP therapy uses a small sample of your own blood, and we use a centrifuge to concentrate the platelets. We then inject your concentrated PRP serum directly into your injured tendon. The concentrated platelets help support your body's natural healing.
Now that we’ve covered what PRP injections are, let’s look at the three ways that they may help you with your Achilles tendon pain.
Unlike a muscle, your Achilles tendon has a relatively limited blood supply. That’s true of all tendons; they just have less blood flow than muscles. As a result, chronic tendon injuries can be slow to heal.
PRP contains a concentrated dose of growth factors that may help support tissue repair and healing within your damaged tendon. If you have chronic Achilles tendinopathy, this may help jump-start a healing process that has stalled.
When your Achilles tendon is chronically irritated, even simple activities can become uncomfortable. PRP may help regulate inflammation within your tendon while supporting tissue healing.
As your tendon recovers, you may experience less pain during activities such as walking, exercising, or climbing stairs. A reduction in pain can also make it easier for you to stick with any prescribed physical therapy exercises. Win-win!
Whether your goal is to get back to running, hike Colorado trails, play pickleball, or simply walk comfortably, PRP may help you get there. That’s because PRP therapy can support your long-term ankle goals.
For example, research published in the World Journal of Orthopedics revealed that PRP therapy alone improved long-term ankle mobility in people with Achilles tendinopathy.
PRP may be worth considering if you’ve been dealing with Achilles tendon pain for several months and haven’t found sufficient relief from conservative treatments.
During your consultation, the team at Rocky Mountain Foot & Ankle Center can evaluate your symptoms, discuss your goals, and determine whether PRP may be an appropriate option for your recovery plan.
To get started, contact us at the location most convenient for you — in Wheat Ridge, Evergreen, or Thornton, Colorado — and learn whether PRP can help with your chronic pain.
