PRP Injections for Wrist Pain

PRP Injections for Wrist Pain in San Antonio, TX

Your hands and wrists are on constant duty. So, when they're in pain, performing even the most basic tasks can be difficult.

If your wrist pain hasn't improved with conservative treatments like pain medications, consider platelet-rich plasma (PRP) therapy from PRP Clinic at The Golab Center for Back & Joint Relief. This breakthrough treatment uses your own body to help your wrist heal faster without medications or invasive surgery.

Understanding Wrist Pain

According to the American Society for Surgery of the Hand, common causes of wrist pain include:¹

Carpal tunnel syndrome (pressure or pinching of median nerve)
Repetitive motion
Physical impacts (e.g., falling)
Arthritis
Ganglion cysts (noncancerous lumps that develop in the wrist)

Your doctor may perform various tests to determine the cause of your wrist pain. Treatments can vary depending on the type and severity of your wrist pain. Your treatment plan may include:

Over-the-counter medications (ex: acetaminophen)
Physical therapy
Cast or splint
Surgery
Braces
Ice pack
Corticosteroid injections

Conservative treatments may not work in some patients, so finding safe and effective therapies is critical to prevent chronic wrist pain.

What is PRP Therapy?

Platelets are important players in maintaining homeostasis (stability) in your tissues.

When you're injured, your platelets help your blood clot by releasing growth factors, proteins, and other anti-inflammatory chemicals.² They also attract stem cells to the injury site, where they can form healthy tissue.²

Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) therapy harnesses these healing powers of platelets.

Apart from platelets, PRP can also contain:³

Plasma
Leukocytes
Neutrophils
Monocytes
Erythrocytes

Each of these factors can also lend support for tissue healing.

PRP injections work by changing the biological microenvironment of your wrist. By flooding your wrist joint with a high concentration of platelets (at least 2 times that of whole blood), PRP can help reduce inflammation and enhance tissue healing and regeneration.⁴

In other words, PRP therapy helps your body heal itself.

Can PRP Injections Help Wrist Pain?

PRP is quickly emerging as a potential therapy for many causes of wrist pain.

The scaphoid is one of the eight small bones in your wrist. It is also the most common location of wrist fractures and sometimes requires prolonged immobilization due to delayed healing. A study published in 2016 reported on the use of PRP for 14 patients with scaphoid fractures. The 7 patients who received PRP injections reported significant pain reductions by the 3-month follow-up visit. The fracture union also occurred faster in this group, though the difference wasn't significant.⁵

A 2018 review of 5 studies found that PRP improved the conditions of patients with mild to moderate carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) .⁷ Another study of 150 patients found that PRP was superior to corticosteroids in treating patients with mild to moderate CTS.⁷

The findings above were further supported by a study published in 2021, in which 26 patients (52 wrists total) with moderate to severe CTS were treated with either PRP or saline injections. After 1 year, the PRP group exhibited significant improvements .⁸

One small study assessed the effectiveness of PRP for 10 patients with basal thumb arthritis. By the 6-month follow-up, patients reported significant improvements in their pain. The investigators of the study concluded that PRP is a reasonable therapeutic option for patients with early basal thumb arthritis .⁴

PRP can also help improve unresolved wrist pain. A paper published by Darrow and colleagues reported six patients who underwent two to four PRP injections for unresolved wrist pain. At their final follow-up, all patients in the study experienced less pain and improved function.

How the PRP Process Works

Because wrist pain can be caused by numerous factors, there is no one-size-fits-all approach. The first step to any treatment is to get an accurate diagnosis. Then we'll help you determine if PRP therapy is right for you.

Your provider will provide instructions on how to prepare for your appointment. Some medications like anticoagulants or NSAIDs may need to be stopped.

The entire PRP process, which includes preparation and injection, takes approximately 1 to 1.5 hours. At PRP Clinic at The Golab Center for Back & Joint Relief, you can expect the following steps:

Step One	Step Two	Step Three	Step Four
A technician will draw a small sample of blood from you, which will be placed in a tube.	The vial is placed in a centrifuge, which spins the blood at high speeds. This separates the platelets from the other blood components.	We remove the tube from the centrifuge and separate the plasma layer from the other layers which are then discarded.	Once the PRP solution is prepared, your provider will inject it into the affected area where the healing process begins.

Step One

A technician will draw a small sample of blood from you, which will be placed in a tube.

Step Two

The vial is placed in a centrifuge, which spins the blood at high speeds. This separates the platelets from the other blood components.

Step Three

We remove the tube from the centrifuge and separate the plasma layer from the other layers which are then discarded.

Step Four

Once the PRP solution is prepared, your provider will inject it into the affected area where the healing process begins.

Because PRP triggers a cascade of biological responses, you may experience some soreness or swelling in the injection area. This heightened discomfort is normal. We recommend taking it easy for a few days after your treatment.

Are PRP Injections Safe?

Because PRP is an autologous therapy (derived from your own blood), it has an outstanding safety profile. There is no risk of an adverse reaction or disease transmission. Talk to your provider if you're taking any medications or if you experience any severe discomfort after your injection.