How Long Should You Rest After PRP Injection?

Platelet-rich plasma therapy has gained a lot of popularity in the past years. It has been proven effective in treating many musculoskeletal conditions. However, after PRP injections under chiropractic care, a proper rest & recovery period is recommended by the professionals. This ensures effective healing. Now, you might be wondering how long you should rest after intake of platelet-rich plasma injection.

In this blog post, let us get to know about how long one should stay on a rest period after platelet-rich plasma therapy under chiropractic treatment.

Immediate post-injection Phase (First 24-48 Hours)

Rest and Light Movement:

When you are just done with platelet-rich plasma injection, you need to rest well. But that does not mean ‘total immobility’, i.e. no movement of the body at all. No, it's not the case here. During the first 24-48 hours of platelet-rich plasma therapy under chiropractic care, you are allowed to perform light and non-strenuous activities. These include activities that involve a little range of motion without stressing over the injected area. So, make sure that you are not heavy lifting or performing any heavy stressful physical activities during the first 24-48 hours of PRP injections.

Pain Management

During the first 24-48 hours, there are chances that you might experience some pain and swelling as platelet-rich plasma therapy performed under chiropractic care has activated the body’s inflammatory response to promote healing in the injured area. To manage pain & help discomfort, you can intake over-the-counter pain relievers like acetaminophen (Tylenol). Do not intake anti-inflammatory medications, such as ibuprofen or naproxen, during this period as they can affect the healing process of PRP injections injected under chiropractic treatment badly.

Short-Term Recovery (Days 3-7)

After 1-2 days of PRP therapy, let us come to the duration between 3rd and 7th day.

Activity Restrictions:

Similar to the movement precautions on the first and second day of platelet-rich plasma therapy performed under chiropractic care, continue to avoid the activities involving stresses on injured body parts. Gentle movement and light daily activities are permissible, but if you feel any kind of discomfort during any simple movement, stop it immediately. Do not move, stay on rest!

For platelet-rich plasma injection in the lower part of your body, like your legs or feet, you might need to use crutches to keep weight off the treated area. This helps to avoid putting stress on it while it heals.

Monitoring Symptoms:

In addition to taking care of any stressful physical movement, take care of any prevailing symptoms as well.

For example: excessive pain, swelling, or signs of infection.

However, these symptoms are fine and normal after platelet-rich plasma therapy under chiropractic treatment, but if you are experiencing significant redness, drainage, or fever in severity, you need to consult a chiropractor as soon as possible.

If you are looking for a chiropractor in “The Villages”, Legacy Clinic is here to help with the best platelet-rich plasma injections in “The Villages”.

Intermediate Recovery (Weeks 1-2)

Gradual Increase in Activity:

There's good news for you after 1 week of platelet-rich plasma therapy. Yes, you are guessing it right!

You can begin to gradually increase your activity levels now. This phase is crucial to initiate a cautious return to more routine movements and mild physical activities.

For example: you can consider performing light cardio exercises such as walking on a treadmill or stationary biking.

But make sure that you keep the possible symptoms in mind. Do not think that you are all set now to perform heavy physical activities or go on a trip with your friends. If you were thinking so, pause here!

Avoiding Overuse:

If you have taken platelet-rich plasma injection in the upper body, avoid repetitive motions or lifting heavy objects. For the lower body, you should not be involved in prolonged standing, walking, or running until or unless prescribed by the chiropractor.

If you want the best chiropractic care with PRP injections in “The Villages”, consult Legacy Clinic with the best professional chiropractor in “The Villages.”

Longer-Term Recovery (Weeks 2-6 and Beyond)

Return to Normal Activities:

By the third week of PRP injections, most of the patients get back to their normal life activities. But if you are feeling any kind of pain or discomfort between the 2nd and 6th week of chiropractic treatment, do not ignore it. Avoid being involved in any kind of physical activity that triggers pain in the injected area. If you have not been able to get back to your normal activities by the 2nd week, keep patience! It will be done in the coming weeks. You just need to take care that you do not perform any physical activity that triggers too much pain and causes discomfort.

Continued Monitoring and Physical Therapy:

In some cases, patients need to be redirected under continuous chiropractic care for recovery, particularly for tendon or ligament injuries, after platelet-rich plasma therapy.

Legacy Clinic can provide the best quality chiropractic treatment with the proper guidance of the expert chiropractor in “The Villages.”

Special Considerations

Individual Variation:

Every injury requires a specific duration to recover completely and might not be similar to others. Actually, the recovery depends on various factors such as:

• Condition being treated
• The site of the platelet-rich plasma injection, and
• Individual patient factors.
• If your injury is taking time to heal, be patient, do not lose hope!

Follow-Up and Additional Treatments:

In some cases, additional platelet-rich plasma injection is suggested by the chiropractor if the previous one has not left satisfactory impacts on the injured area. To assess the whole situation, stay in touch with proper chiropractic care.

Supplements and Supportive Care

Nutritional Support:

Many chiropractic professionals suggest an intake of supplements such as amino acids and vitamin C to support the healing process better. They are responsible for providing the necessary building blocks for tissue repair and enhance the overall recovery process​.

Avoiding Anti-Inflammatory Substances:

As mentioned for the first two days as well, stay away from anti-inflammatory substances, for example: turmeric, curcumin, etc., during the whole healing process as they can hinder the process and lead to harmful side effects thereafter. It will be better and helpful if you have a proper discussion with a chiropractor about what to consume and what not.

If you are on the lookout for the best chiropractic treatment with the PRP injections in “The Villages”, look no further! ‘Legacy Clinic’ is available to assist you on the right path with proper guidance under the industry professional chiropractor in “The Villages.”