What Should You Do Before and After a PRP Injection?

If you’re considering platelet-rich plasma (PRP) treatment, you may be wondering what you should—or shouldn’t—do before and after your injection.

Preparing appropriately can help make the treatment process as smooth as possible. Just as importantly, knowing what to expect afterward can help you understand the recovery process and recognize when you should contact your physician.

At Sampson Regen, PRP treatment is individualized to the patient and the condition being treated. Your specific preparation and recovery instructions may differ depending on the injection site, diagnosis, medications and treatment protocol.

What Is PRP?

Platelet-rich plasma, or PRP, is a preparation made from a patient’s own blood.

During treatment, a small amount of blood is collected and processed to concentrate platelets and other components. The resulting PRP preparation is then injected into the area being treated.

PRP has been studied for a variety of musculoskeletal conditions, including knee osteoarthritis and certain tendon disorders.

Because protocols differ, there isn’t one universal PRP treatment or recovery timeline. Your physician should provide instructions specific to your treatment.

Before Your PRP Injection

1. Tell Your Physician About Your Medications

Before treatment, make sure your physician knows about all medications and supplements you take, including prescription medications, over-the-counter medications and vitamins.

This is particularly important if you take medications that affect blood clotting or inflammation.

Some physicians recommend limiting certain anti-inflammatory medications around PRP treatment because of their potential effects on platelet function. However, you should never stop a prescribed medication on your own.

Ask your physician specifically which medications, if any, you should hold before your procedure and when you can resume them.

2. Stay Hydrated

Because PRP is prepared from a blood sample, arriving adequately hydrated can be helpful.

Drink water normally before your appointment unless you have been given different instructions for a medical reason.

3. Eat Normally Unless Instructed Otherwise

For most office-based PRP procedures, patients can generally eat normally beforehand.

We recommend eating a normal meal before your treatment and arriving well hydrated. This can help prevent lightheadedness, nausea, or a vasovagal reaction during the procedure, particularly if you are nervous or sensitive to injections. Having food in your stomach may also help you better tolerate any medications provided for comfort.

If you have a medical condition or are receiving another procedure at the same time, follow the specific instructions provided by your medical team.

4. Plan for Your Appointment

Wear comfortable clothing that allows easy access to the treatment area.

It is also a good idea to plan your schedule so that you don’t have to rush immediately before or after your appointment. Depending on the area being treated, you will likely need a ride home.

What Happens During a PRP Treatment?

At Sampson Regen, every PRP injection is performed using image guidance to help identify and precisely target the intended treatment area.

The exact process varies depending on the condition being treated, but typically includes:

• Blood collection: A small amount of blood is drawn from your arm.
• Processing: The blood is processed to create the PRP preparation.
• Treatment planning: Your physician identifies the intended treatment area based on your diagnosis, examination and relevant imaging.
• Image-guided injection: The PRP is delivered to the targeted areas using image guidance.

Image guidance allows the physician to visualize the relevant anatomy during the procedure and helps support accurate placement of the injection.

Your physician will typically use local anesthetic prior to the PRP injection for a comfortable experience.

What Should You Expect After PRP?

One of the most important things to understand about PRP is that it is not necessarily an immediate pain-relief treatment.

Unlike an injection specifically intended to provide rapid symptom relief, PRP may take time before patients notice improvement. Some patients may require a series of PRP injections.

Some patients experience temporary soreness or increased discomfort following treatment for 48-72 hours. This can be part of the short-term response to the injection as we are re-starting the wound healing process.

Your recovery will depend on the condition being treated and the location of the injection.

Tracking Your Outcomes

At Sampson Regen, we track patient-reported outcomes following PRP treatment through a patient registry. Monitoring your progress over time helps us evaluate our results and continually refine and optimize our treatment protocols.

1. Follow Your Individual Activity Plan

Your physician will provide guidance about activity following your injection.

Depending on what was treated, you may be advised to temporarily modify activities that place significant stress on the treated area.

This does not necessarily mean complete rest.

In many musculoskeletal conditions, appropriate movement and progressive rehabilitation are important parts of recovery. The timing and type of activity should be individualized rather than based on a one-size-fits-all timeline.

2. Rehabilitation Can Be an Important Part of the Plan

PRP is not intended to replace appropriate rehabilitation.

Depending on your diagnosis, a treatment plan may include bracing, physical therapy, home exercises, mobility work, progressive strengthening and gradual return to activity.

The goals of rehabilitation may include:

• Restoring appropriate mobility
• Improving strength and muscular control
• Supporting joint stability
• Gradually increasing tolerance for activity
• Addressing contributing movement or strength deficits
• Helping patients return to their normal activities

The timing of each phase depends on the condition being treated and your individual response.

For an athlete or highly active patient, rehabilitation may also be structured around a gradual return to sport or specific performance goals.

3. Follow Your Individual Rehabilitation Plan

Rehabilitation can be an important part of the recovery process after PRP. Depending on the condition being treated, your physician may recommend physical therapy, therapeutic exercise, mobility work, progressive strengthening, or other supportive treatments.

Additional modalities may also be incorporated when clinically appropriate, depending on your diagnosis, treatment area, and stage of recovery. These may include technologies such as EMSCULPT NEO, focused shockwave therapy, laser therapy, or other modalities designed to support movement, muscle function, or the overall rehabilitation plan.

The goal is to gradually restore mobility, strength, stability, and function while allowing you to progress safely toward your normal activities.

There is no one-size-fits-all recovery protocol after PRP. Your post-procedure recommendations will depend on what was treated, your individual response, and your overall treatment goals.

4. Avoid Returning to Intense Exercise Too Quickly

Even if you feel relatively good immediately after treatment, it is generally best not to assume that you’re ready to return to your full workout routine.

High-impact activity, heavy lifting or strenuous exercise may need to be temporarily limited depending on the treatment site and diagnosis.

As recovery progresses, activity can generally be increased gradually according to your physician’s recommendations and, when appropriate, your rehabilitation program. It’s important to listen to your body for natural feedback and avoid activities that reproduce symptoms and cause discomfort during or afterwards.

5. Expect That Soreness May Occur

Temporary soreness, tenderness or swelling can occur after an injection.

Some patients describe an increase in discomfort during the first several days before symptoms begin to settle.

This does not necessarily mean that the treatment has been unsuccessful.

However, severe, worsening or unexpected symptoms should be discussed with your physician.

6. Be Thoughtful About Pain Medications

Medication instructions after PRP can be different from those used after other injections.

Because PRP involves platelets and their biological activity, some physicians recommend avoiding certain nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) around the time of treatment.

However, recommendations vary, and NSAIDs may be medically necessary for some patients.

Aspirin can affect platelet function. Depending on your individual medical history and treatment plan, your physician may recommend discontinuing aspirin before your procedure. Please do not stop aspirin or any prescribed medication without first discussing it with your physician.

Do not stop or change a prescribed medication without speaking with your physician.

Ask your Sampson Regen medical team what pain-relief options are appropriate for you following your procedure.

7. Give the Treatment Time

One of the biggest mistakes patients can make is expecting immediate results.

PRP is not designed to function like a quick pain-relief injection.

Depending on the condition being treated, improvement may develop gradually over the following weeks.

The timeline varies significantly between patients and conditions, so your physician will discuss what you can reasonably expect based on your specific treatment.

Why Rehabilitation Matters

An injection is only one part of the treatment process.

For many musculoskeletal conditions, improving strength, mobility and movement patterns is an important component of recovery.

A comprehensive plan may combine PRP with appropriate rehabilitation, therapeutic exercise and other technologies or treatments when clinically indicated.

At Sampson Regen, the goal is to develop a plan that addresses the patient, the diagnosis and the functional goals—not simply the location of the pain.

A Personalized Approach to Recovery

Your recovery plan may evolve over time.

Early in the process, the focus may be on protecting the treated area and allowing symptoms to settle. As appropriate, the emphasis may shift toward mobility, strengthening and progressively increasing activity.

For active patients, that progression may ultimately focus on returning to workouts, sports or other activities.

The key is progression based on your individual response, rather than trying to do too much too soon.

When Should You Contact Your Physician?

Mild soreness or tenderness can occur after PRP.

However, contact your medical team if you experience symptoms that are severe, worsening or concerning, such as:

• Increasing redness or warmth around the injection site
• Significant swelling
• Fever or chills
• Severe or escalating pain
• Drainage from the injection site
• New weakness, numbness or other concerning symptoms

Your physician can determine whether these symptoms represent a normal part of recovery or require further evaluation.

How Long Does It Take for PRP to Work?

This is one of the most common questions patients ask.

There is no single timeline that applies to every PRP treatment.

Some patients begin noticing changes within several weeks, while others may take longer. The response also depends heavily on the condition being treated.

For chronic conditions such as osteoarthritis or tendinopathy, improvement may be gradual rather than immediate.

It is also important to remember that PRP does not guarantee a specific outcome.

The goal is to give appropriately selected patients another treatment option, but individual responses vary.

PRP at Sampson Regen

At Sampson Regen, PRP treatment begins with determining whether PRP is appropriate for the patient’s specific condition.

Dr. Steve Sampson considers the patient’s symptoms, physical examination, medical history, relevant imaging and treatment goals when developing an individualized plan.

Every PRP injection at Sampson Regen is performed with image guidance to support precise targeting of the intended treatment area.

And treatment doesn’t necessarily end when the injection is complete.

When appropriate, PRP may be incorporated into a broader plan that includes rehabilitation, therapeutic exercise, progressive strengthening and other supportive treatments.

For selected patients, EMSCULPT NEO may also be incorporated into a strengthening and functional rehabilitation program when clinically appropriate.

The goal is to create a treatment strategy that evolves with the patient—from addressing symptoms to progressively rebuilding strength, mobility and tolerance for activity.

The Bottom Line

Preparing for PRP doesn’t have to be complicated.

Before treatment: Stay hydrated, eat normally unless instructed otherwise, review your medications and supplements with your physician, and plan for some activity modification afterward.

After treatment: Expect that some soreness may occur, follow your individualized activity instructions, avoid returning to strenuous exercise too quickly, and give the treatment time to work.

Most importantly, PRP is just one part of the process. For many musculoskeletal conditions, an appropriate rehabilitation program can be an important component of recovery.

Depending on the patient and diagnosis, that plan may include therapeutic exercise, physical therapy, progressive strengthening and, when appropriate, technologies such as EMSCULPT NEO, Shockwave, and Laser.

If you’re considering PRP for persistent joint, tendon or musculoskeletal pain, an evaluation can help determine whether it may be an appropriate treatment option—and what a comprehensive treatment and rehabilitation plan could look like for you.

Schedule a Consultation with Sampson Regen

📞 (310) 453-5404: Contact our office to schedule a consultation and learn more about PRP treatment.

This information is provided for educational purposes only and is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any medical condition. PRP protocols and post-treatment recommendations vary by condition and patient. Always follow the specific instructions provided by your treating physician. Do not stop or change prescribed medications without medical guidance. Individual results vary.