PRP for Trigeminal Neuralgia

Am I a Candidate?

Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) therapy is an innovative treatment option offering hope for individuals suffering from trigeminal neuralgia. By using the body’s natural healing mechanisms, PRP aims to provide long-lasting relief from the debilitating pain associated with this condition.

This article explores the condition, conventional treatments, and how PRP is revolutionizing the management of facial nerve pain.

Understanding Trigeminal Neuralgia

Trigeminal neuralgia is a chronic pain condition that affects the trigeminal nerve. This nerve transmits sensations from the face to the brain. It is characterized by sudden, severe, and recurring episodes of facial pain, similar to electric shocks or stabbing sensations. This condition can be debilitating, significantly impacting the quality of life.

How Is Facial Nerve Pain Usually Treated?

Conventional treatments for trigeminal neuralgia often include medications such as anticonvulsants and muscle relaxants, nerve blocks, or surgical interventions like microvascular decompression or gamma knife radiosurgery.

While these options may offer temporary relief, they often come with significant risks, including side effects, long recovery periods, or limited effectiveness in pain relief. This makes exploring alternative treatments, such as PRP therapy, increasingly valuable.

How PRP Works Treating Facial Nerve Pain

PRP therapy leverages the body’s natural healing processes by using a concentrated sample of the patient’s own blood, rich in platelets and growth factors. This innovative approach can help repair and regenerate damaged tissues, offering a promising alternative for managing trigeminal neuralgia.

The PRP Procedure

Preparation: A small amount of the patient’s blood is drawn and processed in a centrifuge (spinner) to separate the platelets from other blood components.
Injection: The concentrated PRP is then carefully injected into the targeted area around the trigeminal nerve using imaging guidance to ensure precision.
Healing: The platelets release growth factors that stimulate tissue repair, reduce inflammation, and promote regeneration at the cellular level.

This minimally invasive procedure typically takes less than an hour and requires no general anesthesia, making it a convenient option for many patients.

What to Expect

Before: Patients undergo a consultation and diagnostic imaging to determine candidacy for PRP therapy.
During: The procedure is performed in a comfortable clinical setting, with most patients experiencing minimal discomfort.
After: Recovery is swift, with most individuals resuming normal activities within a day. Improvements in pain relief and function often become noticeable within weeks.

The Benefits of PRP for Managing Trigeminal Neuralgia

PRP therapy offers a host of benefits for individuals suffering from trigeminal neuralgia. Below are the key advantages:

Promotes Natural Regeneration and Repair

By harnessing the body’s intrinsic healing capabilities, PRP facilitates tissue regeneration and long-term recovery.

Releases Growth Factors

PRP releases essential growth factors that promote cell growth, stimulate collagen production, create new blood vessels, and regulate the immune response. These factors work synergistically to repair and restore the affected nerve tissues.

Long-Lasting Pain Relief and Improved Function

PRP provides sustainable relief from chronic pain and enhances nerve function, reducing the need for frequent treatments and improving overall quality of life.

Our PRP Treatments Are Backed by Research and Expertise

At the Centeno-Schultz Clinic (CSC), our PRP treatments are grounded in robust scientific research. Studies and publications from our clinic highlight the effectiveness of PRP in managing nerve-related conditions. Research has demonstrated PRP’s effectiveness in enhancing soft-tissue repair, particularly for tendon and wound healing.

Studies have shown that PRP injections can improve pain and function in patients with conditions like subacromial impingement and lateral epicondylitis. However, results can vary, with some studies indicating PRP’s superiority over corticosteroids in the long term, while others find no significant benefit over placebo.

In osteoarthritis treatment, early studies suggest that PRP injections may help reduce pain and stiffness by modulating the joint environment and decreasing inflammation. Overall, PRP therapy is considered a promising treatment for various orthopedic conditions, with ongoing research aimed at better understanding its efficacy and optimal applications. At the Centeno-Schultz Clinic, our PRP treatments are grounded in robust scientific research, highlighting the effectiveness of PRP in managing nerve-related conditions. Access the full text of our publications here.

What Sets Our PRP Treatment Apart from Other Regenerative Options?

Our approach to PRP therapy distinguishes us from other regenerative medicine providers.

We use advanced techniques to ensure optimal platelet concentrations, maximizing the therapeutic potential of PRP.

Targeted Treatment

With state-of-the-art imaging guidance, our team ensures precise delivery of PRP to the affected area for enhanced effectiveness.

Safety and Minimal Downtime

Our minimally invasive procedures prioritize patient safety and allow for quick recovery, enabling patients to return to their daily activities promptly.

Meet CSC’s Pioneers of Interventional Orthopedics

Our team of experts includes:

Christopher J. Centeno, MD

Christopher J. Centeno, M.D. is an international expert and specialist in Interventional Orthopedics and the clinical use of bone marrow concentrate in orthopedics. He is board-certified in physical medicine and rehabilitation with a subspecialty of pain medicine through The American Board of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation. Dr. Centeno is one of the few physicians in the world with extensive experience in the culture expansion of and clinical use of adult bone marrow concentrate to treat orthopedic injuries. His clinic incorporates a variety of revolutionary pain management techniques to bring its broad patient base relief and results. Dr. Centeno treats patients from all over the US who…

John Schultz, MD

John R. Schultz M.D. is a national expert and specialist in Interventional Orthopedics and the clinical use of bone marrow concentrate for orthopedic injuries. He is board certified in Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine and underwent fellowship training in both. Dr. Schultz has extensive experience with same day as well as culture expanded bone marrow concentrate and sees patients at the CSC Broomfield, Colorado Clinic, as well the Regenexx Clinic in Grand Cayman. Dr. Schultz emphasis is on the evaluation and treatment of thoracic and cervical disc, facet, nerve, and ligament injuries including the non-surgical treatment of Craniocervical instability (CCI). Dr. Schultz trained at George Washington School of…

John Pitts, M.D.

Dr. Pitts is originally from Chicago, IL but is a medical graduate of Vanderbilt School of Medicine in Nashville, TN. After Vanderbilt, he completed a residency in Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation (PM&R) at Emory University in Atlanta, GA. The focus of PM&R is the restoration of function and quality of life. In residency, he gained much experience in musculoskeletal medicine, rehabilitation, spine, and sports medicine along with some regenerative medicine. He also gained significant experience in fluoroscopically guided spinal procedures and peripheral injections. However, Dr. Pitts wanted to broaden his skills and treatment options beyond the current typical standards of care.

Jason Markle, D.O.

Post-residency, Dr. Markle was selected to the Interventional Orthopedic Fellowship program at the Centeno-Schultz Clinic. During his fellowship, he gained significant experience in the new field of Interventional Orthopedics and regenerative medicine, honing his skills in advanced injection techniques into the spine and joints treating patients with autologous, bone marrow concentrate and platelet solutions. Dr. Markle then accepted a full-time attending physician position at the Centeno-Schultz Clinic, where he both treats patients and trains Interventional Orthopedics fellows. Dr. Markle is an active member of the Interventional Orthopedic Foundation and serves as a course instructor, where he trains physicians from around the world.

A smiling man wearing scrubs and a patterned surgical cap.

Brandon T. Money, D.O., M.S.

Dr. Money is an Indiana native who now proudly calls Colorado home. He attended medical school at Kansas City University and then returned to Indiana to complete a Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation residency program at Indiana University, where he was trained on non-surgical methods to improve health and function as well as rehabilitative care following trauma, stroke, spinal cord injury, brain injury, etc. Dr. Money has been following the ideology behind Centeno-Schultz Clinic and Regenexx since he was in medical school, as he believed there had to be a better way to care for patients than the status quo. The human body has incredible healing capabilities…

Am I a Candidate?

To answer this question, fill out the candidate form below to request a new patient evaluation, and a patient advocate will reach out to you to determine your next steps. Your one-hour, in-office or telemedicine evaluation will be with one of the world’s experts in the field of Interventional Orthopedics.