Platelet-Rich Plasma (PRP) Therapy

What is PRP Therapy?

At Spine and Pain Specialty Care, we provide advanced regenerative medicine treatments designed to help patients heal naturally without major surgery. One of the most effective biologic therapies available today is Platelet-Rich Plasma (PRP) therapy, a minimally invasive treatment that uses your body’s own healing properties to support tissue repair and long-term pain relief.

Led by Dr. Edward Shen, our practice specializes in comprehensive pain management and interventional regenerative therapies for patients throughout Elizabeth, NJ and the surrounding areas.

Dr. Edward Shen is a Harvard-educated, double board-certified physician in Pain Medicine and Anesthesiology and serves as Pain Division Chief at Trinitas Regional Medical Center in Elizabeth. He performs PRP injections using live image guidance (fluoroscopy and ultrasound) so the concentrated platelets are delivered precisely to the injured tendon, ligament, or joint with accuracy and safety.

How PRP Injections Work

A PRP injection works by delivering a concentrated dose of healing platelets directly into damaged tissues. These platelets release growth factors that may help:

• Stimulate tissue regeneration
• Improve circulation to injured areas
• Reduce inflammation
• Accelerate healing
• Support collagen production
• Promote recovery in tendons, ligaments, muscles, and joints

Conditions Treated with PRP Therapy

At Spine and Pain Specialty Care, board-certified Dr. Edward Shen deploys PRP therapy for a variety of musculoskeletal and orthopedic conditions, including:

Joint Pain & Arthritis

• Knee arthritis
• Shoulder arthritis
• Hip arthritis
• Degenerative osteoarthritis
• Joint inflammation

Sports & Overuse Injuries

• Tennis elbow
• Golfer’s elbow
• Rotator cuff injuries
• Achilles tendonitis
• Patellar tendonitis
• Runner’s knee

Spine & Musculoskeletal Pain

• Chronic back pain
• Neck pain
• Ligament injuries
• Muscle strain injuries
• Degenerative conditions

Soft Tissue Injuries

• Tendon tears
• Ligament sprains
• Chronic tendon inflammation
• Repetitive stress injuries

Benefits of PRP Therapy

Patients often choose PRP therapy because it offers a minimally invasive alternative to surgery and long-term medication use.

Potential benefits of platelet rich plasma injections include:

• Reduced pain and inflammation
• Improved joint mobility
• Faster healing response
• Non-surgical treatment option
• Minimal downtime
• Use of the body’s natural healing properties
• Personalized regenerative medicine care
• Potential reduction in reliance on pain medications

Every patient responds differently, but many individuals experience meaningful improvement in function and quality of life following PRP treatment.

Orthopedic & Regenerative Care

PRP therapy is part of the orthopedic and regenerative pain care offered at Spine and Pain Specialty Care. Rather than only masking symptoms, PRP uses concentrated growth factors from your own blood to support the body’s natural repair of injured tissue, delivered with image guidance in our dedicated in-office procedure suite.

PRP Therapy vs. Traditional Pain Management Treatments

Traditional pain management treatment options often focus on symptom control through medications, steroid injections, or surgery. While these treatments can provide relief, they may not actively support tissue repair.

Regenerative medicine treatments like PRP therapy aim to address the underlying damage contributing to pain by encouraging the body’s natural healing process.

At Spine and Pain Specialty Care, we frequently combine regenerative therapies with comprehensive pain management strategies that may include:

• Physical therapy
• Interventional pain procedures
• Rehabilitation programs
• Lifestyle modifications
• Sports medicine care
• Minimally invasive treatments

Our goal is to create individualized care plans that help patients regain mobility and improve long-term function.

Serving Patients Across Elizabeth & Union County

Spine and Pain Specialty Care is located in Elizabeth and treats patients from across Union County and the surrounding area, including Linden, Roselle, Roselle Park, Hillside, Union, Cranford, Clark, and Newark. The office is easily reached from Route 1&9, the Garden State Parkway, and the New Jersey Turnpike. Se Habla Espanol – our team supports Spanish-speaking patients throughout their care.

Schedule a PRP Therapy Consultation in Elizabeth, NJ

If chronic joint pain, tendon injuries, arthritis, or musculoskeletal discomfort is limiting your daily life, Spine and Pain Specialty Care is here to help. We accept most commercial insurance plans, PPO, workers’ compensation, no-fault/PIP auto insurance, and slip-and-fall cases.

Our advanced PRP therapy and regenerative medicine treatments are designed to support natural healing, reduce pain, and improve mobility without major surgery.

Call Spine and Pain Specialty Care today at (908) 818-1600 to schedule your consultation and learn whether a personalized regenerative medicine treatment plan is right for you.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I be evaluated and treated on the same day?

Often, yes. In many cases Dr. Shen can provide evaluation, diagnosis – including in-office X-ray or ultrasound imaging – and discuss whether PRP is appropriate in a single visit. The PRP injection itself is prepared from your blood at the time of treatment.

How is PRP different from a cortisone injection?

A cortisone injection reduces inflammation to alleviate pain, while PRP uses your own concentrated growth factors to support healing of the injured tissue. Dr. Shen will advise which approach, or combination, best fits your condition.

How long does it take to feel results from PRP?

PRP works gradually because it supports your body’s own repair process. Many patients notice improvement over several weeks, and results can continue to build over the months that follow.

Is PRP made from my own blood?

Yes. A small sample of your blood is drawn and spun in a centrifuge to concentrate the platelets, then injected back into the injured area. Because it comes from your own body, the risk of reaction is very low.

Do you treat injuries from a car accident or work injury?

Yes. Dr. Shen regularly treats joint, tendon, and soft-tissue injuries from motor vehicle accidents and work-related incidents, and the practice accepts no-fault/PIP auto insurance and workers’ compensation, handling the documentation these claims require.

Spine and Pain Specialty Care Practice Summary

Practice Name: Spine and Pain Specialty Care
Physician: Dr. Edward Shen, MD
Credentials: Harvard-educated, double board-certified in Pain Medicine and Anesthesiology; Pain Division Chief at Trinitas Regional Medical Center
Location: 219 S. Broad Street, Elizabeth, NJ 07202
Serving: Elizabeth, Union County, and surrounding New Jersey communities
Conditions: Knee, shoulder, and hip arthritis, tendon injuries (tennis elbow, rotator cuff, Achilles), ligament sprains, and chronic tendon inflammation
Insurance: Most commercial insurance plans, PPO, workers’ compensation, no-fault/PIP auto insurance, and slip-and-fall claims
Languages: English and Spanish (Se Habla Espanol)
Phone: (908) 818-1600