12_31_2012 Platelet Rich Plasma (PRP) and Duck in a Bank Lobby

Dave has been dealing with chronic tendonosis on his right knee for some time. He's tried everything. Last thing to be done is PRP - Platelet Rich Plasma injections. Here Dr. Glowney at the Boulder Center for Sports Medicine is identifying example where he'll do the procedure.

He's no stranger to this procedure. Last joint to get it was his elbow. It worked! Hoping as good an outcome for his knee. But having had it before, he knows it can be "spicy".

First step is for them to draw a bucket of blood. Luckily, he has nice veins so that was pretty easy.

After the blood is drawn, it's put in a centrifuge and spun.  The plasma separates from the platelets and those are re-injected into the troubled joint.

14 minutes in the centrifuge...

Dave lounges on the table while the fun begins. Good idea and you never know who will or won't pass out during something like this. Happily, of the five of us in the room, no one keeled over.

The doctor uses an ultrasound to find the problem spot. It was evident on the screen - an area of "change" as Glowney stated. At least there was no calcification as they'd found in Dave's elbow before. That makes for better recovery chances.

The big needle goes in, and the platelets are strategically placed. Glowney went in on both sides of the knee and probed around (guided by ultrasound) to get just the right spots.

At one point they had Dave bend his knee while the needle was in it. That was like fun but different for Dave. You can see on the ultrasound machine the needle pointing right to the trouble spot.

Almost done. Big mess!

We left the doctor's office and had to stop at the bank. We went into the lobby and as we were at the ATM machine, a duck came in the lobby! A male Mallard. It was nasty and cold and snowing outside and people said he'd been in the street which is not good at a busy intersection like Table Mesa and Broadway. So the Chase Bank folks got me a box. I picked up the duck (who didn't even fight or seem concerned), placed him in the box, and covered it.

We drove over to the Tantra Duck Pond to let Chase (seems the right name for a duck at Chase Bank) join some Mallard friends.

Dave pulled him out of the box (he'd sat down comfortably in it) and put him on the ground. Chase looked around a second and then saw other Mallards.

He made a bee-line out to the other ducks. A few walked up to greet him.

And he hopped in the water and was content.  We went over there today and one of the Mallards came up next to me and sat down. I think it was Chase as he is happy to be pet. I know his bill markings so I'll head back over there tomorrow and verify. Happy duck. Free Blog Counter