By the Pain Management Team at Performance Pain and Sports Medicine
Suzanne Manzi, MD
Updated April 2026
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Chronic knee pain, tennis elbow, plantar fasciitis, rotator cuff trouble, and other tendon and joint problems can quietly take over a long shift at the ExxonMobil Baytown Complex, a turnaround at Chevron Phillips Cedar Bayou, a load-out on the Houston Ship Channel, or a Friday night at Stallworth Stadium. When rest, physical therapy, and over-the-counter medications stop providing meaningful relief, PRP injections offer a non-surgical regenerative option for workers and families across Baytown, Mont Belvieu, Channelview, Highlands, La Porte, Crosby, and the wider East Harris County / Houston Ship Channel community. Platelet-rich plasma therapy concentrates growth factors from the patient’s own blood and delivers them directly to damaged tissue under ultrasound guidance, where they may help reduce pain and support repair (Everts et al., Int J Mol Sci, 2020).
At the Baytown office of Performance Pain and Sports Medicine, located on West Baker Road just off I-10 and Garth Road, Dr. Suzanne Manzi performs PRP injections as part of a comprehensive interventional pain and regenerative medicine practice. The Baytown office offers PRP candidacy evaluations and ultrasound-guided injections with bilingual English and Spanish care for our majority-Hispanic East Harris County community.
What Is Platelet-Rich Plasma (PRP) Therapy?
PRP therapy is an injectable treatment made from a patient’s own blood. A small blood sample is processed in a centrifuge to separate and concentrate the platelets, which contain growth factors at levels 5 to 10 times higher than normal blood (AAOS OrthoInfo). These growth factors, including PDGF, TGF-beta, and VEGF, support the body’s natural inflammation and tissue repair processes (Everts et al., Int J Mol Sci, 2020).
Because PRP is autologous (made from the patient’s own blood), there is no risk of allergic reaction or disease transmission. PRP is not stem cell therapy, not a steroid injection, and not a surgical procedure. It is a regenerative injection that works by amplifying the body’s existing healing response.
Who Is a Candidate for PRP Injections in Baytown?
PRP injections may help patients with a range of musculoskeletal conditions. The strongest clinical evidence supports PRP for mild to moderate knee osteoarthritis, where multiple meta-analyses show clinically meaningful improvement in pain and function (Bensa et al., Am J Sports Med, 2025). Many of the East Harris County patients we evaluate at the Baytown office are refinery and chemical-plant operators, turnaround crews, welders and pipefitters, longshoremen and stevedores on the Ship Channel, GCCISD educators and coaches, weekend athletes, and active retirees whose decades of industrial work have caught up with their knees, shoulders, and elbows.
PRP is commonly used at the Baytown office for tendon conditions especially common in industrial work, including:
- Tennis elbow (lateral epicondylitis) — common in process operators with repetitive forearm work, mechanics, welders, and weekend tennis or pickleball players
- Rotator cuff tendinopathy — common in refinery operators, instrumentation technicians, and longshoremen who do sustained overhead work with helmet weight
- Plantar fasciitis — common in plant workers and mechanics who spend long hours on concrete, healthcare staff, and runners
- Sports injuries involving tendons and ligaments
Some Baytown patients with spine and back pain may benefit from PRP when used alongside other interventional approaches such as facet joint injections. The Baytown office offers PRP as part of an integrated pain plan for select spine and back pain patients when the clinical picture supports it.
Patients with active infections, blood clotting disorders, or certain cancers may not be candidates. A physician evaluation in Baytown — in English or Spanish — determines whether PRP is appropriate for the specific condition, joint, or tendon involved.
How PRP Injections Work
The PRP injection process at Performance Pain and Sports Medicine follows four steps:
- Consultation and evaluation. A physician reviews the patient’s condition, imaging, and treatment history to confirm PRP is appropriate.
- Blood draw. A small blood sample is drawn from the patient’s arm, similar to a routine lab draw.
- Centrifuge processing. The sample is placed in a centrifuge for 15 to 20 minutes, separating the platelet-rich layer from the rest of the blood.
- Ultrasound-guided injection. The concentrated PRP is injected into the target joint, tendon, or tissue using real-time ultrasound guidance for precision placement.
The entire visit typically takes 45 to 60 minutes. Ultrasound guidance helps ensure the PRP reaches the exact target area.
Benefits of PRP Therapy
PRP therapy offers several practical benefits for the East Harris County patients we treat at the Baytown office:
- Uses the body’s own healing factors with no synthetic drugs or foreign substances — an important consideration for refinery and petrochemical workers in safety-sensitive process operator and DOT-regulated roles
- Minimal downtime, with most patients resuming normal activities within a few days, often including a phased return to a refinery shift, a turnaround crew, or a Ship Channel rotation
- May reduce or delay the need for surgery in some patients with joint or tendon conditions — a meaningful advantage when surgery means weeks off the job
- Can provide longer-lasting relief than some alternatives. One meta-analysis showed PRP outperforming hyaluronic acid injections (OR 2.19, P=.002) for knee osteoarthritis outcomes (Oeding et al., Am J Sports Med, 2024)
Results vary depending on the condition treated, the PRP preparation method, and the platelet concentration used. Not all patients respond the same way, and the Baytown team will tell you honestly — in English or Spanish — whether your specific imaging and clinical picture make PRP a reasonable next step.
Risks and Side Effects
PRP injections are considered safe, with a low risk of serious side effects. Because PRP is made from the patient’s own blood, there is no risk of allergic reaction or transmitted infection (Sheean et al., Arthroscopy, 2021).
The most common side effects are mild and temporary:
- Soreness or swelling at the injection site (typically 1 to 3 days)
- Temporary stiffness in the treated area
- Bruising at the blood draw or injection site
Rare risks include infection or nerve irritation. The treatment team discusses all potential risks before the procedure.
PRP vs Corticosteroids and Other Treatments
Corticosteroid injections often provide faster initial pain relief, sometimes within days. However, evidence suggests that PRP may deliver better results at 3 to 6 months and beyond. For tendinopathy, one meta-analysis of 27 trials found that PRP provided superior mid-term pain relief compared to corticosteroids for tennis elbow, plantar fasciitis, and rotator cuff conditions (Ye et al., BMC Musculoskelet Disord, 2025).
For knee osteoarthritis, PRP also appears to outperform hyaluronic acid at 6 and 12 months (Filardo et al., Cartilage, 2020). Performance Pain and Sports Medicine offers PRP as part of a multimodal treatment plan that may also include epidural steroid injections, radiofrequency ablation, and physical therapy. The right approach depends on the patient’s diagnosis, pain severity, and treatment goals.
Why Choose Performance Pain and Sports Medicine in Baytown
The Baytown office of Performance Pain and Sports Medicine is led by a quadruple board-certified physician specializing in interventional pain management and regenerative medicine, with bilingual, family-centered care for our majority-Hispanic East Harris County community.
Dr. Suzanne Manzi, MD — quadruple board-certified in Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation, Pain Medicine, Electrodiagnostic Medicine, and Obesity Medicine. Fellowship-trained at Michigan State University in Interventional Spine and Pain Management. Dr. Manzi serves on teaching faculty at UT Health Houston McGovern Medical School and is a founding member of the Society of Women Innovators in Pain Management. Her electrodiagnostic medicine and interventional spine training translate into precise ultrasound-guided injection technique for PRP candidates.
What sets the Baytown office apart for PRP candidates:
- Physician-led regenerative medicine care with fellowship-trained, quadruple board-certified expertise
- All PRP injections performed under live ultrasound guidance for precision placement
- TMC-caliber care without the 35 to 45-minute I-10 drive into the Texas Medical Center
- Bilingual English and Spanish care for our majority-Hispanic East Harris County community
- Honest candidacy conversations — we will tell you, in English or Spanish, if PRP is unlikely to help your specific condition
- PRP offered as part of an integrated pain plan that can include spine, joint, and tendon applications alongside radiofrequency ablation or epidural steroid injections when appropriate
- Convenient Baytown location accessible from Mont Belvieu, Channelview, Highlands, La Porte, Crosby, Anahuac, Beach City, Cove, Old River-Winfree, Wallisville, Dayton, and Liberty
Our Baytown Location
The Baytown office occupies Suite A at 1650 W. Baker Rd., providing convenient access from across East Harris County and the Houston Ship Channel community. West Baker Road sits just off I-10, the primary east-west spine of East Harris County, with quick access from Garth Road, SH-146, and the Fred Hartman Bridge.
Performance Pain and Sports Medicine — Baytown:
Address: 1650 W. Baker Rd., Ste A, Baytown, TX 77521
Major Cross Streets: West Baker Road at Garth Road, just off I-10
Nearby Landmarks: Houston Methodist Baytown Hospital, Lee College, ExxonMobil Baytown Complex, Baytown Nature Center
Parking: Free on-site parking
Phone: 346-217-1111 (Bilingual / Hablamos Español)
Conveniently located in the heart of East Harris County, the Baytown office serves patients from Mont Belvieu, Channelview, Highlands, La Porte, Crosby, Anahuac, Beach City, Cove, Old River-Winfree, Wallisville, Dayton, Liberty, and the wider Houston Ship Channel community, with quick access from I-10, Garth Road, SH-146, and the Fred Hartman Bridge.
Frequently Asked Questions About PRP Injections in Baytown
Are PRP injections available in Baytown, TX?
Yes. PRP candidacy evaluations and ultrasound-guided platelet-rich plasma injections are performed at the Baytown office of Performance Pain and Sports Medicine, located at 1650 W. Baker Rd., Ste A. Dr. Suzanne Manzi, MD — fellowship-trained at Michigan State in Interventional Spine and Pain Management — performs PRP for patients across East Harris County and the Houston Ship Channel community. The office offers bilingual English and Spanish care. Call 346-217-1111 or request an appointment online.
How much do PRP injections cost in Baytown?
PRP injections are typically a cash-pay procedure, as most insurance plans currently classify PRP as experimental. Cost varies based on the area being treated and the PRP preparation method used. Contact the Baytown office at 346-217-1111 for current pricing and to discuss payment options. Hablamos español.
Are PRP injections covered by insurance or Medicare?
Most insurance plans and Medicare currently classify PRP as experimental and do not cover it. The Baytown staff can help verify individual coverage, discuss payment options, and identify any related interventional procedures (such as facet joint injections or steroid injections) that may be covered.
Does workers' compensation cover PRP injections?
Workers’ compensation coverage for PRP varies by carrier and case. The Baytown office regularly evaluates workers’ compensation patients from the ExxonMobil Baytown Complex, Chevron Phillips Cedar Bayou, Covestro, Cedar Crossing Industrial Park operators, Houston Ship Channel longshoremen, turnaround crews, and Goose Creek CISD staff. Even when PRP itself is not covered, related diagnostic injections and interventional procedures often are. Call 346-217-1111 to discuss your case.
How many PRP injections will I need?
Most Baytown patients receive one PRP injection, which can be repeated if additional treatment is needed. The decision to repeat depends on the condition treated, the patient’s response to the initial injection, and the treating physician’s evaluation of ongoing symptoms.
How long do PRP injection results last?
Many patients experience relief lasting 6 to 12 months or longer. For knee osteoarthritis, studies show PRP benefits can persist at 12 months, and some patients maintain improvement beyond that timeframe. Results depend on the condition, the PRP preparation, and the patient’s overall musculoskeletal health.
Does PRP really work?
Research shows mixed results depending on PRP preparation, but multiple meta-analyses suggest meaningful benefit for knee osteoarthritis when higher platelet concentrations are used (Bensa et al., Am J Sports Med, 2025) and for tendinopathies including tennis elbow and plantar fasciitis. The evidence is stronger for some conditions than others, which is why honest candidacy conversations matter.
How soon can I return to work after a PRP injection?
Most patients can walk the same day. Light activity is typically fine within 24 to 48 hours. Industrial workers — refinery operators, turnaround crews, welders, pipefitters, longshoremen — should plan a phased return tied to their specific job demands. Physicians generally recommend avoiding strenuous exercise and heavy lifting for 1 to 2 weeks to allow the healing process to begin.
Schedule Your PRP Consultation in Baytown
If chronic joint pain, tendon injury, or musculoskeletal pain has limited your ability to work or stay active, PRP therapy may be worth discussing. The Baytown pain management team at Performance Pain and Sports Medicine offers ultrasound-guided injections, honest candidacy conversations, and bilingual English and Spanish care. Request an appointment or call 346-217-1111.
Performance Pain and Sports Medicine — Baytown
1650 W. Baker Rd., Ste A, Baytown, TX 77521
Phone: 346-217-1111
MEDICAL DISCLAIMER
This article is for educational purposes only and does not replace professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. The information presented reflects an interventional pain management perspective and is intended to support, not substitute, your relationship with a qualified healthcare provider. Individual results vary based on diagnosis, pain duration, overall health, and response to treatment. Some procedures may not be covered by insurance. Treatment outcomes depend on proper patient selection and accurate diagnosis. Always consult a board-certified physician before pursuing any pain management treatment.
Medically reviewed by Suzanne Manzi, MD — Quadruple Board-Certified in Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation, Pain Medicine, Electrodiagnostic Medicine, and Obesity Medicine. Teaching Faculty, UT Health Houston McGovern Medical School. Last reviewed April 2026.
