There really is some fascinating stuff out there. Some of which borders on the bizarre. I'm not sure about this particular item I found on arthritistoday.org this week, but I thought I'd pass it on for what it's worth.
It seems a relatively new therapy, called Platelet Rich Plasma Therapy (PRP) is gaining popularity in some circles for the treatment of chronic pain.
This particular story focuses on a woman with chronic knee pain (brings back memories), but there seems to be no reason why it could not work for many types of chronic pain, including back pain.
I have found on furthur research that it has even been used to good effect to treat racehorses with inflammation and conformation problems affecting their soundness.
Now I am always inclined to give credence to results obtained on animals as there is not much likelihood of the results being in the mind of the patient. It either works or it doesn't.
The process itself is relatively simple. Involving drawing off some of the patients blood, centrifuging it to separate the components and injecting the platelet rich plasma portion back into the patient in the affected area.
As I say, I'm in two minds about this, but I'm sure that many treatments we use and take for granted today were probably controversial in their day. Smallpox vaccination springs to mind.
Still, if you want to have a look, go here.
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