PRP Effective For Whiplash-Associated Neck Pain

Samuel G Oltman, ND, RMSK

A recent study, published in Interventional Pain Medicine, investigates the effectiveness of Platelet-Rich Plasma (PRP) injections for chronic whiplash-associated disorders (WAD)—specifically pain originating from the cervical facet joints in the neck.

Chronic whiplash associated disorder is the pain and related symptoms that occur after spraining the neck. This commonly occurs in car accidents but can also happen from falls, sports like football, or small injuries that accumulate over time. The sprain of the ligaments and soft tissues create pain as well as joint inflammation and instability that lead to arthritis in the facet joints. 

While many PRP studies focus on the knee, this research is significant because it addresses long-term outcomes (6 and 12 months) for a difficult-to-treat area: the facet joints of the neck after a whiplash injury.

Key Details for PRP in Neck Pain:

• Participants: 44 people with chronic neck pain who had previously found relief through diagnostic "nerve blocks," confirming that their pain was coming from the facet joints.

• The Procedure: A single injection of the patient’s own concentrated platelets (PRP) into the affected cervical facet joints, sometimes combined with physical therapy.

• The Concentration: The average platelet concentration was 4.2x. We strongly believe that these good results would be even better if the concentration was 9-10x like it is when we make it here at Cascade Regenerative Medicine, as detailed here. 

• The Goal: To see if PRP could provide lasting relief for pain and reduce disability (the inability to perform daily activities due to neck stiffness or pain).

Major Findings for PRP in Neck Pain:

The study found that PRP led to significant improvements that lasted for a full year:

1. Clinically Significant Pain Relief: At the 12-month mark, 53% of participants achieved a "Minimal Clinically Important Difference" (MCID) in pain. Among those who improved, the average pain reduction was 66%.

2. Reduced Disability: Functional improvement was even more pronounced—69% of participants saw a significant reduction in their disability scores, with an average improvement of 48% in their ability to perform daily tasks.

3. High Success Rate for Severe Pain: About 37% of the patients reported more than 50% total pain relief a year after just one treatment session.

Conclusion:

For people suffering from chronic whiplash pain, PRP is an effective long-term option to treat the joints and sprained soft tissue. It offers a regenerative alternative to "radiofrequency ablation" (burning the nerves) and long-term pain medication. The study suggests that while PRP is often associated with sports injuries or knee arthritis, it has a powerful role to play in treating complex spinal and neck pain. Whether you’ve been suffering from neck pain for 2 months or 2 years or more, PRP may be the therapy to help you get your life back. See us today to find out if it’s right for you.

References:

1. Smith A, Andruski B, Deng G, Burnham R. Cervical facet joint platelet-rich plasma in people with chronic whiplash-associated disorders: A prospective case series of longer term 6- and 12- month outcomes. Interventional Pain Medicine. 2023;2(1):100237. doi:10.1016/j.inpm.2023.100237