Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) versus steroid as an intradiscal injection for lower back aches among degenerative disc disorder patient in India

Degenerative disc disease (DDD) is a major cause of chronic low back pain and optimal minimally invasive treatment remains uncertain. Therefore, it is of interest to compare the efficacy of intradiscal platelet-rich plasma (PRP) versus steroid injections using Visual Analog Scale (VAS) scores. In this prospective study of 60 patients, participants were randomized to receive either triamcinolone or PRP injections weekly for three weeks, with follow-up at two and six months. Steroid injections provided greater short-term pain relief at two months, whereas PRP showed significantly superior pain reduction at six months with lower final VAS scores. Both modalities are effective in the short term, but PRP offers better sustained pain relief and may be preferred for long-term management of degenerative disc disease.