A “Hail Mary” for Chronic Pain: Calgary Man Turns to Phage Therapy

A Calgary man is calling his recent treatment a “Hail Mary” in his battle against chronic pain, and early results are showing promise. Boyd English became the first patient in Western Canada to undergo bacteriophage therapy for a persistent hip infection.

Chronic Pain Relief from Phages

English’s journey with pain began in 1973 when he broke his hip. Following a subsequent ranching injury and surgery in 2013, he developed chronic pain caused by recurring infections. This pain severely limited his mobility, forcing him to spend 16-18 hours a day in bed.

Multiple surgeries to remove infected tissue and clean the area with antibiotics provided only temporary relief. “It’s been a rough ride,” English shared. “It started in 1973 and hopefully it ends…”

Bacteriophages: A Targeted Approach

His doctors turned to a novel approach: bacteriophage therapy. This involves using viruses, called bacteriophages, to specifically target and kill bacteria. Unlike antibiotics, which act as broad-spectrum neutralizers, bacteriophages are like precision assassins, attacking only the targeted bacteria.

According to a media release issued by Alberta Health Services on Thursday, antibiotics act like a blanket neutralizer on bacteria, while bacteriophages are more like assassins that target the bacteria.

In November, English underwent the bacteriophage treatment — and so far, it seems to be working.

A Promising Future for Phage Therapy

Phage therapy was explored long before antibiotics, but fell out of favour when antibiotics proved effective. Now, with the rise of antibiotic resistance, researchers are reviving this ancient treatment method. Recent trials are showing encouraging results. In addition to English, a patient in Ottawa has also benefitted from phage therapy.

The Mayo Clinic in Minnesota is currently conducting a clinical trial on phage therapy, highlighting its growing acceptance within the medical community.

Learn More About Phage Therapy

This innovative treatment offers hope for people struggling with antibiotic-resistant infections. To explore phage therapy further, visit the Mayo Clinic’s website.