An Irish man's plan to treat his chronic back pain by injecting his own semen directly into his arm has ended with him being hospitalised with a large abscess.

Key points: The man initially sought medical attention for "severe, sudden onset" back pain when doctors noticed his infected arm

The man initially sought medical attention for "severe, sudden onset" back pain when doctors noticed his infected arm He had been injecting semen into his arm once a month for 18 months, but injected a "triple dose" shortly before seeing the doctor

He had been injecting semen into his arm once a month for 18 months, but injected a "triple dose" shortly before seeing the doctor The Irish Medical Journal said it's the first known case of someone using semen as a treatment for back pain

A case study published in the Irish Medical Journal (IMJ) says the man sought medical attention after complaining of "severe, sudden onset lower back pain" after "lifting a heavy steel object three days prior", but later revealed his back pain had been much more long standing.

During a physical exam, doctors also noticed his arm was red and swollen.

At this point, the man revealed his homespun back pain remedy — injecting the semen into his own arm once a month, for 18 months, using a hypodermic needle he bought online.

On this occasion, he revealed to the doctor, he had injected three "doses" at once, into both his blood and his muscle.

X-rays on the affected area revealed subcutaneous emphysema — when gas or air is trapped under the skin — and the man was "immediately commenced on intravenous antimicrobial treatment".

An x-ray showed the build-up of air underneath the man's skin. ( Supplied: Irish Medical Journal )

But when his back pain eased, he discharged himself from hospital without draining the infected area.

The IMJ said the man was operating independent of any medical advice, and its search for any prior reference to using semen as a treatment for back pain — be it medical or anecdotal — came up empty.

"This is the first reported case of semen injection for use as a medical treatment," it said.

"Although there is a report of the effects of subcutaneous semen injection into rats and rabbits, there were no cases of intravenous semen injection into humans found across the literature.

"A search of more eclectic internet sites and forums found no other documentation of semen injection for back pain treatment or other uses."

The IMJ recommended against such practices.

"While it is the first-ever described case of intravascular semen injection and associated abscess in the medical literature its lessons can be applied on a broader scale," the study said.

"The dangers of venepuncture when carried out by the untrained layperson are highlighted as well as the vascular and soft tissue hazards surrounding the attempted injection of substances not intended for intravenous use.

"The case also demonstrates the risks involved with medical experimentation prior to extensive clinical research in the form of phased trials inclusive of safety and efficacy assessments."