Antibiotic treatment in patients with chronic low back pain and vertebral bone edema (Modic type 1 changes): a double-blind randomized clinical controlled trial of efficacy. Hanne B. Albert, Joan S. Sorensen, Berit Schiott Christensen, Claus Manniche

European Spine Journal. April 2013, Volume 22, Issue 4, pp 697-707

http://link.springer.com/article/10.1007%2Fs00586-013-2675-y#

This significant recent study suggests a link between bacteria and discogenic chronic low back pain (pain lasting more than 3 months) and proposes that the use of antibiotics might benefit a significant proportion of back pain sufferers. This study of 162 patients with lumbar disc pathology, found that those given a 100-day course of antibiotics experienced less pain, slept better and could move more freely on their final follow-up (one year later) compared to subjects who had been given placebos. The results were statistically significant, and it is proposed that this study might have positive implications for up to 40% of the back pain population.

I will post my comments and reflection on this study very soon.