40% of Chronic Back Pain Could Be Cured by Simple Antibiotics.

As many as 40% of cases of chronic back pain could be caused by bacterial infection, and as such cured by a simple course of antibiotics.

This seemingly controversial statement is backed by scientists at the University of Southern Denmark. Who spent ten years researching the connection between chronic lower back pain and bacterial infection.

The Danish research team looked at tissue removed from back pain patients during surgery and examined it for signs of infection. Amazingly nearly half of all samples looked at tested positive, with 80% of those carrying Propionibacterium acnes.

These are bacteria more usually associated with acne, but can get into the bloodstream where they don't often cause any problem. However if a person then suffers a slipped disc the bacteria can get inside, causing serious inflammation and damage, and of course pain.

This research has been described by Peter Hamlyn, one of the UK's most eminent spinal surgeons, as the greatest discovery he had witnessed in his professional life and was worthy of a Nobel prize.

Praise indeed, and it seems entirely possible that this could lead to a massive reduction in unnecessary operations and a cure for many cases of chronic back pain at a cost of a little over £100.

I for one will be watching this line of research for developments with great interest. The full story, reported by Ian Sample on the Guardian.co.uk website, can be found here.