On Tuesday 7 May 2013 a press conference was held at the Royal Society of Medicine at which the most ground breaking discovery in the diagnosis and treatment of chronic lower back pain in decades was presented. The research was carried out at the University of Southern Denmark and was led by Dr Hanne Albert, Phd. This is my former university and I have been following this work for several years, editing the scientific papers, visiting repeatedly, and so forth.

What are Modic changes?

These changes can only be seen on MRI scans. They are white spots adjacent to the discs and seen in the vertebral bodies.

They represent an inflammation in the vertebral body – both above and below the disc. This inflammation is secondary to an infection in the disc. The bacteria causing the infection have been identified through biopsies and the treatment is long term antibiotics. Clinical results are astonishing good compared to any and all other treatments for chronic low back pain.

A Medical Group called MAST Medical Academy has been formed to spread this information to both the general public as well as the medical community in an ethical and responsible manner. The two representatives of this Academy in the UK are Dr Alan Jordan, of Broadgate, and Mr Peter Hamlyn of Broadgate and The Spine Surgery London.

Many tens of thousands of UK citizens are going to experience an improvement in their status that they would not have ever imagined.

We are delighted to be part of this esteemed group of research scientists and to be able to play an important role in the diagnosis and treatment of patients suffering from Modic changes.

More information is available at www.mastmedical.com.