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Please Assist- Has Anyone got Modic Changes in their Spine & tried Dr Hannah's antibiotic protocol (MAST)?

Posted , 69 users are following.

rosary1
rosary1

Hi there. I was wondering if people could help me please. I wanted to know if anyone sent their MRI scans of their lower back to the MAST centre to be assessed for modic changes? I have sent mine in June, and I started the antibiotics 5 weeks ago with no improvement yet. I have chronic back pain and also ankylosing spondylitis.

I would really like to chat with people out there that are also on this MAST- modic changes protocol and to see how its going.

This is my only hope now for my lower back pain.

Thanks

Rosary1

1 like, 254 replies

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  • Guest
    Guest

    Posted

    I just picked up my prescription. My doctor gave me the double dose. My MRI showed Modic type 1 changes.

    Crossing my fingers as nothing else has worked.

  • dafydd71322
    dafydd71322 rosary1

    Posted

    Hi Rosary,

    so glad to have found your post.

    Have suffered with back pain and prostatitis for many years.

    About 4 years ago both back and prostatitis became chronic. After being active for most of my life the pain has changed everything. Tried most options like everyone else, physio, exercises, painkillers etc but nothing helped. Unable to sit for more than 20 mins, bending causes pain which is referred to the left side and around to the groin area. Paid for my own  for my own mri scan which showed  disc and vertebrae damage at L2/L3.  More physio etc etc with no change.

    Heard about the Danish research on tv and sent a couple of pictures to Dr Hannah. She said that the modic changes would qualify for antibiotic treatment.

    (p. Acnes is thought to be one possible cause of prostatitis as well as being the bacterium found in the damaged discs)

    My local GP so the evidence and was quite positive about prescribing until local health board advised against it. (Not enough evidence + c diff risk!)

    As i live in north wales i will try and go private locally at first as there is no mast clinic within easy reach.

    as with other people the pain has taken over everything.

    i wonder if anyone else has also had the prostatitis problem as well as the back problem.

    i also feel that this is my only hope to ease the chronic pain.

    I hope that you are experiencing some relief.

    Lee's story gives one hope.

    Best wishes

    Dafydd

     

    • lee93984
      lee93984 dafydd71322

      Posted

      I wanted to give a staus report of my condition. Its been 9 months since I started the MAST protocol. I was planning to begin weight resistance training to promote bone modeling on effected vertebrae but had to postpone until July 1 due to work demands of 50-60 hours a week. But thank GOD I am able to either sit at a desk or in a car with little discomfort. Sleeping and waking no longer involves pain. I actually feel no pain and able to lift 40 lb bags of cat litter and 12 can soda boxes with no pain. So I can say I have been healed. The little discomfort I get I think is normal for someone who sits so much and is physically unfit. I will be 62 in July and feel like I have been given another 50 years. I hope the same for all here. Email me for the url of my website. Lee
    • ana100966
      ana100966 dafydd71322

      Posted

      Dafydd, I am a 50 year old female, 57 kilos, suffering from Modic 1 an 2 in L4/L5. I am doing the AB treatment, double dose. Started on the 17th of June. It is quite a challenge. I take complex B, Lepicol (fibre, prebiotics, probiotics), yogurt with lactobacillus acidiphilus and expose myself to sun to avoid taking vitamin D. The effects on my stomach and gut tend to disappear, but I have to force myself to eat more and between the meals. After 10 days the pain dramatically improved, no longer take sleeping pills and sleep very well, 10/12 hours a day. I stopped all the exercise I used to do, about 3,5 hours/week and lay down in my bed for long periods, including after taking the AB. I was at the modic clinic in Odense, DK and did 3 treatments of laser biostimulation.

      I advise you to check your stomach for ulcers before starting the treatment. My stomach was aching and now, first thing in the morning, I take Omeprazole, an acid pump inhibitor.

      Regards, Ana

    • dafydd71322
      dafydd71322 ana100966

      Posted

      Ana, thank you for the information. i am going for my assessment this Friday and hopefully the modic changes are relevant. They look promising according to the Broadgate clinic in London after seeing one image.

      I also try and exercise as much as I am physically able to do, but will have to do less apparently if accepted for AB treatment. 

      Is there any particular reason why one should not take vitamin D.

      I will report how I get on afer Friday.

      Regards, Dafydd

    • ana100966
      ana100966 dafydd71322

      Posted

      Dafydd, I do not take vitamine D because I have plenty of sun where I live and I expose myself to it so it is one less medicine to take. I completely stopped my physical activity. I started on June 17th and after10 days I felt significantely less pain, only from where my modic changes are, i. e. on the left side of the vertebrae L4/L5. I am sure your clinic is a good one and if you qualify for the treatment they will give you important advise on how to handle the side-effects of the AB treatment. I wish you all th best. Keep posting. Ana
    • dafydd71322
      dafydd71322 ana100966

      Posted

      Ana, sorry to trouble you again.

      Can I ask which dose you are taking, some have started with the single dose  and moved to the double dose later on.

      Are there any important questions do you think that I should ask the clinic apart from:

      Advice on avoiding or helping side effects   (C diff etc)

      Advice on amount of exercise

      Single or double dose

      Many thanks, Dafydd

    • ana100966
      ana100966 dafydd71322

      Posted

      Dafydd, I was prescribed double dose, i. e. ((1g amoxicilin+ 250mg clavulanic acid) x 3)/day. I am not taking a generic. I am 57 kgs. Up to now I did not have any problems with loose stools but I take Lepicol (fibre probiotic and prebiotic) and eat yogurt with lactobacilus acidophilus. Lepicol also contains lactob. acid. I also take vitamin B complex. The side effects were felt on my stomach, intestines and liver. To prevent stomach irritation check if you have stomach ulcers and take the tablets with food. I believe Kefir helps treat ulcers. For the intestines take the probiotics. For the liver, rest a lot and do not drink alcohol at all. The liver "loves" jams and rest. Try to eat as healthiest as possible. Proteins, fresh fruit and vegetables.

      I believe the exercise should be banned for a while because the bone is healing. For instance, I once broke my leg and it was on a plaster for 3 weeks to restrain any movement so the bone could heal, but in this case you cannot restrain the vertebrae (maybe you could use a rigid lumbar belt with positive results), so avoid moving it. I feel that the trepidation is very bad to my back. I now avoid cars, planes, trains. I used to dance flamenco and run a lot, but stopped. Regarding the swimming, I also stopped but maybe in a week or two I will start slowly.

      I believe this treatment should be taken very seriously, for every reason, and also because if it does not work one should not blame ourselves for it. All the best, Ana.

       

    • ben10543
      ben10543 ana100966

      Posted

      Hi Ana,

      I was on Augmentin for half the time, but have now moved to the generic 'Co-amoxiclav' tablets from Sandoz.

      Have I made a mistake to go for the generic? The chemist told me it's exactly the same thing, but I see in your post that you're not taking the generic?

    • ana100966
      ana100966 ben10543

      Posted

      Hi Ben, I take Bioclavid (500mg/125mg) from Sandoz because it was what was prescribed and I bought the complete 100 days dose. I believe the generic should be the same. Sandoz is a reliable laboratory. Don´t worry. If you notice anything different (in terms of side effects you should feel it almost immediately) you can always change. All the best. Ana

       

    • dafydd71322
      dafydd71322 ana100966

      Posted

      Hi Ana,

      just returned from my assessment at Broadgate. Mri scan, physical examination and pain history confirmed that I am able to try the AB route with Modic type1 changes to L2/3 due possibly to a sports injury many years ago.

      I will be on the same double dose AB as yourself (CoAmoxiclav) which is just the generic name, and I'm going to take a similar dose of probiotics etc.

      I will also do less exercise. I dhould pick up my first months supply this coming week. 

      Regards

      Dafydd

       

    • ana100966
      ana100966 dafydd71322

      Posted

      Hi Dafydd, well done biggrin !!! Wish you the best of luck. Regards, Ana
    • dafydd71322
      dafydd71322 ana100966

      Posted

      Hi Ana, thanks, started the AB (sandoz) last Tuesday, 6th day today, stomach ache is the main side effect and feeling bloated at the moment, but hopefully should settle soon. Taking probiotics and good quality yoghurt which should help.

      Regards, Dafydd

    • ana100966
      ana100966 dafydd71322

      Posted

      Hi Dafydd, I had stomach pain as well. I managed it by taking Omeprazole 10 mg before each take of AB. Since my 30th day I stopped it because the stomach pain has gone. I also had kefir. I am now on my 35th day and the side effects are minor. The first two weeks for me were hell. But after that you feel much better, so all you have to do is to keep on going. My back pain is diminishing, now localised on the side were the modic changes are. Regards, Ana
    • dafydd71322
      dafydd71322 ana100966

      Posted

      Hi Ana,  thanks for the update. I'll see how the second week goes before  taking anything extra. Glad to hear that your back pain is getting better, it gives one some hope. Starting 7th day today.  I like yourself am taking the treatment very seriously and will do as much as I can to give it the best possible chance of helping.  Regards, Dafydd
    • dafydd71322
      dafydd71322 ana100966

      Posted

      Hi Ana, 

      Brief update after 10 days on AB. Stomach upset is settling, good quality probiotics and yoghurt has certainly helped together with a good diet. No apparent change in back/ referred hip- groin pain yet, but I wasn't expecting any improvement so early in the treatment. Fingers crossed!

      Regards,

      Dafydd

    • ana100966
      ana100966 dafydd71322

      Posted

      Hi Dafydd, Good the AB side effects are fadding away. The back pain should improve after 6/8 weeks, as you know. I am on my 40th day and felt improvments already. I had 3 laser treatments in DK and expose my back to sun every day. Two days ago I walked for an hour because I was feeling well and yesterday my pain was worst. Yesterday I rested up and today I am again much better. Regards, Ana
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