>> “You may be in luck.” <<
.
Or, more likwly, she could have her immune system wiped out looking for a shot in the dark.
Two degenerated disks - there's no cushion between L4 and L5. Best back specialists in Houston, Texas. X-rays, MRI, no cushion left - it's bone on bone. As I told djf, they said the best treatment is “don't gain weight”, “stay like you are”. I am not a heavy person but if I was, every extra pound means more trouble for a spine.
I have a special cushion with a cut out where the spine sits. If I'm going to be somewhere away from my house for a few hours, I take this cushion, it has a handle, plus I have another cushion just like that one that I sit on when I drive. I have to keep pressure off my spine.
If this discovery says there is bacteria in that area that won't let cushion regrow (which it doesn't anyway, it's there at birth and if you take it out, it's not coming back), and they have proved that, I'll take the antibiotic unless it kills the rest of my body.
My right knee has little to no cartilage left in it, either. I had surgery on that knee about six or seven years ago - arthritic crap was in there and he removed that. That stuff was floating around in there causing pain - I was using a cane. After the surgery, I don't use a cane and no one would know there is anything wrong with the knee. However, if I walk a long distance, it doesn't want to walk anymore and pain is back. For that reason, I have a handicap hanger in my car so I don't have to walk long distances to buildings.
Is bacteria keeping cartilage from regrowing in my knee? No, it doesn't regrow - once it's gone, it's gone.
When I traveled around Texas a number of years ago, giving 4 hr. training sessions in Texas Election Law to Republicans, I always had a cushioned stool. I would stand and instruct and I would sit on that stool, switching back and forth so I didn't stand too long to make the back hurt, and I didn't have to sit the whole time. No one ever knew why I had that stool.
In fact, the good friend lady who drove me around Texas didn't know why I had that stool until several months ago. I had never told her.
Now, if antibiotics can cure what's wrong, bring them on unless they are going to kill me.
Now, you know about my bones. The rest of me is fine. :o)