Future Possibilities for Growing Carrolltown Degenerated Discs
Bad discs. Old discs. Flat discs. None of them sound attractive at all! But 80% of us will experience them some time in our life. (1) 5.7 million people a year in the US suffer with spine related injuries. (2) We will lose work days, fun days, and financial opportunities because of the pain and loss of function. (Plus low back pain costs $12.2 to 90.6 million in the US!) So what would we want? How about a NEW disc? Of course, Carrolltown back pain sufferers with degenerated discs would really like a new disc. Sadly, they have been tried. They are metal, and the body doesn’t always take to them very well. They do not continually give all the function we want. Sometimes they simply fail. What is next? Researchers are wondering that, too. While they do that, your Carrolltown chiropractor at Gormish Chiropractic & Rehabilitation will keep offering what research shows is working now: spinal mobilization and nutritional supplements with glucosamine and chondroitin sulfate and other chiropractic services. Read on for what’s happening now with all of these things.
BAD DISCS
In a recent study, the loss of proteoglycans was a central issue in intervertebral disc degeneration, natural disc failure. The inner part of the disc – the nucleus pulposus – was most commonly affected by the degeneration which eventually altered the whole spine’s biomechanics. Degenerative changes to the disc spread to the structures surrounding the disc, leading to increased risk of injury and functional change. (3) This natural loss of proteoglycans has researchers thinking about how to more naturally address new disc formation…natural and artificial.
GROWING A NEW SPINE – NUTRITION vs LAB
Treatment for degenerated discs usually concentrates on relief of the pain and discomfort they produce. NSAIDs, PT, massage, acupuncture, chiropractic and nutritional supplements were typical ways in this study. Artificial discs need some more time as they don’t always assimilate into the spinal tissue nor return structure and function as expected. New disc replacement research is focusing on tissue engineering and regeneration to boost the body’s incorporation of the new disc material. There is a long way to go for this as researchers study the disc’s metabolism and cellular environment. The enthusiasm for disc repair and regeneration grows. (2) More precisely hydrogels are biomaterial regenerative medicine and research is exploring. They hold water and cells (like real discs!). They can be injected and modified as needed. They have low toxicity. They may be good for treatment of Carrolltown osteoarthritis and degenerated discs. (4) Researchers say that there is a long road ahead yet for hydrogels to prove themselves. In the meantime, Gormish Chiropractic & Rehabilitation offers current research-supported preference of Carrolltown spinal mobilization and nutrition.
DEALING WITH THE SPINE AS IT IS NOW - MOBILIZATION
Until the “growing a new spine” concept and artificial disc are developed more fully, your Carrolltown chiropractor is here to help with the one you have. Nutrition helps. Spinal mobilization helps. A recent paper pronounced spinal mobilization as a most preferred approach for decreasing pain and disability in chronic low back pain and degenerated disc patients. (5) As for terminology, “mobilization” and “non-thrust manipulation” are interchangeable in medical papers. (1) Gormish Chiropractic & Rehabilitation offers Cox® Technic, a non-thrust manipulation treatment that is gentle and relieving. As part of the Cox® Technic system, nutritional supplements with glucosamine sulfate and chondroitin sulfate may [[aid in inflammation reduction|reduce inflammation, rehydrate a degenerated disc, and lessen pain.
CONTACT Gormish Chiropractic & Rehabilitation
Listen to this PODCAST with Dr. James Cox on The Back Doctors Podcast with Dr. Michael Johnson as the Cox® Technic System of Spinal Pain Management is described relieving for low back pain due to disc degeneration without a new or artificial disc!
Schedule your next Carrolltown chiropractic appointment at Gormish Chiropractic & Rehabilitation today. Your “bad” discs will thank you. Your improved quality of life will thank you.
