Future Possibilities for Growing Groton Degenerated Discs
Bad discs. Old discs. Flat discs. None of them sound attractive at all! But 80% of us will feel them at some point in 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, Groton back pain sufferers with degenerated discs would really like a new disc. Unfortunately, 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’s next? Researchers are wondering that, too. While they do that, your Groton chiropractor at Shoreline Medical Services/ Hutter Chiropractic Office will keep using what research shows is working now: spinal mobilization and nutritional supplements with glucosamine and chondroitin sulfate and other chiropractic services. Read on for what is happening now on all these fronts.
BAD DISCS
In a recent report, the loss of proteoglycans was a central issue in intervertebral disc degeneration, natural disc failure. The central part of the disc – the nucleus pulposus – was most typically altered by the degeneration which eventually changed the whole spine’s biomechanics. Degenerative changes to the disc spread to the structures around the disc, leading to higher risk of injury and functional change. (3) This natural loss of proteoglycans has researchers working on how to more naturally address new disc formation…natural and artificial.
GROWING A NEW SPINE – NUTRITION vs LAB
Treatment for degenerated discs typically concentrates on relief of the pain and discomfort they cause. NSAIDs, PT, massage, acupuncture, chiropractic and nutritional supplements were typical approaches in this study. Artificial discs need some more time as they do not always integrate into the spinal tissue nor return structure and function as expected. New disc replacement research is centering on tissue engineering and regeneration to increase the body’s incorporation of the new disc material. There is a long road ahead for this as researchers study the metabolism and cellular environment of the disc. The enthusiasm for disc repair and regeneration intensifies. (2) More precisely hydrogels are biomaterial regenerative medicine and research is investigating. They hold water and cells (like real discs!). They can be injected and adapted as needed. They have low toxicity. They may be good for treatment of Groton osteoarthritis and degenerated discs. (4) Researchers say that there is a need for more study yet for hydrogels to prove themselves. Meanwhile, Shoreline Medical Services/ Hutter Chiropractic Office offers current research-supported preference of Groton spinal mobilization and nutrition.
DEALING WITH THE SPINE AS IT IS NOW - MOBILIZATION
Until the “growing a new spine” idea and artificial disc get perfected, your Groton chiropractor is here to help with the one you have. Nutrition helps. Spinal mobilization helps. A recent paper asserted 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 used interchangeably in medical papers. (1) Shoreline Medical Services/ Hutter Chiropractic Office uses Cox® Technic, a non-thrust gentle, relieving manipulation treatment. 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 Shoreline Medical Services/ Hutter Chiropractic Office
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 Groton chiropractic appointment at Shoreline Medical Services/ Hutter Chiropractic Office today. Your “bad” discs will thank you. Your boosted quality of life will thank you.
