Future Possibilities for Growing Tonawanda Degenerated Discs
Bad discs. Old discs. Flat discs. None of them sound attractive in the least! 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 miss work days, fun days, and financial opportunities due to 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, Tonawanda back pain sufferers with degenerated discs would really like a new disc. Sadly, they’ve been tried. They’re metal, and the body doesn’t always take to them very well. They don’t always give all the function we want. Sometimes they simply fail. What is next? Researchers are working on that. While they do that, your Tonawanda chiropractor at Chiropractic Spine Sports And Rehabilitation will keep using what research documents currently works: spinal mobilization and nutritional supplements with glucosamine and chondroitin sulfate and other chiropractic services. Read on for what is happening currently on all these fronts.
BAD DISCS
In a new 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 commonly affected by the degeneration which ultimately 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 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 focuses on relief of the pain and discomfort they cause. NSAIDs, PT, massage, acupuncture, chiropractic and nutritional supplements were usual ways in this study. Artificial discs need some more time as they don’t 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 boost the body’s acceptance of the new disc material. There is a long way to go for this as researchers study the metabolism and cellular environment of the disc. The excitement for disc repair and regeneration intensifies. (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 adapted as necessary. They have low toxicity. They may be good for treatment of Tonawanda osteoarthritis and degenerated discs. (4) Researchers say that there is a long road ahead yet for hydrogels to develop. In the meantime, Chiropractic Spine Sports And Rehabilitation utilizes current research-supported preference of Tonawanda spinal mobilization and nutrition.
DEALING WITH THE SPINE AS IT IS NOW - MOBILIZATION
Until the “growing a new spine” idea and artificial disc are perfected, your Tonawanda 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 interchangeable in medical papers. (1) Chiropractic Spine Sports And Rehabilitation uses 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 Chiropractic Spine Sports And 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 Tonawanda chiropractic appointment at Chiropractic Spine Sports And Rehabilitation today. Your “bad” discs will thank you. Your boosted quality of life will thank you.
