Wrinkles, frown lines, smile lines, disc
degeneration…natural events with growing older (and, might we add, wiser!).
(New Roads Chiropractic Center takes care of many wise New Roads
chiropractic patients!) Discs degenerate. As a
matter of fact, discs are stated to begin
degenerating in the 2nd decade of life. By your 40s, 50s, 60s,
70s, 80s, 90s, it would be less unusual to not have disc
degeneration. Research today is presenting
some promise in the care of disc degeneration with even the potential
being proposed in the literature of possible
disc regeneration. This is exciting to your New Roads
chiropractor and to chiropractic patients everywhere!
THE ROLE OF THE DISC
The disc acts as the spine’s shock absorber. The
disc resists the compressive loads put on the spine during
movement. How is it able to do this? Its a high
proteoglycan aggrecan content. Proteolysis is the loss of aggrecan
that occurs with degeneration. Researchers propose
that restoration of aggrecan loss in the nucleus of the disc is probable
via cells that can synthesize aggrecan and be borne by the
disc’s matrix. (1) This offers
hope to exploration of conceivable disc regeneration
and its potential to relieve back pain.
AGING AND DISC DEGENERATION
Disc degeneration is a well-documented source
of low back pain. What is the disc made of? Aggrecan is
the main component. Aggrecan is the key proteoglycan
structure in the extracellular matrix that forms the disc.
Aggrecan is quite large, made up of many
glycosaminoglycan chains. It can create more aggregates when combined
with hyaluronan. The glycosaminoglycan chains are negatively charged and bind
to water molecules which are vital to maintain the disc’s
hydration enough to allow the disc to tolerate
compressive loading it is made to do. (2) Disc degeneration comes down
to the molecules that make up the disc. New Roads Chiropractic Center gets down
there, too! These authors posit that aggrecan-based
therapies for disc regeneration may well be possible.
THERAPY FOR POTENTIAL DISC REGENERATION
Chondroitin sulfate is proving to be
such a therapy. Chondroitin sulfate’s potential benefit was first
discussed clear back in 1966 by Cole, Ghosh and Taylor. Chondroitin
sulfate is explained as being the source of glycosaminoglycan
synthesis in the disc. (3,4,5) Merging nutrition with
distraction spinal manipulation showed promise
for potential disc regeneration. (6) New Roads Chiropractic Center includes
spinal disc nutrition with spinal distraction manipulation for the best possible
clinical outcome.
CONTACT New Roads Chiropractic Center
Listen to this PODCAST
with Dr. Tyler Lomnicki on The
Back Doctors Podcast with Dr. Michael Johnson as he illustrates
The Cox® Technic System of Spinal Pain Management incorporation
of gentle distraction manipulation and nutrition for this patient’s relief and
management of disc herniation pain.