Wrinkles, frown lines, smile lines, disc
degeneration…natural events with growing older (and, might we add, wiser!).
(Pensacola Spinal Rehab Center knows many wise Pensacola
chiropractic patients!) Discs degenerate. In fact, discs are stated to start
degenerating in the second 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 possibility
being floated in the literature of potential
disc regeneration. This is exciting to your Pensacola
chiropractor and to chiropractic patients everywhere!
THE ROLE OF THE DISC
The disc is the spine’s shock absorber. The
disc opposes the compressive loads put on the spine during
movement. How is it able to do this? It has an elevated
proteoglycan aggrecan content. Proteolysis is aggrecan loss
that happens with degeneration. Researchers propose
that restoration of aggrecan loss in the nucleus of the disc is possible
via cells that can synthesize aggrecan and be supported by the
disc’s matrix. (1) This offers
hope to exploration of possible disc regeneration
and its potential to relieve back pain.
AGING AND DISC DEGENERATION
Disc degeneration is a well-acknowledged source
of low back pain. What is the disc made of? Aggrecan is
the main component. Aggrecan is the main proteoglycan
structure in the extracellular matrix that forms the disc.
Aggrecan is substantial, composed of varied
glycosaminoglycan chains. It can create more aggregates when joined
with hyaluronan. The glycosaminoglycan chains are negatively charged and bind
to water molecules which are necessary to maintain the disc’s
hydration enough to allow the disc to tolerate
compressive loading it is made to do. (2) Disc degeneration gets down
to the molecules that form the disc. Pensacola Spinal Rehab Center gets down
there, also! 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 as far back as 1966 by Cole, Ghosh and Taylor. Chondroitin
sulfate is described as being the source of glycosaminoglycan
synthesis in the disc. (3,4,5) Combining nutrition with
distraction spinal manipulation indicated ability
for potential disc regeneration. (6) Pensacola Spinal Rehab Center includes
spinal disc nutrition with spinal distraction manipulation for the optimal
clinical outcome.
CONTACT Pensacola Spinal Rehab Center
Listen to this PODCAST
with Dr. Tyler Lomnicki on The
Back Doctors Podcast with Dr. Michael Johnson as he describes
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.