Wrinkles, frown lines, smile lines, disc
degeneration…natural events with growing older (and, might we add, wiser!).
(Cross Chiropractic Center knows many wise Sandy Springs
chiropractic patients!) Discs degenerate. In fact, discs are reported to begin
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 put forward in the literature of possible
disc regeneration. This is amazing to your Sandy Springs
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? Its a high
proteoglycan aggrecan content. Proteolysis is aggrecan loss
that happens with degeneration. Researchers suggest
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 gives
hope to exploration of probable disc regeneration
and its potential to ease back pain.
AGING AND DISC DEGENERATION
Disc degeneration is a well-acknowledged cause
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 makes up the disc.
Aggrecan is quite large, made up of varied
glycosaminoglycan chains. It can create more aggregates when combined
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 withstand
compressive loading it is made to do. (2) Disc degeneration gets down
to the molecules that make up the disc. Cross Chiropractic Center gets down
there, too! These authors posit that aggrecan-based
therapies for disc regeneration are possible.
THERAPY FOR POTENTIAL DISC REGENERATION
Chondroitin sulfate is showing itself 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 described as being the source of glycosaminoglycan
synthesis in the disc. (3,4,5) Merging nutrition with
distraction spinal manipulation showed ability
for potential disc regeneration. (6) Cross Chiropractic Center incorporates
spinal disc nutrition with spinal distraction manipulation for the best possible
clinical outcome.
CONTACT Cross Chiropractic 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.