Wrinkles, frown lines, smile lines, disc
degeneration…natural events with growing older (and, might we add, wiser!).
(The Novelli Wellness Center takes care of many wise Buffalo, NY
chiropractic patients!) Discs degenerate. In fact, discs are reported to start
degenerating in the second decade of life. By your 40s, 50s, 60s,
70s, 80s, 90s, it would be less unusual to not see disc
degeneration. Research today is showing
some promise in the care of disc degeneration with even the possibility
being proposed in the literature of possible
disc regeneration. This is exciting to your Buffalo, NY
chiropractor and to chiropractic patients everywhere!
THE ROLE OF THE DISC
The disc is the spine’s shock absorber. The
disc resists the compressive loads put on the spine during
movement. How is it able to do this? It has a high
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 gives
hope to exploration of conceivable disc regeneration
and its potential to ease 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 key proteoglycan
structure in the extracellular matrix that forms the disc.
Aggrecan is quite large, made up 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 designed to do. (2) Disc degeneration gets down
to the molecules that make up the disc. The Novelli Wellness Center gets down
there, too! These authors suggest that aggrecan-based
therapies for disc regeneration are possible.
THERAPY FOR POTENTIAL DISC REGENERATION
Chondroitin sulfate is proving to be
such a therapy. Chondroitin sulfate’s potential benefit was initially
discussed as far back as 1966 by Cole, Ghosh and Taylor. Chondroitin
sulfate is explained as being the source of glycosaminoglycan
synthesis in the disc. (3,4,5) Combining nutrition with
distraction spinal manipulation showed promise
for potential disc regeneration. (6) The Novelli Wellness Center incorporates
spinal disc nutrition with spinal distraction manipulation for the optimal
clinical outcome.
CONTACT The Novelli Wellness 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.