Future Possibilities for Growing Nashua Degenerated Discs

Bad discs. Old discs. Flat discs. None of them sound appealing at all! But 80% of us will feel them some time in our life. (1) 5.7 million people a year in the US suffer with spine related injuries. (2) We’ll lose work days, fun days, and financial opportunities due to the pain and loss of function. (Plus $12.2 to 90.6 million in the US is spent on low back pain treatment!) So what would we like? How about a NEW disc? Of course, Nashua back pain sufferers with degenerated discs would really like a new disc. Unfortunately, they have been tried. They are metal, and the body does not always take to them very well. They do not always give all the function we want. Sometimes they simply fail. What’s next? Researchers are working on that. While they do that, your Nashua chiropractor at Moriarty Chiropractic will keep using what research shows is working now: spinal mobilization and nutritional supplements with glucosamine and chondroitin sulfate and other chiropractic services. Read on for what’s 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 inner part of the disc – the nucleus pulposus – was most commonly affected by the degeneration which eventually influenced the whole spine’s biomechanics. Degenerative changes to the disc spread to the structures surrounding the disc, leading to increased risk of injury and functional change. (3) This natural loss of proteoglycans has researchers working on how to more naturally address new disc formation…natural and artificial.

GROWING A NEW SPINE – NUTRITION vs LAB

Treatment for degenerated discs typically focuses on relief of the pain and discomfort they produce. NSAIDs, PT, massage, acupuncture, chiropractic and nutritional supplements were typical ways in this study. Artificial discs have a way to go as they don’t always assimilate into the spinal tissue nor return structure and function as desired. New disc replacement research is centering on tissue engineering and regeneration to boost the body’s incorporation 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 enthusiasm for disc repair and regeneration intensifies. (2) More precisely hydrogels are biomaterial regenerative medicine and research is investigating. They hold water and cells (like real discs!). They can be injected and adapted as needed. They have low toxicity. They may be good for treatment of Nashua osteoarthritis and degenerated discs. (4) Researchers say that there is a need for more study yet for hydrogels to develop. In the meantime, Moriarty Chiropractic offers current research-supported preference of Nashua spinal mobilization and nutrition.

DEALING WITH THE SPINE AS IT IS NOW - MOBILIZATION

Until the “growing a new spine” idea and artificial disc get developed more fully, your Nashua chiropractor is here to help with the one you have. Nutrition helps. Spinal mobilization helps. A recent paper pronounced 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 used interchangeably in medical papers. (1) Moriarty Chiropractic offers Cox® Technic, a non-thrust gentle, relieving manipulation treatment. 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 Moriarty Chiropractic

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 explained to be relieving for low back pain due to disc degeneration without a new or artificial disc!

Schedule your next Nashua chiropractic appointment at Moriarty Chiropractic today. Your “bad” discs will thank you. Your boosted quality of life will thank you.