Future Possibilities for Growing Fort Wayne Degenerated Discs
Bad discs. Old discs. Flat discs. None of them sound appealing in the least! But 80% of us will experience them some time in our life. (1) 5.7 million people a year in the US suffer with spine related injuries. (2) We will 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? What about a NEW disc? Of course, Fort Wayne back pain sufferers with degenerated discs would really like a new disc. Sadly, they’ve been tried. They are metal, and the body does not always take to them very well. They don’t continually give all the function we want. Sometimes they just plain fail. What’s next? Researchers are working on that. While they do that, your Fort Wayne chiropractor at Cox Chiropractic Medicine Inc will keep offering what research shows currently works: spinal mobilization and nutritional supplements with glucosamine and chondroitin sulfate and other chiropractic services. See what’s happening now 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 typically altered by the degeneration which ultimately influenced the whole spine’s biomechanics. Degenerative changes to the disc spread to the structures surrounding the disc, leading to higher 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 usually focuses on relief of the pain and discomfort they cause. NSAIDs, PT, massage, acupuncture, chiropractic and nutritional supplements were usual ways in this study. Artificial discs have a way to go as they don’t always integrate into the spinal tissue nor return structure and function as expected. New disc replacement research is centering on tissue engineering and regeneration to increase the body’s acceptance of the new disc material. There is a long way to go for this as researchers study the disc’s metabolism and cellular environment. The enthusiasm for disc repair and regeneration grows. (2) More specifically hydrogels are biomaterial regenerative medicine and research is investigating. They hold water and cells (like real discs!). They can be injected and modified as needed. They have low toxicity. They may be good for treatment of Fort Wayne osteoarthritis and degenerated discs. (4) Researchers note that there is a long road ahead yet for hydrogels to develop. In the meantime, Cox Chiropractic Medicine Inc offers current research-supported preference of Fort Wayne spinal mobilization and nutrition.
DEALING WITH THE SPINE AS IT IS NOW - MOBILIZATION
Until the “growing a new spine” idea and artificial disc are perfected, your Fort Wayne 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 interchangeable in medical papers. (1) Cox Chiropractic Medicine Inc uses 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 Cox Chiropractic Medicine Inc
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 described relieving for low back pain due to disc degeneration without a new or artificial disc!
Schedule your next Fort Wayne chiropractic appointment at Cox Chiropractic Medicine Inc today. Your “bad” discs will thank you. Your improved quality of life will thank you.
