Future Possibilities for Growing Baton Rouge 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’ll miss work days, fun days, and financial opportunities because of the pain and loss of function. (Additionally $12.2 to 90.6 million in the US is spent on low back pain treatment!) So what would we want? What about a NEW disc? Of course, Baton Rouge back pain sufferers with degenerated discs would love a new disc. Unfortunately, they have been tried. They’re metal, and the body doesn’t 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 Baton Rouge chiropractor at Medical Spine and Sports Injury and Rehab Centers will keep offering what research shows is working now: spinal mobilization and nutritional supplements with glucosamine and chondroitin sulfate and other chiropractic services. See what is happening now on all these fronts.

BAD DISCS

In a recent study, 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 affected by the degeneration which ultimately influenced the whole spine’s biomechanics. Degenerative changes to the disc spread to the structures around the disc, leading to higher risk of injury and functional change. (3) This natural loss of proteoglycans has researchers thinking about how to more naturally address new disc formation…natural and artificial.

GROWING A NEW SPINE – NUTRITION vs LAB

Treatment for degenerated discs usually concentrates on relief of the pain and discomfort they cause. NSAIDs, PT, massage, acupuncture, chiropractic and nutritional supplements were typical approaches 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 desired. New disc replacement research is focusing 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 disc’s metabolism and cellular environment. The enthusiasm for disc repair and regeneration intensifies. (2) More specifically hydrogels are biomaterial regenerative medicine and research is exploring. 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 Baton Rouge osteoarthritis and degenerated discs. (4) Researchers say that there is a need for more study yet for hydrogels to prove themselves. Meanwhile, Medical Spine and Sports Injury and Rehab Centers utilizes current research-supported preference of Baton Rouge spinal mobilization and nutrition.

DEALING WITH THE SPINE AS IT IS NOW - MOBILIZATION

Until the “growing a new spine” concept and artificial disc get developed more fully, your Baton Rouge chiropractor is here to help with the one you have. Nutrition helps. Spinal mobilization helps. A recent paper asserted spinal mobilization as a most preferred approach for reducing 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) Medical Spine and Sports Injury and Rehab Centers uses Cox® Technic, a non-thrust manipulation treatment that is gentle and relieving. 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 reduce pain.

CONTACT Medical Spine and Sports Injury and Rehab Centers

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 Baton Rouge chiropractic appointment at Medical Spine and Sports Injury and Rehab Centers today. Your “bad” discs will thank you. Your boosted quality of life will thank you.