Future Possibilities for Growing La Grande Degenerated Discs

Bad discs. Old discs. Flat discs. None of them sound attractive in the least! But 80% of us will experience them at some point in 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. (Additionally $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, La Grande back pain sufferers with degenerated discs would really like a new disc. Sadly, they have 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 dream of. Sometimes they just plain fail. What is next? Researchers are working on that. While they do that, your La Grande chiropractor at Dr. Paulette Hugulet, DC, LLC 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 with all of these things.

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 altered by the degeneration which eventually changed the whole spine’s biomechanics. Degenerative changes to the disc spread to the structures around the disc, leading to increased risk of injury and functional change. (3) This natural loss of proteoglycans has researchers thinking about how to more naturally deal with 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 produce. NSAIDs, PT, massage, acupuncture, chiropractic and nutritional supplements were typical approaches in this study. Artificial discs have a way to go as they do not always assimilate 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 acceptance of the new disc material. There is a long road ahead for this as researchers study the metabolism and cellular environment of the disc. The excitement for disc repair and regeneration grows. (2) More precisely hydrogels are biomaterial regenerative medicine and research is exploring. They hold water and cells (like real discs!). They can be injected and adapted as necessary. They have low toxicity. They may be good for treatment of La Grande osteoarthritis and degenerated discs. (4) Researchers say that there is a long road ahead yet for hydrogels to develop. In the meantime, Dr. Paulette Hugulet, DC, LLC offers current research-supported preference of La Grande spinal mobilization and nutrition.

DEALING WITH THE SPINE AS IT IS NOW - MOBILIZATION

Until the “growing a new spine” concept and artificial disc get perfected, your La Grande 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) Dr. Paulette Hugulet, DC, LLC 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 Dr. Paulette Hugulet, DC, LLC

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 La Grande chiropractic appointment at Dr. Paulette Hugulet, DC, LLC today. Your “bad” discs will thank you. Your boosted quality of life will thank you.