Wrinkles, frown lines, smile lines, disc
degeneration…natural events with growing older (and, might we add, wiser!).
(Paulette Hugulet, DC, LLC takes care of many wise La Grande
chiropractic patients!) Discs degenerate. In fact, discs are reported to begin
degenerating in the second decade of life. By your 40s, 50s, 60s,
70s, 80s, 90s, it would be less common to not have 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 La Grande
chiropractor and to chiropractic patients everywhere!
THE ROLE OF THE DISC
The disc acts as 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 the loss of aggrecan
that happens with degeneration. Researchers suggest
that restoration of aggrecan loss in the nucleus of the disc is probable
via cells that can synthesize aggrecan and be borne by the
disc’s matrix. (1) This offers
hope to exploration of possible disc regeneration
and its potential to relieve back pain.
AGING AND DISC DEGENERATION
Disc degeneration is a well-acknowledged source
of low back pain. What makes up a disc? Aggrecan is
the key component. Aggrecan is the main proteoglycan
structure in the extracellular matrix that forms the disc.
Aggrecan is substantial, made up of many
glycosaminoglycan chains. It can create more aggregates when joined
with hyaluronan. The glycosaminoglycan chains are negatively charged and bind
to water molecules which are vital to maintain the disc’s
hydration enough to allow the disc to withstand
compressive loading it is designed to do. (2) Disc degeneration gets down
to the molecules that form the disc. Paulette Hugulet, DC, LLC gets down
there, too! These authors suggest that aggrecan-based
therapies for disc regeneration may well be possible.
THERAPY FOR POTENTIAL DISC REGENERATION
Chondroitin sulfate is showing itself 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 indicated promise
for potential disc regeneration. (6) Paulette Hugulet, DC, LLC includes
spinal disc nutrition with spinal distraction manipulation for the optimal
clinical outcome.
CONTACT Paulette Hugulet, DC, LLC
Listen to this PODCAST
with Dr. Tyler Lomnicki on The
Back Doctors Podcast with Dr. Michael Johnson as he illustrates
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.