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Richmond Chiropractic Relief of Back Pain due to Disc Degeneration May Be Boosted by Melatonin and Light Therapy

Melatonin. Mitochondria. Mitophagy. Autophagy. Oh my! Back pain connects them all in an interesting way. Melatonin the sleep regulating hormone – manages sleep which is essential to the body’s ability to recuperate from the day and prepare for the next.  Mitophagy stimulates healthy turnover of mitochondria (the energy producers in cells). Mitophagy blocks the build-up of abnormal mitochondria in cells that may precede cell degeneration. In the case of back pain, this would avoid such deterioration in the cells of the disc which may precede disc degeneration. Autophagy is the normal bodily procedure that manages cell destruction and creation in the body. When there is cellular stress, autophagy is increased. (1) Johnson Chiropractic shares findings that melatonin and light therapy may intercede in this process and help with Richmond back pain relief.

MITOCHONDRIA AND DISC DEGENERATION

Johnson Chiropractic understands how disc degeneration involves oxidative stress on the cell, mitochondria issues and cell death (aka apoptosis). This is where researchers imply melatonin may perform a positive role in the slowing of disc degeneration. Melatonin rids oxygen free radicals, normalizes mitochondria function and balance, hastens mitrophagy and slows apoptosis (cell death). Melatonin may help treat disc degeneration. (2)

MELATONIN AND LIGHT FOR DISC DEGENERATION AND Richmond BACK PAIN

In a biological study of melatonin’s effect on intervertebral disc degeneration, melatonin sustained nucleus pulposus cells affected by oxidative stress. Such stress leads to harm of these cells. Melatonin is an significant neuroendocrine hormone with sound antioxidant effect that works on biological clock regulation. (3) Chronic non-specific low back pain sufferers who included melatonin in their treatment plan found it to positively increase the effect of standard treatments on pain, sleep and depression. The decreased pain intensity when moving and resting indicated that melatonin potentially has an analgesic effect. (4) Melatonin may be another method to treat intervertebral disc degeneration.

LIGHT THERAPY AND BACK PAIN RELIEF

In so much as melatonin is triggered by light and its lack, light treatment assists patients handle chronic low back pain, its pain intensity, behavior, and threshold.  It also helps with post-traumatic stress disorders symptomatology and quality of sleep. All these were bettered with morning bright light treatment of US veterans with chronic low back pain. (5) Such treatment could surely help Richmond back pain sufferers, too! These researchers suspect that this light treatment helps the circadian timing of sleep which is mediated by melatonin. (5)

CONTACT Johnson Chiropractic

Listen to the PODCAST with Dr. Chris DeVeau on the Back Doctors Podcast with Dr. Michael Johnson. A patient struggling with neck pain and arm pain found difficulty with sleep and relief with Cox® Technic.

Schedule a Richmond chiropractic appointment for your Richmond back pain. Patients in Richmond with disc degeneration may find additional relief with melatonin and light therapy alongside chiropractic treatment. Mitochondria, mitophagy, autophagy, melatonin and back pain are interestingly connected, are they not?

 
Johnson Chiropractic uses chiropractic care of disc degeneration and shares new information about how melatonin and light therapy may be beneficial. 
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"This information and website content is not intended to diagnose, guarantee results, or recommend specific treatment or activity. It is designed to educate and inform only. Please consult your physician for a thorough examination leading to a diagnosis and well-planned treatment strategy. See more details on the DISCLAIMER page. Content is reviewed by Dr. James M. Cox I."