Augusta 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 interestingly. Melatonin – the sleep regulating hormone – helps sleep which is essential to the body’s capability to recuperate from the day and get ready for the next. Mitophagy stimulates healthy turnover of mitochondria (the energy producers in cells). Mitophagy blocks the build-up of dysfunctional mitochondria in cells that may lead to cell deterioration. In the case of back pain, this would prevent such deterioration in the cells of the disc which could lead to disc degeneration. Autophagy is a normal process that manages cell destruction and creation in the body. When there is cellular stress, autophagy is increased. (1) Lombardy Chiropractic Clinic shares research that melatonin and light therapy may intercede in this process and help with Augusta back pain relief.
MITOCHONDRIA AND DISC DEGENERATION
Lombardy Chiropractic Clinic knows how disc degeneration includes oxidative stress on the cell, mitochondria issues and cell death (aka apoptosis). This is where researchers suggest melatonin may perform a beneficial role in the reduction of disc degeneration. Melatonin rids oxygen free radicals, adjusts mitochondria function and balance, hastens mitrophagy and reduces apoptosis (cell death). Melatonin may help treat disc degeneration. (2)
MELATONIN AND LIGHT FOR DISC DEGENERATION AND Augusta 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 damage of these cells. Melatonin is an vital neuroendocrine hormone with good antioxidant effect that acts on biological clock regulation. (3) Chronic non-specific low back pain sufferers who added melatonin to their treatment plan found it to positively increase the effect of standard treatments on pain, sleep and depression. The reduced pain intensity when moving and resting indicated that melatonin possibly offers pain relieving effect. (4) Melatonin may be another treatment of intervertebral disc degeneration.
LIGHT THERAPY AND BACK PAIN RELIEF
Since melatonin is triggered by light and its lack, light treatment helps 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 improved with morning bright light treatment of US veterans with chronic low back pain. (5) Such treatment could certainly help Augusta back pain sufferers, too! These researchers believe that this light treatment helps the circadian timing of sleep which is facilitated by melatonin. (5)
CONTACT Lombardy Chiropractic Clinic
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 Augusta chiropractic appointment for your Augusta back pain. Patients in Augusta with disc degeneration may discover additional relief with melatonin and light therapy alongside chiropractic treatment. Mitochondria, mitophagy, autophagy, melatonin and back pain are interestingly linked, aren’t they?
