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Manahawkin 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 – manages sleep which is vital to the body’s ability to recuperate from the day and prepare for the next.  Mitophagy promotes healthy turnover of mitochondria (the energy producers in cells). Mitophagy prevents the build-up of dysfunctional mitochondria in cells that may lead to cell degeneration. 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 the normal bodily procedure that deals with cell destruction and creation in the body. When there is cellular stress, autophagy is increased. (1) Manahawkin Chiropractic Center presents research that melatonin and light therapy may intercede in this process and help with Manahawkin back pain relief.

MITOCHONDRIA AND DISC DEGENERATION

Manahawkin Chiropractic Center knows how disc degeneration includes oxidative stress on the cell, mitochondria issues and cell death (aka apoptosis). This is where researchers suggest melatonin may play a beneficial role in the reduction of disc degeneration. Melatonin gets rid of oxygen free radicals, adjusts mitochondria function and balance, speeds up mitrophagy and reduces apoptosis (cell death). Melatonin may assist in the treatment of disc degeneration. (2)

MELATONIN AND LIGHT FOR DISC DEGENERATION AND Manahawkin BACK PAIN

In a biological study of melatonin’s effect on intervertebral disc degeneration, melatonin maintained nucleus pulposus cells affected by oxidative stress. Such stress leads to harm of these cells. Melatonin is an significant neuroendocrine hormone with good antioxidant effect that functions 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 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 assists patients cope with chronic low back pain, its pain intensity, behavior, and threshold.  It also assists 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 surely help Manahawkin back pain sufferers, too! These researchers believe that this light treatment helps the circadian timing of sleep which is facilitated by melatonin. (5)

CONTACT Manahawkin Chiropractic Center

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 Manahawkin chiropractic appointment for your Manahawkin back pain. Patients in Manahawkin with disc degeneration may discover extra relief with melatonin and light therapy alongside chiropractic treatment. Mitochondria, mitophagy, autophagy, melatonin and back pain are interestingly linked, aren’t they?

 
Manahawkin Chiropractic Center offers 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."