Fernandina Beach 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 a hormone secreted by the brain at night to regulate circadian rhythm – promotes 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 prevents the build-up of abnormal mitochondria in cells that may lead to cell degeneration. In the case of back pain, this would avoid such deterioration in the cells of the disc which may lead to disc degeneration. Autophagy is a normal process that deals with cell destruction and creation in the body. When there is cellular stress, autophagy is increased. (1) Amelia Chiropractic Clinic presents findings that melatonin and light therapy may intervene in this process and promote Fernandina Beach back pain relief.

MITOCHONDRIA AND DISC DEGENERATION

Amelia Chiropractic Clinic knows how disc degeneration involves oxidative stress on the cell, mitochondria problems and cell death (aka apoptosis). This is where researchers imply melatonin may perform a beneficial role in the slowing of disc degeneration. Melatonin rids oxygen free radicals, normalizes mitochondria function and balance, speeds up mitrophagy and slows apoptosis (cell death). Melatonin may help treat disc degeneration. (2)

MELATONIN AND LIGHT FOR DISC DEGENERATION AND Fernandina Beach BACK PAIN

In a biological study of melatonin’s effect on intervertebral disc degeneration, melatonin maintained nucleus pulposus cells influenced by oxidative stress. Such stress leads to impairment of these cells. Melatonin is an vital 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 experienced a positive increase on the effect of standard treatments on pain, sleep and depression. The decreased pain intensity when moving and resting signified that melatonin possibly offers pain relieving effect. (4) Melatonin may be another way to treat intervertebral disc degeneration.

LIGHT THERAPY AND BACK PAIN RELIEF

In so much as melatonin is activated by light and its lack, light treatment assists patients handle 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 bettered with morning bright light treatment of US veterans with chronic low back pain. (5) Such treatment could certainly help Fernandina Beach back pain sufferers, too! These researchers believe that this light treatment regulates the circadian timing of sleep which is facilitated by melatonin. (5)

CONTACT Amelia 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 Fernandina Beach chiropractic appointment for your Fernandina Beach back pain. Patients in Fernandina Beach with disc degeneration may discover additional relief with melatonin and light therapy alongside chiropractic treatment. Mitochondria, mitophagy, autophagy, melatonin and back pain are interestingly connected, are they not?

 
Amelia Chiropractic Clinic uses chiropractic care of disc degeneration and shares new information about how melatonin and light therapy may be beneficial. 
« View All Nutrition Articles
"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."