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Vancouver 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 links them all interestingly. Melatonin a hormone secreted by the brain at night to regulate circadian rhythm – promotes sleep which is vital to the body’s ability to recover from the day and prepare for the next.  Mitophagy promotes 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 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 augmented. (1) Vancouver Disc Centers shares research that melatonin and light therapy may intercede in this process and promote Vancouver back pain relief.

MITOCHONDRIA AND DISC DEGENERATION

Vancouver Disc Centers knows how disc degeneration includes cellular oxidative stress, mitochondria problems and cell death (aka apoptosis). This is the area researchers suggest melatonin may play a beneficial role in the reduction of disc degeneration. Melatonin rids oxygen free radicals, adjusts 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 Vancouver BACK PAIN

In a biological study of melatonin’s effect on intervertebral disc degeneration, melatonin sustained nucleus pulposus cells influenced by oxidative stress. Such stress leads to impairment of these cells. Melatonin is an significant neuroendocrine hormone with sound antioxidant effect that acts 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 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 assists patients deal with 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 Vancouver back pain sufferers, too! These researchers believe that this light treatment helps the circadian timing of sleep which is mediated by melatonin. (5)

CONTACT Vancouver Disc Centers

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

 
Vancouver Disc Centers 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."