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Auburn 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 in an interesting way. Melatonin a hormone secreted by the brain at night to regulate circadian rhythm – helps sleep which is essential to the body’s capability to recuperate from the day and get ready 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 prevent such disc cell deterioration which could lead to disc degeneration. Autophagy is a normal process that controls cell destruction and creation in the body. When there is cellular stress, autophagy is amplified. (1) Dr. Le's Chiropractic & Wellness, L.L.C. presents findings that melatonin and light therapy may intervene in this process and help with Auburn back pain relief.

MITOCHONDRIA AND DISC DEGENERATION

Dr. Le's Chiropractic & Wellness, L.L.C. knows how disc degeneration involves cellular oxidative stress, mitochondria issues and cell death (aka apoptosis). This is the area researchers imply melatonin may play a beneficial role in the reduction of disc degeneration. Melatonin rids oxygen free radicals, controls mitochondria function and balance, hastens mitrophagy and slows apoptosis (cell death). Melatonin may assist in the treatment of disc degeneration. (2)

MELATONIN AND LIGHT FOR DISC DEGENERATION AND Auburn 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 impairment of these cells. Melatonin is an vital 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 experienced a positive increase on the effect of standard treatments on pain, sleep and depression. The decreased pain intensity when moving and resting indicated that melatonin possibly offers 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 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 Auburn back pain sufferers, too! These researchers think that this light treatment regulates the circadian timing of sleep which is mediated by melatonin. (5)

CONTACT Dr. Le's Chiropractic & Wellness, L.L.C.

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

 
Dr. Le's Chiropractic & Wellness, L.L.C. 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."