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San Jose 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 the sleep regulating hormone – helps sleep which is essential 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 disc cell deterioration which may precede disc degeneration. Autophagy is the normal bodily practice that deals with cell destruction and creation in the body. When there is cellular stress, autophagy is augmented. (1) Chiropractic Solutions shares findings that melatonin and light therapy may intercede in this process and help with San Jose back pain relief.

MITOCHONDRIA AND DISC DEGENERATION

Chiropractic Solutions understands how disc degeneration includes cellular oxidative stress, mitochondria problems and cell death (aka apoptosis). This is the area researchers imply melatonin may perform a beneficial role in the slowing of disc degeneration. Melatonin rids oxygen free radicals, adjusts mitochondria function and balance, hastens mitrophagy and reduces apoptosis (cell death). Melatonin may assist in the treatment of disc degeneration. (2)

MELATONIN AND LIGHT FOR DISC DEGENERATION AND San Jose BACK PAIN

In a biological study of melatonin’s effect on intervertebral disc degeneration, melatonin preserved nucleus pulposus cells affected by oxidative stress. Such stress leads to damage of these cells. Melatonin is an important neuroendocrine hormone with sound antioxidant effect that acts on biological clock regulation. (3) Chronic non-specific low back pain sufferers who added melatonin to 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 has pain relieving effect. (4) Melatonin may be another method to treat intervertebral disc degeneration.

LIGHT THERAPY AND BACK PAIN RELIEF

Since melatonin is activated by light and its lack, light treatment assists patients deal 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 certainly help San Jose back pain sufferers, too! These researchers think that this light treatment regulates the circadian timing of sleep which is facilitated by melatonin. (5)

CONTACT Chiropractic Solutions

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 San Jose chiropractic appointment for your San Jose back pain. Patients in San Jose 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?

 
Chiropractic Solutions 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."