“You’re young! You don’t have to worry about
back pain.” Not true! New research shows that young and old alike
must deal with disc degeneration. Most of us will personally have
to deal with disc degeneration’s pain at some point in our lives…or help a loved one dealing with its back pain or neck pain
complications. Minster Chiropractic Center is here for young and
old alike when Minster disc degeneration disrupts your quality of
life.
DDD STARTS EARLIER THAN ONCE THOUGHT
It is hard to believe, but it’s documented
in the medical literature. Disc degeneration starts in the late
teens! A study of 18-20 year old healthy
air force cadets uncovered that 77% had13
disc degeneration or disc herniation. (1) That’s new news! It’s been recorded
in other studies that disc degeneration begins at
age 20. Now it is found to start
in 18 year olds! In this study MRIs were taken of
all cadets. None of the cadets reported spine pain. On MRI, 30% showed at least one disc’s
dehydrating, 13% disc narrowing, 49% disc bulging, 18% disc protruding, 8% disc
extruding, 13% with spondylolisthesis, and less than 1% even showed
asymptomatic vertebral fractures. These findings in young,
seemingly healthy people are similar to what would be expected
in adults. (1) It’s never too early to start paying attention to the spine! Minster Chiropractic Center takes care of spines at all ages via spinal manipulation, nutrition
and exercise.
WHY?
Researchers (and parents) ask “why?” Why does
lumbar spine disc degeneration or cervical spine disc degeneration begin so early? Genetics
may play a role. 80% of patients in a recent study had mutations
in their collagen-encoding genes. Collagen is vital to disc and
joint health. Lumbar disc
herniation patients showed two variants in their gene encoding
for aggrecan, a protein that the end plate depends on for load-bearing. Such a mutation
affects the nucleus pulposus, annulus fibrosus and end plates.
(2) Certainly, the whole reason about why a disc
degenerates isn’t fully defined yet. Minster Chiropractic Center
does have ways to contain and relieve the pain of
a Minster degenerated disc.
INTERRUPTING DISC DEGENERATION, PROMOTING DISC REGENERATION
Researchers described disc degeneration as a
complex connection of mechanical, biochemical, and structural changes
at the cellular level, cells that are in an abnormal mechanical environment.
Regeneration of such cells would demand very specific conditions and
would not always be possible. However, traction of 2 to 6 weeks was
found to be a sensitive time for regeneration of a degenerated
disc. The researchers suggest that this could interrupt the above
described cascade of changes. (3) Minster Chiropractic Center uses Cox® Technic
to gently create a positive environment for the healing of degenerated
discs by enhancing the area of the spinal canal by 28%,
increasing the height of the disc by 17%, and decreasing
intradiscal pressures to as low as -192mmHg in the low back and dropping
pressures in the cervical spine by a mean pressure as much as 1265 mmHg. (4,5)
Minster Chiropractic Center takes it one more step with the Cox® Technic
system of spinal pain management by adding spinal nutrition (particularly
disc nutrition supplementation) and exercise to optimize the relief
and clinical outcome for Minster back pain patients.
CONTACT Minster Chiropractic Center
Listen to this PODCAST
with Dr. Paxton Schofield on The Back Doctors’ Podcast with Dr.
Michael Johnson who discussed his care of arthritis and
degeneration with Cox® Technic.
Schedule your Minster chiropractic appointment at
Minster Chiropractic Center for your spine’s health. You may not be as young as you
think for back pain, and you are surely
not too young to take care of your spine. A Minster
chiropractic treatment plan of spinal manipulation, nutrition and exercise can be
good for all ages of back pain and neck pain sufferers struggling with
disc degeneration.