Williamson 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 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 abnormal mitochondria in cells that may lead to cell deterioration. In the case of back pain, this would prevent such deterioration in the cells of the disc which could precede disc degeneration. Autophagy is the normal bodily process that controls cell destruction and creation in the body. When there is cellular stress, autophagy is amplified. (1) Apple Country Chiropractic shares research that melatonin and light therapy may intercede in this process and help with Williamson back pain relief.
MITOCHONDRIA AND DISC DEGENERATION
Apple Country Chiropractic understands how disc degeneration includes cellular oxidative stress, mitochondria problems and cell death (aka apoptosis). This is the area researchers imply melatonin may play a beneficial role in the slowing of disc degeneration. Melatonin rids oxygen free radicals, adjusts 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 Williamson BACK PAIN
In a biological study of melatonin’s effect on intervertebral disc degeneration, melatonin preserved nucleus pulposus cells influenced by oxidative stress. Such stress leads to harm 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 reduced pain intensity when moving and resting signified that melatonin potentially offers an analgesic effect. (4) Melatonin may be another way to treat intervertebral disc degeneration.
LIGHT THERAPY AND BACK PAIN RELIEF
Since melatonin is produced by light and its lack, light treatment helps 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 surely help Williamson back pain sufferers, too! These researchers suspect that this light treatment helps the circadian timing of sleep which is facilitated by melatonin. (5)
CONTACT Apple Country Chiropractic
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 Williamson chiropractic appointment for your Williamson back pain. Patients in Williamson with disc degeneration may find additional relief with melatonin and light therapy alongside chiropractic treatment. Mitochondria, mitophagy, autophagy, melatonin and back pain are interestingly linked, aren’t they?
