BACK PAIN and INFLAMMATION: Link & Test
The examination for the diagnosis of back pain conditions has a new tool: urine testing! Why? Inflammation. Inflammation can be spotted via serum tests like this that check for biomarker activity. The association between inflammation and back pain has been investigated. A rat study reported that, compared to sham treatment, manipulation and mobilization eased sciatic radicular pain by potentially decreasing neuroinflammation and slowing nitric oxide synthase expression. (1) Lately, chiropractic researchers have studied specifically the outcome of chiropractic care on levels of the biomarker cytokine called tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) via urine tests. Defined as a strong pro-inflammatory cytokine closely associated with intervertebral disc degeneration that may spark other cytokines’ (interleukin-6 or interleukin-1β) reactions as well, TNF-α levels were found to be raised in patients with severe sciatica and chronic low back pain compared with milder symptomatic patients and healthy volunteers. Particularly, the urine tests of chronic low back pain patients found significantly higher baseline levels of TNF-α. The positive news: These levels were significantly lower with 4-6 weeks of chiropractic care! These levels did not associate to pain intensity or disability. (2) Chiropractic care incorporating spinal manipulation like the gentle form of Cox® Technic Flexion Distraction Decompression your Southern New Hampshire chiropractor uses has been documented as pain-relieving in a mean of 12 visits and 30 days. (3) Bring your back pain and its related inflammation to New Hampshire Spine and Sport!
Listen to this PODCAST with Dr. Jeremy Heidt on The Back Doctors Podcast with Dr. Michael Johnson as he details his pain-relieving chiropractic care with the Cox® Technic System of Spinal Pain Management of a female patient with severe sciatica.
Southern New Hampshire CHIROPRACTIC TIP OF THE MONTH: The Anti-Inflammatory Blueberry
Researchers have described the blueberry as anti-inflammatory as well as anti-obesity, anti-cancer, anti-oxidant, neuroprotective and more. Studies have demonstrated that the blueberry facilitated how nuclear receptors act. (4) More specifically, the anti-inflammatory action of the blueberry was found to slow inflammation by reducing the production of inflammatory factors and enhancing immunity. The main targets of the blueberry’s anti-inflammatory efforts were TNF, ESR1, AGTR1 and IGF1. (5) See TNF is in that list? New Hampshire Spine and Sport hopes you like blueberries! They’re good for you, our Southern New Hampshire back pain patient, and all of us.
CONTACT New Hampshire Spine and Sport
Thank you for entrusting us with your spinal health. Schedule your Southern New Hampshire chiropractic appointment with New Hampshire Spine and Sport now!