Spine-Pain

Discovery of the cells might lead to treatments, researchers say

THURSDAY, Nov. 1 (HealthDay News) — For the first time, researchers have found stem cells within the intervertebral discs of the human spine.

They say it may someday be possible to use these stem cells to help repair degenerating discs in order to treat neck and lower back pain.

The finding was published in the Nov. 1 issue of the journal Spine.

As spinal discs degenerate, cells are lost, and there’s a decrease is the ability to produce water-binding molecules called proteoglycans. Water absorbs force on the spine. The loss of proteoglycans can result in disc damage and pain.

http://abcnews.go.com/Health/Healthday/story?id=4509239&page=1

The influence of alendronate treatment and bone graft volume on posterior lateral spine fusion in a porcine model.

Conclusions: Alendronate treatment in this study decreased fusion mass remodeling without inhibiting fusion rate. Increased amounts of autologous bone graft could improve the fusion rate in this experimental spine fusion study.

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez?db=pubmed&list_uids=15897823&cmd=Retrieve&indexed=google

Myofascial pain syndrome (MPS) is a fancy way to describe muscle pain. It refers to pain and inflammation in the bodys soft tissues.

Myofascial pain is a chronic condition that affects the fascia (connective tissue that covers the muscles). Myofascial pain syndrome may involve either a single muscle or a muscle group. In some cases, the area where a person experiences the pain may not be where the myofascial pain generator is located. Experts believe that the actual site of the injury or the strain prompts the development of a trigger point that, in turn, causes pain in other areas. This situation is known as referred pain.

http://www.medicinenet.com/muscle_pain/article.htm

—————

Myofascial pain is not a fatal condition, but it can cause significant reduction in quality of life (QOL) and is a major cause of time lost from work. Costs associated with MP sap millions, perhaps billions, of dollars from the economy.

Acupuncture may be helpful.

Osteopathic manipulation techniques may include integrated neuromusculoskeletal release, myofascial release, strain-counterstrain, muscle energy, and high-velocity/low-amplitude manipulation.

http://www.emedicine.com/PMR/topic84.htm

————–

The precise cause of MPS is not fully understood and is undergoing research in several medical fields.

A fairly new form of therapy called Myofascial Release, using gentle fascia manipulation and massage, is believed by some to be beneficial and pain-relieving.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Myofascial_Pain_Syndrome

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The use of acupuncture before and during surgery reduces patients’ post-operative pain as well as the need for pain-killing medication, researchers said on Tuesday.

Researchers at Duke University Medical Center in North Carolina analyzed the results of 15 clinical trials on the effectiveness of acupuncture — a practice that originated in China of inserting thin needles into specific body points.

They concluded that it is valuable for pain control in surgery patients.

Neuromuscular Therapy

Description

Neuromuscular therapy (NMT) is a form of massage. It is supposedly distinguished from other types of massage in that a quasi-static pressure is applied to the skin with the aim of stimulating specific areas of skeletal muscle. Often these areas of muscle are myofascial trigger points.

The application of NMT is dependent on several key factors:

The location of myofascial trigger points
Force has to be applied perpendicular to the skin surface if muscle is to be stimulated).

http://www.answers.com/topic/neuromuscular-therapy

————–

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Neuromuscular_therapy