Two Treatment Approaches for Degenerative Disk Disease (DDD)

Around last Christmas of 2021, a friend I'll call Steve, told me that he had mild to moderate pain that started on the right side of his back, at a level that would roughly align with the area 2 inches below his shoulder blades. Over time the pain seemed to be radiating around his abdomen toward a spot slightly above his solar plexus. He told me that he had gone to see his doctor about it and the Nurse Practitioner (NP) who saw him told him that she thought it was an H. pylori infection and told Steve to schedule an H. pylori breath test for the first week of February with the lab.

When Steve called the lab in early January to schedule the test, the person he spoke with said that they don't schedule this particular test for people his age (79). He called the doctor's office and talked to the receptionist and told her what had happened, and she said that it was not up to the lab to make that decision and that Steve should have insisted they do the test because the doctor had ordered it. Steve then asked to speak to the doctor, and the receptionist said that that was not possible and that Steve would have to schedule an appointment to see the doctor again. After telling the receptionist that he had already seen the NP, the receptionist told him that it didn't matter and that he would have to schedule another appointment. So Steve told the receptionist that he would schedule the appointment, but it would have to be with the doctor and not the NP, so the receptionist said fine, and the conversation was over.

I could see and hear the frustration in Steve as he was relating his experience. He told me that he had previously had cancer, and he was apprehensive that it might have come back, and that was what was causing his pain which he mentioned was getting worse. He went on to tell me that about an hour later, the doctor called him to say that they were going to skip the H. pylori test and have Steve take front and back abdominal x-rays instead. They ended up taking those x-rays in late January, and the doctor got back to Steve as soon as he reviewed them.

At the time that they had scheduled him for the H. pylori test, he asked me what I thought he should do. I said I didn't think the problem was H. Pylori and that because of the way he described the way the pain was radiating and increasing with time, I thought it was more likely to be related to nerves coming from the spine. But I told him if he wanted, I could suggest a supplement regimen to reduce H. pylori. He could do that why he waited for his H. pylori test and results. He took those supplements while he was waiting, but the pain worsened.

Roll-On With MSM and Gluocosamime

After he got his x-ray results and DDD diagnosis, I suggested that he stop his H. Pylori regimen, and we could try something to help his DDD. He agreed, and I suggested that he start by using a product called "Stopain" to see if it would help alleviate his pain.

 https://www.vitacost.com/stopain-roll-on-pain-relieving-extra-strength?ta=Stop&t=stopain

High-Dose Hyaluronic Acid

I also suggested a Hyaluronic Acid (HA) supplement that I have found to be at least as effective as Ted's HA homemade remedy and more convenient as it is difficult for me to make Ted's remedy for friends. Plus, when they have attempted to make it themselves, there have been issues with mixing it properly, so this HA supplement simplifies things, and I have gotten good benefits from it.

It is called Now brand Double Strength Hyaluronic Acid. Although the bottle calls for two capsules per day, I have found that dose ineffective, but I have found benefit at three capsules per day and made sure that Steve was aware of this point. There are many oral HA supplements that may be good, but this is the supplement that I have seen benefit from.

https://www.amazon.com/NOW-Hyaluronic-Acid-100mg-Capsules/dp/B00663G8WO/ref=sr_1_5?crid=S526ED0VM4XN&keywords=hyaluronic+acid+now+100mg&qid=1645545417&sprefix=hyaluronic+acid+Now,aps,130&sr=8-5

So he got both items, and I suggested that he apply the Stopain directly to the spine and not where he was feeling the pain to try and determine if the pain was originating at the spine or elsewhere.

6 Hour Pain Relief From Roll-On

As it turned out, applying the pain-relieving roll to the spine completely eliminated the pain for about 6-hour intervals and allowed him to get much better sleep, and Steve was quite happy about that.

So at this point, Steve should have been on the Stopain for about 14 days and the HA for about 12 days. Two days ago, it turned out that Steve stopped applying the Stopain to see if his pain level had changed, and to his surprise, the pain was barely noticeable! Steve also told me that the pain he has had in the area of both shoulder blades for over 50 years had also disappeared! He said that he had had that pain so long that he had learned to tune it out unless it was flaring up, and then he would tough it out until it calmed down again.

Steve is a very happy person right now, and it clearly shows when talking to him. He also looks relieved, knowing that it was not a new cancer causing the problem.

I asked Steve what he was going to tell his doctor at the upcoming visit, and he said he wasn't sure but was going to give it some thought.

I also reminded Steve that although his DDD is better, it is not healed, so he should not go crazy doing strenuous things or out of the ordinary. He should allow his body sufficient time to recover to the maximum extent the HA will allow. It is important to note that Steve is the fastest and best responder I have ever encountered using HA, but his results are really all the same, and his quality of life has improved very significantly.

Although Ted from Bangkok was touting oral HA over 15 years ago on Earth Clinic, it was not generally thought that oral HA would do anything for joints or the spine. Studies show that HA by injection can help, but studies for oral HA are lacking. Maybe it is time for oral studies to start to see if they can confirm the anecdotal evidence for oral HA in relation to DDD. It is still highly beneficial even if it only stops the pain but does not improve the underlying condition. It would be nice if he could get another back x-ray in 6 months to a year to see if the DDD has improved, but his doctor is not likely to do that, and I'm sure Steve doesn't need the extra x-ray exposure.

The speed of Steve's improvement is causing me to consider that the HA is not actually working by accumulating in the vicinity of the discs and attracting water to the discs because this response is simply faster than what would seem possible through that method of action. That may be part of the process, but I suspect that there may also be another method of action at play, and in thinking about it, that other method of action may be the HA interacting with the gut biome simultaneously.

There have been a few studies suggesting that HA may have positive effects on the gut microbiome in terms of improving gut permeability, but it is early days in terms of how things affect the gut microbiome. This is just a consideration in terms of trying to understand this reasonably rapid response by Steve to the HA.

I just wanted to share this story because it shows there may be hope for a disease that doctors have limited help for. I will update Steve's DDD/HA story if anything interesting comes up with the doctor visit or beyond.

Art

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March 13, 2022 Update

The doctor just confirmed DDD of the mid and upper region of the spine and referred Steve to a facility that does physical therapy specializing in spinal issues. Steve is improved and uses the Stopain less each time I check with him.

One problem I see is that Steve has a tendency to overdo things now that he is in so much less pain than before and although he is much better, he is not healed yet and I think his overactivity may be working against his recovery. He said he may check out the physical therapy place, but as of now, he is undecided since he is doing so much better. I think I will try and convince him to go as it may help speed his recovery process.

Steve asked me the other day if he should stop taking the Hyaluronic Acid now. I looked at him as though he were crazy and reminded him that he may be feeling better, but he is far from healed! Another thing I would like to mention is that Steve is now also taking high dose melatonin and melatonin in studies has shown synergy with hyaluronic acid and both have shown benefit for disc degeneration.

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About The Author

Art Solbrig is a researcher who has been reading scientific studies and testing natural remedies for over 30 years searching for useful studies and alternatives that apply positively to human health issues and natural treatments using minerals, vitamins, amino acids, essential oils, herbs, homeopathy, colloidal silver, combination treatments, and other alternatives to improve the quality of life of others by writing about his findings and test results in places like Earth Clinic. He documents and writes about many of his experiences in helping others. Art is a native of sunny California.

Related Links:

Natural Remedies for Degenerative Disc Disease (DDD)
Ted's Remedies for Degenerative Disc Disease (Hyaluronic Acid + Salt)