If you’ve ever heard of hyaluronic acid, you may have heard about it because of its benefits to the skin. However, hyaluronic acid is actually found throughout the body, and it may be therapeutic for several other types of conditions, including back pain. Let’s explore what hyaluronic acid is and how it may help with disc degeneration.
Hyaluronic acid is a compound that is found within the connective tissue’s extracellular matrix. Hyaluronic acid is produced naturally throughout tissues such as the eyes, skin, connective tissue, and synovium. Hyaluronic acid attracts water, causing swelling and increased volume that, in turn, offers structural support within these tissues. With increased age, individuals tend to have less hyaluronic acid production throughout the body. As a result, individuals may experience wrinkling in the skin.
While the body produces its own hyaluronic acid, it can also be administered topically, under the skin, or intraarticularly. Intraarticular hyaluronic acid injections are fairly popular, specifically in individuals with osteoarthritis in the knee. Hyaluronic provides a non-surgical treatment option that may help relieve pain associated with osteoarthritis.
Hyaluronic acid injections work by stimulating sites in the body that produce hyaluronic acid. As a result, individuals may experience pain relief for several months after an injection. Studies have shown that hyaluronic acid can induce small but significant relief from typical osteoarthritis symptoms (1).
As we get older, the body starts to age over time. A common symptom of aging is the wearing out of joints, particularly in the knees, hips, and spine. The wear and tear on the joints is due to a lifetime of lifting, but also other factors such as a family history of spinal issues or spine injury. As a result, individuals can develop arthritis, which occurs when the cartilage in the joints becomes worn and degenerates. This is known as degenerative disc disease.
Think of the discs in the spine like donuts. The outside of the disc is solid, while the inside is soft and jelly-like. With increased age, the disc’s jelly portion can dry up. When this happens, the solid outside part begins to collapse, making the bones on either side of the disc get closer. Closer proximity adds increased stress on the joints and bones. As a result, the bones and joints may generate spurs, causing nerve pinching.
Signs of disc degeneration include pain in the neck and shoulder blades, sometimes extending down to the arm and hand. Sometimes nerve pain can occur, which involves numbness and tingling in the fingers or arms. While this sensation will usually come and go, with progressive disease, the tingling can become persistent. Other individuals may notice muscle weakness and a consequent loss of strength (2).
Hyaluronic acid exerts an anti-inflammatory effect, which is one of the reasons why it is a promising aid for inflammatory conditions. As such, hyaluronic acid may be used to support joint pain and osteoarthritis, which are characterized by inflammation, degeneration, and pain. Hyaluronic acid exerts its anti-inflammatory effects by binding immune cell receptors, thus minimizing their activity and preventing inflammatory cytokine release. In studies, hyaluronic acid has effectively limited gene expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines like IL-6, IL-1, IL-8, TGF-beta, and TNF-alpha. It can also limit metalloproteinases and prostaglandins implicated in the inflammatory processes (3).
On study aimed to evaluate how epidural hyaluronic acid injections, together with an exercise program, improve symptoms of lumbar foraminal stenosis (LFS). LFS is a wear-and-tear-like condition that is age-related, characterized by narrowing of the intervertebral space. As such, the joints become overloaded, causing nerve issues and pain.
A total of ten patients were evaluated in this study, with individuals experiencing LFS symptoms for an average of nine weeks. Six patients completed the full treatment regimen and follow-up, which consisted of a hyaluronic acid injection into the spine.
Findings indicated that while there were no significant improvements in some symptom scales, a statistically significant increase in reduced straight leg raise (SLR) test results was noted. Thus, hyaluronic injections together with an exercise program could be a potential treatment option for those experiencing symptoms of LFS and disc degeneration. However, further evaluation of hyaluronic acid in this context is needed to confirm its safety and efficacy (3).
There are several ways to get hyaluronic acid. One of the most effective and proven ways to use hyaluronic acid for back pain is via hyaluronic injections like those used in the previously mentioned study. These must be administered at the doctor’s office by a licensed healthcare professional.
If you are looking for another way to use hyaluronic acid for back pain, you may opt for a supplement that contains hyaluronic acid. For example, The Everyday Back Supplement is a supplement formulated with 20 ingredients proven to relieve pain – one of which is hyaluronic acid.
You’ll want to take the Everyday Back Vitamin correctly by following the instructions located on the vitamin package. This will involve taking two capsules once a day in the morning with eight ounces of water. Additionally, you should also take the vitamin with food for optimal absorption into the body.
For the best results, it is best to combine this supplement containing hyaluronic acid with other back pain strategies. These strategies may include stretching, massage, exercise, maintaining good posture, and eating a healthy diet.
It is important to note that results will not happen overnight. It can take a minimum of eight weeks and up to three months to see optimal results from the Everyday Back Vitamin.
In summary, disc degeneration is a condition that happens with age, causing wear and tear on the spine. This can eventually lead to pain, discomfort, and nerve damage in the back, which can be uncomfortable and debilitating. Hyaluronic acid is a substance found naturally within the body to lubricate joints, but it is also available in supplement form. Thus, it may be used as part of a strategy to relieve symptoms associated with disc degeneration and back pain.
https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/conditions-and-diseases/degenerative-disc-disease
https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10052817/#sec1-jcm-12-02359
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