Lipid Metabolism And Degenerative Disk Disease

The skeletal system supports the human body, protects the body's vital organs, gives the basis for movement, provides the site for the development of various blood cells and stores minerals such as magnesium, phosphorus and calcium. There are 33 vertebrae, or the bones of the spinal column.

What is a Degenerative Disk Disease?

There are disks between most of the vertebrae in the spinal column. They absorb shock, but people with a degenerative disk disease have disks that are degenerating. Degenerative disks don't absorb shock as they should. Part of the disk can press on a nerve, and the degeneration can even cause the disk to collapse, writes Ramesh Srinivasan, M.D. of orthopedic surgery at the University of Michigan, in "Current Diagnosis & Treatment: Surgery."

Symptoms of a Degenerative Disk Disease

People with this disease usually have a deep pain that can come and go in the middle of their back and in their lower back, writes Terry Hermance, M.D. of the Department of Emergency Medicine at the University of Kentucky, in "Current Diagnosis & Treatment: Emergency Medicine." The pain is usually on one side of the back, but it can spread to the buttocks and even be felt in the back of the thigh. It's better after resting in bed but worsens with movement and activity.

Treatment of a Degenerative Disk Disease

In "Current Diagnosis & Treatment: Emergency Medicine," Dr. Hermance writes that the treatment includes pain medications or muscle relaxers. The pain is less with the use of acetaminophen or with nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, also referred to as NSAIDs. Physicians may prescribe an opioid medication or a muscle relaxer for someone who doesn't have pain relief with acetaminophen or NSAIDs. They no longer recommend bed rest but advise people to resume as much of their regular activities as they can tolerate.