A nurse is teaching a newly licensed nurse about degenerative disk disease. Which of the following statements by the newly licensed nurse indicates an understanding of the teaching?

1) Degenerative disk disease is a common condition that affects the intervertebral disks in the spine.

2) The main cause of degenerative disk disease is aging.

3) Symptoms of degenerative disk disease include back pain, numbness, and weakness in the affected area.

4) Treatment options for degenerative disk disease include physical therapy, medication, and surgery.

The newly licensed nurse showed an understanding of degenerative disk disease by recognizing its common occurrence in the intervertebral disks due to aging, identifying typical symptoms like back pain, numbness, and weakness, and acknowledging treatment methods like physical therapy, medication, and surgery.

Explanation:

All four statements by the newly licensed nurse showcase their understanding of degenerative disk disease. This disease is a common condition that affects the intervertebral disks in the spine. Aging is indeed the main cause, because over time, the nucleus pulposus, the inner part of the disks that provides elasticity and shock absorption, hardens and becomes less effective. This loss of elasticity is a significant factor in the degeneration of the disks.

Symptoms usually include back pain, numbness, and weakness in the affected area, caused by the herniation (protrusion) of the nucleus pulposus that can compress a spinal nerve, leading to pain and/or muscle weakness in the body regions supplied by that nerve. Finally, as part of the treatment, physical therapy, medication, and in some severe cases, surgery, can be implemented according to the specific conditions of the patient.

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