Definitions

• An underactive thyroid could make this position too painful to endure.female lying down using laptop image by David Winwood from Fotolia.com
  
  Hypothyroidism is the medical term for an underactive thyroid. An underactive thyroid is one that is not producing enough thyroid hormone. That failure to produce enough hormones can cause numerous problems. According to MayoClinic.com, one such problem is joint pain, muscle aches and other problems associated with pain in the shoulders and hips. Degenerative disc disease also causes pain, and an inactive thyroid can possibly be making the pain worse.
  
  

Function

• Pain caused when walking could be an underactive thyroid.old man walking in the beach image by Jorge Casais from Fotolia.com
  
  The thyroid gland regulates numerous bodily functions. Thyroid disease can cause the thyroid to be underactive. That means that the parts of the body that rely upon the thyroid suffer. One such area is the muscles and joints of the body. In degenerative disc disease, the discs of the back over time start to wear out as a matter of course, as noted in Spine-Health. That process can cause pain in the joints and lower back. As stated in MayoClinic.com, the same symptoms can come from an underactive thyroid.
  
  

Effects

• Loss of balance is one symptom.man falling image by dinostock from Fotolia.com
  
  The effects of degenerative disc disease and thyroid disease could be the same. Both could produce the same type of pain in the back and shoulders. As stated in Spine-Health, not all degenerative disc disease causes pain. In some people as they age, the discs degenerate but there is no pain.
  
  

Prevention/Solution

• Thyroid replacement hormones can put your life back in order.old man running image by Goran Bogicevic from Fotolia.com
  
  The American Thyroid Association points out that hypothyroidism can be detected by a simple blood test and can be treated with thyroid replacement hormones, which completely cure the problem. Because thyroid disease can be easily detected and treated, it should be explored as an option before treating degenerative disc disease.
  
  

Identification

• Many activiities require a pain-free body.jumping man image by Florin Capilnean from Fotolia.com
  
  Identifying whether or not thyroid disease has caused the back and shoulder pains is important, because treatment for degenerative disc disease can include surgery. It is important to eliminate any other potential cause of the pain before resorting to more serious remedies.