Effect of Abaloparatide on Lumbar Disc Degeneration

Low back pain is a major public health issue as the leading cause of disability globally. Degeneration of intervertebral disc (IVD) disorder is once source of low back pain. Current treatment options for low back pain secondary to degeneration of intervertebral disc include conservative care, steroid injections, prescription pain medications, physical therapy, or surgery, such as discectomy or laminectomy. Treatments focus on addressing manifested symptoms rather than functional causes, and symptomatic treatment of discogenic low back pain is less than ideal. The investigators have recently found that parathyroid hormone (PTH) effectively attenuates disc degeneration in aged mice. This clinical trial will test if 3-months of daily PTH-related protein (PTHrP), abaloparatide will improve pain, function, and disc health in people with low back pain secondary to lumbar disc degeneration.