02/09/2026
Your MRI said “Degenerative Disc Disease”… so why did the pain start suddenly?
Recently I saw a post from someone who had sudden back pain, got imaging, and was told they have degenerative disc disease (DDD).
First -I’m truly sorry. Back pain is awful.
But here’s the important part-
If your pain came on suddenly, your “degeneration” didn’t.
Degenerative changes usually happen slowly over years, not overnight.
So for many people, a sudden flare of pain isn’t because their spine “suddenly got worse.” It’s often because the area became inflamed and sensitive.
What “degeneration” really means (in plain language)
DDD is a common finding. In fact, lots of people have it and don’t have pain.
DDD is often background information, not a life sentence.
Why inflammation can create big pain
Think of it like this-
Tissue changes are the spark. Inflammation is the volume k**b.
When inflammation is up, your body’s pain sensors get more reactive. That means normal things -like bending, sitting, walking, or even sleeping -can suddenly feel much worse.
And then your nervous system does something very normal-
It protects you.
That protection can look like-
tightness and guarding
reduced range of motion
weakness or “shut down” strength
stiffness that makes movement feel scary
So sometimes the tightness you feel isn’t the main problem… it’s your body trying to keep you safe.
The takeaway
If you’ve been told you have DDD, it doesn’t automatically mean-
your back is fragile
you’re “breaking down”
you’ll always hurt
movement is dangerous
More often, it means-
Your spine has common wear-and-tear changes, and you’re experiencing a sensitivity flare right now.
Our job is to calm the flare, help the system feel safe again, and then build strength and confidence back up.
Bottom line
DDD is often the background. The flare is the foreground.
And flares can improve, fully, when we treat the sensitivity and rebuild your capacity.
And remember, treating the inflammation is our specialty!
Your RAPID Therapists
Elemental Essence Therapy
Rapid Pain Release Center
Crystal Sutherland & Koreann Peters
Www.eveofessence.ca
