25/11/2025
Let’s learn our our back bones 🦴
Term of the Day: Degenerative Disc Disease
Synonyms:
Disc degeneration, lumbar disc disease, cervical disc disease, intervertebral disc degeneration, spondylosis (when associated with bony changes), age-related disc wear.
What it means (in plain English):
Degenerative disc disease (DDD) refers to the natural aging and wear of the discs that sit between the bones (vertebrae) of the spine. Despite the dramatic name, it’s not really a “disease” — it’s part of the normal aging process.
Discs act as shock absorbers. Over time, they lose water content, become less flexible, and can develop small tears or bulges. These changes may or may not cause pain. When they do, it’s typically mechanical in nature — worsened by bending, lifting, or sitting, and eased by movement or lying down.
DDD is common — almost everyone over 40 has some degree of it visible on an MRI, even if they have no symptoms.
Natural history:
Degenerative disc changes progress slowly and don’t always lead to pain or disability. In many people, pain episodes improve with time as the disc stiffens and inflammation settles. The body often adapts — nearby joints and muscles take on more of the load.
Only a small subset of patients develop chronic pain or nerve irritation from associated changes (like herniation or narrowing around nerve roots). The spine, despite its wear, remains remarkably resilient and adaptable.
Concepts of treatment:
Treatment is aimed at improving function and reducing pain, not “fixing” the disc.
Stay active: Movement nourishes the spine and prevents stiffness.
Exercise-based rehabilitation: Core and trunk strengthening improve spinal support.
Education and reassurance: Degeneration does not equal damage — it’s part of normal life.
Symptom management: Anti-inflammatory medications, heat, manual therapy, and short-term rest during flare-ups can help.
Interventional options: In selected cases, targeted injections or surgery may help, especially when nerve compression is clear and persistent.
Degenerative disc disease is best thought of as spinal aging, not spinal failure — a normal biological process that can coexist with a healthy, active life.
