Degenerative Disc Disease (DDD) isn’t actually a disease, instead, it’s a name given for discs that have become degenerated over time from normal wear and tear.
For your convenience, we will stay consistent and use that incorrect terminology, but we want you to recognize that it’s not a disease. Whenever DDD is given as a diagnosis, many patients panic because it sounds life threatening and progressive.
However, DDD is a misnomer. It is not technically a disease and it is not always degenerative, meaning it will get worse as you age. This is not always the case and often “degenerative” refers to the process that caused the condition in the first place. DDD is not likely to get more painful as time goes on.
WHAT CAUSES DEGENERATIVE DISCS?
The most common cause of DDD is aging. As we age, our discs will naturally dry out, causing them to become thin, less likely to absorb shock, and therefore degenerate. Other than aging, there are other causes to DDD. Unfortunately, discs receive little to no blood supply like other parts of the body. This means that once the disc has become injured, it is unable to repair naturally, causing the disc to degenerate. Causes for injury leading to degeneration include:
Injury with associated pain and swelling
Sports related injuries
Injury from repetition in daily activities
DDD is what happens when, as we age, our discs between our vertebrae start to slowly shrink and therefore lose their integrity. The discs in our spine allow for flexibility and bending/twisting and absorb shock between the vertebrae caused by lifting, resistance, and everyday movement. As they degenerate, pain with movement and shock increases.
An MRI will show that most individuals over the age of 60 show signs of degenerated discs. In advanced degeneration, the discs can become so thin that the vertebrae will touch and cause pain associated with osteoarthritis. Individuals that show degenerative discs but do not have them from another condition, such as osteoarthritis, are considered to have degenerative disc disease
SYMPTOMS
DDD symptoms are typically felt where the degeneration occurs, which is often the neck or low back. These symptoms include:
Pain or soreness in the low back
Pain or soreness in the thighs
Pain or soreness in the neck
Pain or soreness that radiates down legs and arms
Pain or soreness when sitting
Pain or soreness when twisting or bending
Pain or soreness that goes away when active, such as walking or exercising
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