Degenerative Disc Disease is one of the most common causes of back and neck pain.
Degenerative Disc Disease refers to symptoms of pain and possibly weakness or numbness caused by a degenerated disc in the spine. While the diagnosis may sound alarming, degenerative disc disease is not really a disease and is not necessarily degenerative. The aging process naturally reduces water content in the discs, making them less functional as a “shock absorber” in the spine.
For most people the term “degenerative” implies that the symptoms will get worse with age. In this case, however, the term does not apply to the symptoms, but instead describes the process of the disc degenerating over time. And while disc degeneration is likely to progress over time, pain from degenerative disc disease may also slowly get worse over time.
Disc degeneration is a natural part of aging, and over time all people will exhibit changes in their discs with a greater or lesser degree of degeneration. However, not all people will be symptomatic, as degenerative disc disease varies widely in degree and severity.