Degenerative disc disease is not really a disease, even though the name sounds frightening. It is the term for the normal wear that happens to the soft discs in your spine as you age. According to Cleveland Clinic, almost everyone has some disc wear after age 40. Even so, that wear does not always cause symptoms. When it does hurt, the pain often comes and goes. In that case, regular movement, exercise and hands-on care may help you feel and move better.
If you just saw these words on an X-ray or MRI report, it is normal to feel worried. So below, we explain what the term means, what may help and when to see a medical doctor.
What degenerative disc disease really means
Between the bones of your spine sit small, rubbery cushions called discs. They act like shock absorbers and help you bend, twist and move. Each disc has a tough outer wall and a soft center that is mostly water.
Over the years, every disc slowly changes. For that reason, Cleveland Clinic describes degenerative disc disease as a condition rather than a true disease. The word degenerative simply means change over time. It does not mean your back is broken, and healthy habits may slow the wear. Most disc wear shows up in the lower back or the neck.
The National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases (NIAMS) explains that aging causes discs to break down. It also notes that this wear often goes along with other spine changes, such as arthritis or spinal stenosis.
Why discs wear down
Age is the main reason, but a few things happen inside the disc along the way. First, the soft center slowly loses water. As a result, the disc gets thinner and absorbs less shock. Second, small injuries can cause tiny cracks in the outer wall. These tears often sit near nerves, so even small ones can hurt.
Sometimes a crack lets the soft center bulge out. That is a herniated disc, and it may press on a nearby nerve. When that happens, you may feel pain, tingling or numbness down an arm or a leg. If your report mentions a bulge or herniation, our post on bulging versus herniated discs explains the difference.
Some things also raise your chances of painful disc wear. These include a past injury such as a fall, extra body weight, smoking and a physically demanding job. In addition, women are more likely than men to have symptoms.
Common symptoms of degenerative disc disease
Back pain and neck pain are the most common symptoms. However, the pain feels different from person to person. It can be mild, moderate or severe, and it may feel sharp, achy or stiff. For example, people with degenerative disc disease may notice pain that:
- Comes and goes, with flares that last weeks or months
- Spreads from the lower back into the buttocks
- Gets worse with sitting, bending, lifting or twisting
- Slowly builds over time in some people
Long hours in a chair can make this kind of pain worse. That matters here, because many people around Roseland sit at desks in the offices along Eisenhower Parkway. If that sounds like you, our guide to back pain from sitting all day has simple desk setup tips.
What your X-ray or MRI report can and cannot tell you
Many people first meet this term on an imaging report. Seeing degenerative disc disease in print can feel alarming. Still, disc wear on a scan is very common as people age. Plenty of people with worn discs have no pain at all. In short, a scan shows how your discs look. It does not tell the whole story of why you hurt.
That is why a careful exam matters as much as the picture. A provider will ask when the pain started and what makes it better or worse. They will also ask about numbness or tingling. Next, they check your reflexes, strength and tender spots. Together, those answers help show what is most likely behind your pain.
Does degenerative disc disease get worse over time?
It can. Still, the pain often comes and goes, and many people manage it long term with nonsurgical care. In fact, most people do not need surgery for degenerative disc disease. Surgery may become an option if you have tried several nonsurgical treatments and still have pain or weakness.
Healthy habits may also slow the wear. Cleveland Clinic points to three: keeping a healthy weight, not smoking and staying physically active. It also suggests limiting heavy lifting and high-impact sports, and getting up often when you sit for long stretches. If a disc has herniated, our post on herniated disc recovery time covers what to expect without surgery.
What may help degenerative disc disease
Care usually starts with simple, nonsurgical steps. Here are options that may help ease pain and keep you moving:
- Low-impact activity, such as walking or swimming, to strengthen the muscles that support your spine
- Strengthening and stretching exercises, with guidance so you build up safely
- Heat and ice, which may calm soreness for a short time
- Gentle stretching or yoga through the day to ease tension
- Breaks from sitting, so you stand up and move every so often
- Medicine, injections or, in some cases, surgery, which a medical doctor can discuss with you
Traction, a slow pull that stretches the spine, is also on Cleveland Clinic’s list of self-care options. However, it presents home remedies like this as short-term help, not a long-term answer for badly worn discs. Non-surgical spinal decompression is a motorized, computer-controlled form of traction. To see what the research says, read our post on spinal decompression for degenerative disc pain.
Can chiropractic care help degenerative disc disease?
Chiropractic care may help some people with back pain feel and move better. Still, studies on adjustments look at low back pain in general, not at degenerative disc disease alone. For recent low back pain, spinal manipulation offers a modest benefit, according to the NIH’s NCCIH. For long-lasting low back pain, it works about as well as other recommended care.
So we see adjustments as one tool, not the whole answer. In our office, they sit alongside exercise, soft tissue work and changes to daily habits. After an adjustment, some people feel sore or stiff, or get a headache. These effects are common and usually fade within a day or so.
When to see a doctor or go to the ER
Some back pain needs a medical doctor first, not a chiropractor. Go to the ER right away if you have:
- Loss of bladder or bowel control
- Numbness in the groin, buttocks or inner thighs
These can be signs of cauda equina syndrome, which is an emergency. Also see a medical doctor promptly if you notice any of these:
- Weakness in one or both legs
- Fever along with back pain
- A history of cancer, or weight loss you cannot explain
- Pain that started after a fall
- Night pain that wakes you up
NIAMS also advises seeing a doctor if your back pain does not improve after a few weeks.
How we approach it at HealthSource of Roseland
Before she suggests any care at our Roseland office, Dr. Jenna Patel, D.C. evaluates you. Your first visit starts with a short tour and a health history form. Next, you sit down with Dr. Patel to talk through your pain and your goals. Then she does a physical exam of your posture, mobility and pain. We take X-rays only if clinically needed.
After that, Dr. Patel explains her findings and a personalized care plan before any care starts. She looks for the source of your pain, not only the symptoms. For degenerative disc disease, a plan may combine adjustments, soft tissue work and exercise rehab. Dr. Patel also holds an M.S. in Applied Clinical Nutrition, so she can guide you on nutrition and daily habits, too.
We also know many people worry that a clinic will push them into long plans. So we keep things clear and simple. You can ask questions, take time to think and say no to anything. Along the way, Dr. Patel rechecks your progress, and if you are not improving, we change course or refer you. Our back pain relief page explains more about how we care for low back pain.
A calm next step
You do not have to sort this out alone. A clear exam is a good first step toward knowing what is behind your pain. Ask about our new-patient visit: consultation, exam and X-rays if clinically needed. The offer is for new patients only. It does not apply to Medicare, Medicaid, other federal healthcare program patients or ACN members.
When you are ready, you can book online or call (973) 200-2424. Dr. Patel speaks English, Hindi and Gujarati. This article is for education only and is not a diagnosis.
